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BERTRAM WODEHOUSE CURRIE

1827 — 1896

RECOLLECTIONS, LETTERS AND JOURNALS

VOL I

MANRESA PRESS, ROEHAMPTON

1901

(For private circulation.)

fJG

PREFACE.

The autobiographical sketch, entitled " Recol-
lections,'' with which the first volume begins, was
written in the September of 1896, some three
months before the writer's death. This paper
and the majority of the letters in this volume,
which date from more than fifty years ago, are,
the Editor thinks, likely to be interesting even
to some who were unacquainted with the writer,
as also may be the Journal in America, which
has been placed at the beginning of the second
volume.

The same can hardly, perhaps, be said of
the greater part of the second volume, which
is but a family record, such as would be valued
only by friends and relatives, and more espe-
cially, the Editor hopes, by descendants. Still,
there are chapters towards the end on the
International Monetary Conference, the Indian

lO-lGJ'M

vi Preface.

Currency Committee, and the Irish Finance
Commission, which may appeal to a wider
circle.

The Times of December 30, 1896, contained
a short biographical notice, which may usefully
be quoted here as an introduction to the collec-
tion which follows :

Mr. Bertram Wodehouse Currie, who was the only
surviving brother of Sir Philip Currie, British Ambas-
sador at Constantinople, was born in 1827. He was
the second son of Mr. Raikes Currie, of Minley Manor,
Hants, who was a banker in Cornhill, and who died
in 1881. His mother was the daughter of the second
Baron Wodehouse. Mr. Currie was educated at Eton,
and then travelled abroad, thus acquiring the mastery
of foreign languages, which stood him in good stead in
after days in the City and at the Brussels Conference.
On returning home he entered his father's banking
business, which in 1864 was amalgamated with the
firm of Glyn, Mills, and Company, and which from
that time forth was known by the name of Glyn,
Mills, Currie, and Company. The strong will and
the remarkable business capacities of the young
partner, for his father took little or no share in the
transaction of the business, soon enabled him to play
a prominent part in the management.

In December, 1880, he was appointed to serve
upon the board of the India Council, where his great

Preface. vii

knowledge of finance was eminently useful. After ten
years' service he was reappointed for a further term in
i8go, and finally retired in 1895. In 1885 it was
largely through his instrumentality that Glyns adopted
the form of a joint stock company with unlimited
liability, and that it was the first of the private banks
to publish its balance sheet, a wise innovation much
resisted by other institutions at the time, but now
generally adopted.

But it was in i8go, on the occasion of the famous
Baring crisis, that Mr. Currie's power and resolution
were most conspicuously displayed. On November 11,
1890, he was selected for his known friendship with
Lord Revelstoke, and for his business qualities, to
look into the affairs of Messrs. Baring, and at the
instance of the Right Hon. William Lidderdale, then
Governor of the Bank of England, undertook the
task, in company with Mr. Benjamin Buck Greene,
a director of the Bank of England. It was in conse-
quence of their report, which showed that there was
a surplus of assets over liabilities, that the Bank of
England agreed to make the required advances,
although the bills payable by the firm amounted to
;f 15, 750,000. In pursuance of this determination
the Governor of the Bank recommended the directors
to undertake the liquidation of the estate on the
security of a guarantee to be obtained from the
bankers of London. The Bank itself headed this
guarantee fund by a contribution of ^1,000,000, and
Mr. Currie followed on behalf of his firm with ;^50o,ooo.
During the day, November 14, the private banks and
cognate firms, such as the Rothschilds, contributed an
amount making a total of ^^3,500,000, and with the

viii Preface.

assistance of the joint stock banks and the county
banks the total subsequently rose to j^i8, 000,000.

In 1892 Mr. Currie was chosen, among others, to
represent this country at the International Monetary
Conference at Brussels, The astute politicians of
the United States had pressed this conference upon
Europe, in the hope of securing "bimetallism."
Their plans were almost unanimously rejected by the
representatives of the Powers, and Mr. Currie bore
his part in the defence of sound principles in a
memorable speech delivered towards the close of the
proceedings. In 1893 he was a member of the
committee which, sitting under the presidency of
Lord Herschell, decided upon sanctioning the closing
of the Indian mints to the free coinage of silver, a
momentous measure upon which the time is not yet
ripe for passing a verdict. In the same year he
became High Steward of Kingston-on-Thames, besides
which office he held those of J. P. for Surrey, and, in
1892, High Sheriff of London. In 1894 he sat upon
the Commission on the Financial Relations between
Great Britain and Ireland, the report of which is
now so prominently before the public mind. In
1895 it was he who, more than any other man,
initiated the Gold Standard Defence Association,
formed by the merchants and bankers of London to
recall to the public recollection the plain doctrines
of sound finance. It was this that was the main
interest of the two closing years of his life.

At the end of last year Mr. Currie underwent an
operation for cancer in the tongue, which for the time
was successful. But this year the disease reappeared
in the glands of the neck, and was followed by pros-

Preface. ix

tration and death. Mr. Currie married, in i860,
Caroline, daughter of SirW. L.Young, fourth baronet,
who survives him. He entered the Roman Catholic
Church in the autumn of this year. He leaves one
son, Laurence, who married Miss Sibyl Finch, a
daughter of Mr. G. Finch, M.P., of Burley-on-the-Hill,
and has a daughter.

Mr. Currie in his young days saw much of the
society of Grote and Mill, and, embracing their
opinions on many points, might be classed as belong-
ing to the school of the philosophic Radicals. He
was a Home Ruler and a warm friend of Mr. Gladstone,
who, indeed, actually held one of his Cabinet Councils
at Mr. Currie's country seat of Coombe Warren,
Kingston-on-Thames. He was well versed in art
and literature. In Mr. Currie the City of London
loses one of its most prominent and respected men,
and probably its first authority upon Banking.

It seems also to be suitable to insert here
two letters which were received by the Editor
from Mr. Gladstone, who, as a political leader,
and still more as a friend, played an important
part in the life of him to whom they refer.

Hawarden, Xmas Day, 1896.
Dear Mrs. Currie,

I do not write to inquire after your
husband's health, for I am always apprehensive lest
such letters of inquiry should form a painful addition
to the cares of watching or nursing ; but only to

X Preface.

assure you with what deep sympathy we have heard
of his being gravely ill.

I am thankful to be told that he does not suffer a
great deal of pain.

The withdrawal of his presence from the City of
London is the loss of a great light in a place where
light is not, indeed cannot be, too abundant.

I cannot but be moved by thinking of one as an
invalid who is so much my junior, and from whom I
have received so much kindness in so many forms.

Please to assure him, if it can be done seasonably
and easily, of my warm recollections of the past, and
my deep and earnest desires on his behalf. Not
otherwise.

Those desires can take but one form that is of the
smallest value, in the recollection that our Father in
Heaven chasteneth every son whom He receiveth,
and in the prayer that His chastening may be no
other than a sign of love, and a prelude to great and
eternal blessings.

I remain, dear Mrs. Currie,
Most faithfully yours,

W. E. Gladstone.

Hawarden, May yth, 1897.
My dear Mrs. Currie,

It is indeed most kind of you to send
me . . . that most touching paper which forms the
religious Testament of your departed husband. Apart
from the particular form of the course he took, it is
indeed notable for its high Christian qualities, and
especially the profound humility which for him and

Preface.

XI

for us all constitutes, I suppose, the most fitting
accessory to religion.

For my own part, with the accumulation of my
years I become more and more desirous, where I can,
to fasten and rely upon the great central and interior
truths of the Christian Creed ; for I own to thinking
the assaults of unbelief, presently and prospectively,
to be most formidable, not from any inherent strength
in its arguments, but from adventitious causes, and,
among them, from the divisions which sever us, and
which I fear as regards the Roman Church in par-
ticular have of late been sensibly widened.

With these feelings I pass over questions that are
in themselves very grave, and heartily rejoice that
such a mind and soul as his were brought back into
the fold of Christ. He is, I trust, reaping his reward.

I received from him innumerable kindnesses, and
apart from them I had the greatest respect for his
mental powers. He was so entirely first among the
men of the City that it is hard to measure the distance
between him and the second place ; and at any time
it would have been a grave shock to me to find myself
differing from him on any economical question. No
such case to my knowledge ever occurred. . . .
Believe me,

My dear Mrs. Currie,
Yours sincerely,

W. E. Gladstone.

Little more need be added by way of intro-
duction. It will be seen that the greater part
of the letters in the first volume were written by

xii Preface.

Mr. Currie during his travels and before he had
attained his twenty-third year.

In later years he sometimes expressed regret
that he had no regular correspondent. But,
although the letters which he might have
addressed to such a correspondent are wanting,
the short notes that he wrote during his occa-
sional absences from his family have their value,
and help to carry on the story of his life in his
own words.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Recollections, 1827 — 1896 . . . . • i

Speech at the International Monetary Conference at

Brussels . . . . . . -99

Speech at the London Institution, May 22, 1895 . . 104

The Currency Question for Laymen, published in the

National Review, June, 1895 .... 109

Mr. Goschen's Currency Suggestions. Letter to the Times,

Jan. 30, 1891 . . . . . • 113

Speech on unveiling a statue of Mr. Gladstone, reprinted

from the Daily News of Dec. 14, 1883 . . .116

Letters from Germany, 1845, 1846, 1848 . . . 123

Letters from South America, 1849, 1850 . . . 221

Letters from Jamaica and North America, 1850 . . 5i5

Letters from London and Switzerland, 1851, 1852 . . 461

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PHOTOGRAVURES.

Bertram Wodehouse Currie. From a photograph

by Byrne ..... Frontispiece

Isaac Currie. From a water-colour by G. Richmond. To face p. 3

Bertram, Maynard, and George Currie. From an

oil painting by E. Eddis . . . • n 5

Raikes Currie. From a water-colour by G. Richmond „ 19

From pencil sketches by Mrs. Bertram Currie.
Coombe Warren ..... Tofacep. 36

Minley Manor . . . . . ... 56

RECOLLECTIONS.

I WAS born on November 25th, 1827, at a house in
Harley Street, which nn- father had taken by the year
from Mr. Musters, the husband, I beheve, of Mary
Chaworth. My paternal grandparents hved in the
neighbouring Wimpole Street, with three unmarried
daughters. In 1830, the family, which then consisted
of three sons, George the eldest, myself, and my
brother Maynard, moved to 4 (now 12), Hyde Park
Terrace, a house newly built on the Paddington Estate,
the ninety-nine years lease of which was acquired from
the builder by the trustees of my father's marriage
settlement. My earliest recollections are of this house,
which, with the exception of Nos. 5 and 6, was then
the westernmost in that part of London. Beyond us
on the Bayswater Road were nursery gardens and
small detached villas, and at the back our windows
looked over green fields with the spire of Harrow
Church in the distance. The consecration of
St. John's, Paddington, which I was too young to
attend in person, was one of the first events I can
remember. My brother George spoke of the ceremony
as long and tedious, but somewhat relieved by a
collation of buns in the vestry.

I was taught to read by my dear mother, who was

entirely devoted to her children and exercised a wise

and watchful control over them. She was governed

in all her actions by a strong sense of duty. Her

B

2 Earliest Recollections.

judgment was good and her affections, though she
refrained from displaying them openly, were warm
and sensitive. I feel sure that the loss of an}' of her
six children would have been a terrible blow to her
happiness, but from this trial she escaped — dying
peacefully in 1869 almost without a struggle.

Our first governess was a Miss Williams, a person
more fitted for domestic than for educational service.
She was followed by a Miss McTavish, who spoke with
a broad Scotch accent, and taught us to decline the
verb aytcY (etre) to be.

Our next-door neighbour at No. 3 was Sir Samuel
Shepherd, a distinguished Scotch lawyer, on whose
recommendation a tutor was engaged to replace the
governess, and to walk with us in the Park and
Kensington Gardens, both of which were then enclosed
by high walls.

While feeding the deer in Hyde Park from a basket
of acorns, I was once knocked down by a buck desirous
of obtaining the contents of my basket en gros.

The name of our tutor has escaped me. He was, I
fancy, somewhat of an enthusiast, possibly an Irvingite.
He wrote, at the request of my mother, his estimate of
the character and disposition of her three sons. I
believe that he took the view which my parents shared,
that I was the dull boy of the lot. My childhood had
been passed mainly in London, a place which from my
earliest years inspired me with an antipathy which age
has not abated. Without daily affairs to engross one's
time and attention, life in London would have been
unbearable. I remember that I excited much amuse-
ment at Mundesley by speaking of the stable yard in
the place of a neighbouring Squire whom I was taken

Isaac Currie. 3

to visit, as "the ^Icws," that being the only sort of
stable with which I was familiar.

In the autumn of 1833 the family moved for some
weeks to Cromer, then a small fishing village, in order
to be near Witton, where my maternal grandparents
had their home. By this time a daughter, named
Mary Sophia, had been added to the three boys.
Both in 1834 3-nd 1835 I was sent with one of my
brothers to lodgings at Mundesley, another village on
the Norfolk coast, while my father and mother paid
their annual visit to Witton. I can recall the firing of
guns and rockets at the neighbouring coastguard station
in celebration of the marriage of my aunt, Harriett
Wodehouse, with Mr. Chambers.

Of absences from our London home prior to 1S33,
my recollections are indistinct. We were in the habit
of visiting m}' grandfather, Isaac Currie, at Bush Hill,
near Edmonton. He died in 1843, when I was only
sixteen, so that I never had an opportunity of forming
a judgment of his character from personal observation,
but all that I have since heard confirms me in the
belief that he was an excellent banker for the times in
which he lived, and a thoroughly worthy, good man,
of unobtrusive and retiring habits. The Bank at
29, Cornhill had been founded in 1772, and at a very
early age Isaac, a younger son, was placed in the
counting-house, with a threat from his father that he
would brain him if he were caught outside of it.

The patriarchal name which he bore was derived
from his grandfather, Isaac Lefevre, whose family had
emigrated from Rouen when the Edict of Nantes was
revoked by Louis XIV. They established themselves
in the east of London, first as scarlet dyers and subse-

4 Foundation of Bank, 2g, Cornliill.

quent]y as distillers. My great-j^randfather, William
Currie, was also a distiller, and after his premature
death, the business in which he had been engaged was
united with that of Messrs. Lefevre. I know little or
nothing of the circumstances which induced him to
become the founder of a bank. He had apparently
some connection with his countryman, Fordyce, whose
business came to such a disastrous end in 1772, and
two of his original partners, Messrs. James and
Yallowley, had been in the banking-house of Neal,
Fordyce, and Co. The large purchases of barley
which he had to make in the course of trade as a
distiller, gave him a good deal of influence in the corn
market ; and when I first came to 29, Cornhill, in 1S46,
we had still the accounts of many Mark Lane corn-
factors on our books. Now the race is almost extinct.

The death of Mr. William Currie was caused by an
explosion which took place while he was inspecting
the process of fermentation in one of his vats.

The family tradition is that he had originally walked
from his birthplace at Dunse, like so many Scotchmen
of his time, to seek his fortune in London. He seems
to have quickly found it, for I have been told that the
profits of his distillery were not less than ^30,000 per
annum.

He did not live long enough to witness the growth
of the bank which he had created, and he was wont to
speak rather contemptuously of it, saying that one
good back of spirits was worth more than a year's
profit in Cornhill. Times have changed since he uttered
that saying, for the distillery business was abandoned
a few years ago by his great-grandsons because it no
longer yielded any profit ; whereas his banking adven-

Chaitfj'es in London Bankers.

i>

ture, grafted indeed on another and more vigorous
stem, still preserves the record of his name.

My grandfather made a judicious and happy
marriage with Mary, the daughter of William Raikes,
whose firm, W. and T. Raikes and Co., of Alderman's
Walk, was then among the most eminent in the Cit}-.
This connection was doubtless of service to him. His
life was uneventful, but by diligence and economy he
amassed a considerable fortune. This must have been
increased by the general rise in securities which took
place after 1815, but it was also impaired by his great
liberality to my father and to his other partners.

I have always felt grateful to his memory, as,
without him, it is unlikely that I should ever have
engaged in the banking business, which for fifty }"ears
has been to me a congenial pursuit.

During these fifty years the most remarkble changes
have occurred. On looking the other day at the list of
London bankers in 1846, I find that out of the whole
number of clearing bankers — about twenty-four — only
three have survived intact. A few have failed, and the
others, including my old firm, have been amalgamated
or absorbed.

In 1835, my paternal grandmother died, and about
the same time died also my maternal great-grand-
father, the first Lord Wodehouse, at the age of ninety-
two. His portrait, by Sir W. Beechey, is to be seen
at Minley.

In February, 183G, I was sent to Dr. Mayo's school
at Cheam, where my elder brother had been placed
in 1835. Just before he left home, the oval picture
representing Maynard on a pony with a brother on
each side was painted by E. W. Lddis.

6 School at CJieam.

Cheam, where I remained for nearly four years,
was not to my taste, and I cannot think that the
management of the boys was judicious.

Dr, Mayo was a well-meaning man, but ignorant
of the world and an easy prey to impostors. His
wife, who as Miss Shepherd had kept a ladies' school
at Notting Hill, was careful of our health, but managed
to make herself detested by the boys. She took care
of our pocket-money, kept a truck-shop for balls and
toys, and exhorted us to bestow our spare cash on the
conversion of the Jews or the evangelization of the
heathen.

Dr. Mayo was what was then called a Millenarian.
He taught us that at any moment the last trump
might be heard when the world would come to an end.
I remember that the sound of a cornet a piston which
reached us one night from the neighbouring village
after we had gone to bed, caused much alarm among
the boys, who thought that the catastrophe had
arrived.

As might have been expected, these and similar
extravagant doctrines professed by our schoolmaster
attracted impostors who played on his credulity.
The ushers were generally a somewhat disreputable
lot, chosen for their supposed piety more than for
their teaching capacity. Our French master was a
native of Neuchatel, and had been a corporal in the
Prussian army. If his French was detestable and his
English worse, he made himself useful as a drill-
sergeant, and after endeavouring to make us translate
VHistoire de Charles XII., and insisting that the English
equivalent of enireprenenr was " undertaker," he used
to put us through military exercises in the play-

Summer Holidays. 7

ground. After my departure from Cheam, this worthy
Switzer decamped from the school without giving
notice, and left his wife chargeable on the parish rates.
It has always appeared to me scandalous that, whereas
no one in allowed to practise law or medicine without
obtaining some kind of certificate of fitness, the pro-
fession of a schoolmaster is open to all the world,
and he is able to follow it free from inspection or
control of any kind. Probably the system of compe-
petitive examinations has done much to improve
private schools since my time.

The summer holidays of 1836 were spent at Bed-
dington, the ancient home of the Carew family. It
contained a grand hall, in which we used to dine. We
had a Swiss tutor, named M. Levanchy, who caught
trout in the stream which flowed through the Park, an
art to which I was never able to attain.

To these holidays I looked back with regret when
the time came to return to the uncongenial school at
Cheam, which was only a few miles distant from
Beddington Hall.

On coming home for the summer holidays in June,
1837, the Cheam coach, in which my brother and I
were passengers, stopped at the Elephant and Castle,
where we heard the news of the death of King William.
An old gentleman who sat opposite us observed, " Then
there will be a revolution." Such is the wisdom to be
gathered in public vehicles. The foolometer was to be
found in the coach before the omnibus was invented.

Our holidays this year were spent on the Menai
Straits, near Beaumaris, at a place belonging to one
of the Williams famil}', with whom we had made an
exchange of houses for the summer. My father was

8 Albyns, near Romford.

absent most of the time on account of the General
Election, and I can remember his joyful return to his
family as Member for Northampton.

When the holidays came to an end, the question
arose how my brother and I were to return to school.
The railway was unfinished, and my mother had little
confidence in the safety of that new-fangled mode of
travelling. So we proceeded by steamer to Liverpool,
where Mr. Jones, the parent of another Cheam boy,
kindly received us for the night, and next morning put
us into the day coach for London.

I can recall nothing of striking interest in the next
two or three years. The principal instruction at Cheam
was theological, and we had occasional exhortations
from such Evangelical lights as the Rev. Baptist Noel,
and Dr. Wolff, the missionary, after which the hat was
generally sent round to the boys. The summer of 1838
was, I think, spent at a house in Wellington Crescent,
Dover.

In 1839 or 1840 my father took from Mr. Thomas
Abdy a lease of Albyns, a place in Essex between
Romford and Ongar. The house was built about the
time of Charles L, and is mentioned in the auto-
biography of Sir John Bramston, who records that he,
and his father, the Chief Justice, dined there in the
time of the Commonwealth with his brother-in-law,
who regaled them with cold venison. The house, which
has been attributed, probably without foundation, to
Inigo Jones, is ver}- interesting, with a long upper
gallery, and rooms decorated with panelling, and fine
stucco ceilings enriched with pendants.

My removal from Cheam was hastened by an attack
of what was pronounced by the local doctor to be ring-

Removal front Cheam. g

worm, but v.hich never resulted in anythin;;^ more
than a temporary bald patch of small dimensions on
my otherwise well-covered head. To avoid the risk of
communicating this disease to the other boys, I was
removed to a house at Epsom, where Dr. Shelley, our
medical attendant, lived. He was a kind old gentle-
man, and I much preferred his hospitality and the
absence of lessons to the dull routine of Cheam school.

He used to pay daily visits to Mrs. Howard of
Ashstead, the great lady of the neighbourhood. I
remember accompanying him in his gig and being
much alarmed at the deer who crowded round me
while I was waiting for him in the park. On arriving
in London I was taken by one of the clerks in my
father's banking-house, who had been educated at
Christ's Hospital, to be examined by the medical
officer of that institution. He did not seem to think
that there was much the matter with me.

Instead of returning again to Cheam, I was placed
under the care of Mr. Ward, a clergyman at Aston,
near Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, who had married the
eldest daughter of my father's sister, Mrs. George
Raikes. Mr. Ward was not a man of much learning,
or force of character, and appeared to be in bad health.
My fellow-pupil was Francis Raikes, afterwards Rector
of Barnham Broom, in Norfolk, who was supposed to
be preparing for the University. The only public
event that I can remember during my stay at Aston
was the marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert.

As for amusement, I used to visit the neighbours,
walk to Stevenage to see the London coaches on the
North road, and sometimes I tried to fish in the trout
stream at Woodhall, where Mr. Abel Smith lived, but

lo Arrival at Eton.

never with much success. After spending some months
at Aston, my father sent a pony and groom to take me
over to Albyns, which I then saw for the first time.
The ride by Waltham Abbey and Abridge was very
pleasant, and Betsey, a weedy thoroughbred, was an
easy-going and pleasant hack.

The next event in my life was my arrival at Eton,
in September, 1840. I had already visited the place as
one of a party who were invited to travel by the Great
Western Railway to Slough before the line was opened
to the pubhc. From Slough we drove on that occasion
to the White Hart, Windsor, where my cousin, John
Wodehouse, then an Eton bo}', came to meet us at
luncheon. As my father and I entered Dr. Hawtry's
chambers, where I was to inscribe my name in the
College register, we met Sir Henry Hardinge, with his
son Arthur, coming away from performing the same
function. The master to whose care I was committed
was the Rev. E. H. Pickering, a good-natured man for
whom I always had a liking, but who was more fitted
for success in the cricket-field than in the class-room.

At Cheam, and in my own home, our health had
been carefully protected, but at Eton sanitary science
had made little progress since the time of the royal
founder. Almost my first experience was to be laid up
with measles, an accident common to my age, which I
only record because the Windsor apothecary who was
employed by my tutor to physic us thought fit to
bleed me. This must have been in 1841, by which
time I fancy that the favourite remedy of Dr. Sangrado
was nearly discarded in England. Later on I had
scarlet fever, which was always more or less prevalent
in the school. Several boys of my own age, including

Idleness. 1 1

two of the Lascelles family, and Packe, who boarded
at Pickering's, died of it. It was in consequence of
this outbreak that the existing sanatorium was built to
take the place of the small, insanitary cottages which
served for hospitals in our time.

I have always regretted the idleness and indisposition
to mental effort which marked my time at Eton. It
was no doubt mostly my own fault, aggravated,
perhaps, by inherited tendencies ; but I cannot but
think that I could have been stimulated into greater
exertion if I had fallen into the hands of a master who
had more sympathy with learning and more apprecia-
tion of intellectual delights. I had always an ambition
to excel, though perhaps it was not devoted to the
noblest objects, and with a little judicious encourage-
ment the spirit of emulation might have been raised in
me. On looking back, with the experience of half a
century, my only consolation, and it is but a mean
one, is that some, indeed most of those who surpassed
me at school were left behind in the more serious
struggle in which we were all fated to be engaged.
But the real value of knowledge, and above all, of the
habit of concentrated application, is not to be found in
the gratification of vanity, nor in the worldly success
which these attainments may bring, but in the addition
which they make to the solid enjoyments of life. I
have always found my greatest satisfaction in books,
but my reading has been of a desultory and dilettante
character, and I lament my inability to enjoy the
classic authors of antiquity, or to grapple with the
great problems of philosophy.

The facility with which my friend. Lord Farrer,
expounds the most complicated problems of monetary

12 Life at Eton.

science fills me with envy. It is the outcome of a well-
spent and laborious life devoted to the public service.
Again I console myself that knowledge, invaluable as
it is, does not always guide its possessor to right
conclusions. Intuition, or a sort of glorified common-
sense, is the most valuable gift of all. It comes direct
from nature, and is not to be acquired by the most
laborious research.

I was never much of a hand at games, nor did the
society of my companions greatly delight me. It was
the fashion for an Eton boy to praise his school in
all companies, but my disposition was critical and
impatient of discipline, and the absurdities of the place
were more present to my mind than its undoubted
advantages. A great defect in my character was want
of reverence. To show that there were abuses in the
school sufficient to raise legitimate indignation, I will
recall an incident which happened in my second or
third year. On my return from the holidays, my
tutor's maid, " a stale virgin with a winter's face,"
who looked after my scanty wardrobe, addressed me
thus: " Currie, you are not to go to Tom Brown to
mend your clothes any more." " Why not ? " I replied.
"Brown, if not a rival to Stultz or Nugee, is a
conscientious artist, and equal to the humble duty of
re-seating my pantaloons." " Because," answered the
maid, "he has been impertinent to Mr. Cookesley, and
the College authorities have decided that he shall be
no longer tailor to any of the bo}"s under their govern-
ment."

This so-called impertinence consisted in the fact
that after long endurance Brown had demanded pay-
ment for the sartorial services which he had rendered

Sir Robert Peel. 13

to Mr. Cookesley's pupils, whose parents in the regular
course of things had accounted to the tutor for the
amount of Brown's charges. This reverend instructor
was soon afterwards removed from Eton to a cure of
souls, leaving his affairs in an embarrassed condition.
The corporate feeling which led his colleagues to
support him so indefensibl}- was, I fear, accentuated
by the fact that some of them were in pecuniary straits
themselves.

I remember that I expressed my opinion freely
on this irregular transaction, and thereby earned the
character of a malcontent and dangerous person.

The death of the Marcjuis Wellesley occurred in
1842. In his will he desired to be buried in the
College chapel. The boys were allowed to go after
lock-up to see him lying in state, but for some reason,
probably from indisposition, I was not present at the
ceremony.

The last celebration of Montcm took place in my
time, besides the fourth centenary of the foundation of
the College by Henry \'I.

I saw the Emperor Nicholas at a review in Windsor
Park. Among all the bedizened kings, princes, generals,
and courtiers. Sir Robert Peel rode in plain clothes,
with his beaver hat and buff waistcoat, the greatest
man, to my thinking, in the gorgeous company. After
the review there was a State banquet in St. George's
Hall. Bishop Stanley, who was a guest at the Castle,
kindly took mc and some other boys to see the tables
prepared for the feast. The barbaric pomp pleased
my inartistic eye.

Later in the day I saw the great Sir Robert Peel —
a living image of the caricatures of H.B. — walking in

14 Leaves Eton.

Keat's Lane with his sons, John and Arthur, both
Eton boys. I can recall his ample frock coat, con-
spicuous eye-glass, and somewhat mincing gait. He
was a great public servant, of noble independence of
character, and of lofty aims, but probably he was too
much engrossed in public affairs to perform the duties
of an amiable father, or to acquire the confidence and
affection of his sons.

As to games and amusements, I was but a moderate
player of fives, and no good at cricket or hockey, but
devotedly fond of Father Thames. Having but a weak
constitution, and being rather overgrown for my age,
I never became a powerful or expert oarsman ; but in
the last half of my Eton life I joined the boats as a
member of the Third Upper, and rowed with them to
Surley. I was on friendly terms with the boys in my
tutor's house, but swore eternal friendship with none.
My brother Maynard shared my room at Pickering's,
and in spite of occasional quarrels, we were much
attached to each other.

In the spring of 1S45, Dr. Chambers, the Broadbent
of the day, pronounced that my heart was not equal to
the exertion of rowing, and it was resolved that I
should not return to Eton.

My own inclinations pointed in this direction as
I was anxious to begin to qualify myself for the
impending struggle for life. My grandmother, Mrs.
Currie, had inherited a sum of ^5,000 which she left
to me on condition that I became a clergyman. In
spite of this inducement I preferred the career of a
layman, and the legacy passed to my brother Maynard
who took his degree at Cambridge, spent some time
at Wells, filled several curacies, was appointed by

jGurncy to Weimar. 15

Baron Meyer Rothschild to officiate at Mentmore,
and finally, on the presentation of Lord Kimberley,
became Rector of Hingham in Norfolk, where he died
in 1887.

My father had now four sons and two daughters.
He was fairly well off, but spent freely what he made,
and it was clear to me that I must depend on my
own exertions if I was to obtain any position in the
world. I proposed to him to send me for a couple
of years to Paris, but to this my dear mother demurred,
so it was decided that I should go to Weimar, where
my brother George had in the previous year spent
some months with a travelling tutor. It happened
that Arthur Eden, who had been my schoolfellow at
Pickering's, was required to learn German in order
to qualify himself for the business of a merchant at
St. Petersburg ; so our respective parents agreed that
we should travel to Weimar together. We went by
Ostend, Louvain, and Coblcntz, to Frankfort, by rail
or boat, but there the facilities afforded by steam came
to an end, and we had to take places in an eilwagen^
a stuffy, rumbling, slow conveyance, such as had
carried many generations of travelling Germans
between Frankfort and Leipsic. In due time it
deposited us at W^cimar.

The diary that I kept at this time was destroyed
in 1870 by fire at Coombe, so that I cannot be positive
about names and dates. Eden was sent to lodge with
a learned professor of the Gymnasium, whose only
means of conversing with us was in Latin ; and I
entered the family of a Herr Rath, or minor official of
the Grand Ducal Government. He had three daughters,
one called Bella, decidedly pretty, who performed the

1 6 Life at Weimar,

household duties and in turn cooked the dinner and
waited at table. Once a month I used to pay the
Rath for my entertainment with a rouleau of thalers.
The most interesting person of my acquaintance was
our German master, Herr Dr. Weissenborn, celebrated
by the immortal Thackeray, to whom he had taught
German some years before. He was a capital teacher
and under his guidance I acquired a fair colloquial
knowledge of the language, besides being initiated
into the beauties of Faust and the Elective Affinities.
One of my first experiences at \\'eimar was a visit
to the vault in which Goethe and Schiller lie buried
in the midst of Grand Ducal nonentities encased in
velvet covered coffins. I think it v.'as on the anniversary
of the death of Goethe that the visit was made.

Lord Brougham, the uncle by marriage of Arthur
Eden, had through M. Guizot recommended us to the
notice of M. de la Rochefoucault, the French Minister
resident at Weimar, and we were kindly entertained
at Court both by the reigning Grand Duke Carl
Friedrich, and his heir the present Grand Duke. \\'e
were invited to dinners and evening parties both in
the town and country residences of these distinguished
persons. Once we went to shoot deer with the Crown
Prince at Ilmenau, a place made famous by the lines
which Goethe wrote on a window-pane, the last of
which : IVartc nur, balde ruhest du auch, comes home to
me now.

We became members of the Erholung, a sort of
club to which the inhabitants of Weimar repaired daily
for outdoor refreshment, and we used to engage in
the game of Kegel with the officers of the garrison. I
remember to have received a formal remonstrance

Cou7't and Theatre. 17

from the committee of the club for having played this
game in my shirt-sleeves, an act of immorality accord-
ing to the German code {unsittlich).

There was plenty of partridge shooting to be had
over the Royal domain, at which my friend Arthur
was a proficient. Bustards we sought for and never
found, but he gained great credit by slaying an
auerhahn (cock-of-the-woods) which had defied the
skill of local sportsmen. In the evenings we played
whist with the officers in the Weimar army, whose
silber groschcn he used to win by superior skill. Perhaps
I learnt more German than my companion, but at
cards and sport he was greatly my superior. We
danced a great deal, fell more or less in love with
Grafins and other Frauleins, and on the whole had
a pleasant time. The society was almost entirely
German, and there were few English residents, which
was a help to our linguistic endeavours. For a faithful
picture of Weimar and its miniature court, I would
refer to the letter from Thackeray describing his life
there, which is contained in that delightful book, The
Life of Goethe, by G. Lewes.

The theatre at Weimar, though it had fallen from
the high estate to which it rose when Goethe was
director, was a constant source of amusement and
instruction. The Grand Ducal family occupied a
large gallery facing the stage. On their right sat the
Hoffdhif^e — persons capable of going to Court — and
on the left the multitude who were deprived of that
privilege. When H.R.H. made his appearance the
"court-capable" rose to their feet; the others took
no notice. Actors from Dresden and other German
cities used to give special performances (Gast rollcn),
C

1 8 2g, Cornhill.

and it was there that I first heard the melodious voice
of Jenny Lind.

In the spring of 1846, my parents decided that I
had been absent long enough, and after visiting Leipsic
and Dresden, I returned to England. It was in the
month of June of that year that I began to work as a
clerk in the banking house at 29, Cornhill.

The office or shop as we called it was narrow, low,
and not over well lighted, but it was of considerable
depth, and extended from the entrance in Cornhill
to a private door in Change Alley, opposite to
Garraway's coffee-house. The business was a small
one, in spite of the absorption of that of Dorrien and
Co., which had been effected in 1842, but the traditions
of my grandfather had been respected, and it was
perfectly sound and solvent. The partners were my
father's elder brother Isaac George, his cousin Henry,
and himself. John Lawford, the son of a former
partner, was actively engaged in the management, and
I was placed under his care.

When compared with the great banking institutions
of to-day, the firm of Currie's and Co. was, as my
father used to say, but a chandler's shop. My uncle
was a most careful saver, and had more than doubled
the inheritance which he had received from his father,
but his timid and suspicious character unfitted him
for such a business as banking. Henry had little or no
patrimony, and was not inclined to accumulate. He
lived in rough plenty in a rambling old house in
Surrey, and spent what spare cash he had in cultivating
useless land. I must always speak of him with regard,
for he had an affectionate disposition, and in spite of
occasional bursts of temper, treated me with kindness

'n ■<„

/.^./.

'Ani^-r.) f >a'i'H

Raikes Ciirrie. 19

and consideration. To his two daughters, both slightly
younger than myself, I was much attached, and the
many visits that I paid to West Horsley Place are still
green in my memory.

Of my father, Raikes Currie, it is more difficult to
speak with justice and propriet}'. Intellectuall}', he
was certainly superior to his partners, and he was
capable of making a great effort on any special
occasion. He had quickness, vivacity, and a consider-
able command of rhetoric, but these are not the
qualities which make the ideal banker. He took an
active but desultory part in the politics of the City,
and on more than one occasion proposed Baron
Rothschild at the Guildhall as one of the Liberal
candidates for that constituency.

On one of these occasions, when Lord John
Manners came forward to oppose the Liberal Members,
my father made the happy quotation from the published
works of the noble lord, which has since become stale
by endless repetition :

Let wealth and commerce, laws and learning, die,
But leave us still our old nobility.

In Parliament he spoke more than once. His first
effort was in support of the Free Trade tendency,
which Sir Robert Peel's financial speeches in 1842
disclosed. Miss Martineau in her history of the time
gives much praise to this speech, and declares that it
influenced public opinion.

Another occasion on which he addressed the House
was in opposition to the Lords, who had refused to
admit Lord Wensleydale to a seat in their chamber
because his patent of peerage was made out in favour

20 Failure of Harman and Co.

of himself alone, and did not contain the words, "heirs
male of his body lawfully begotten."

The sequel has proved, I think, that my father was
right in advocating the principle of life peerages, and
that the House of Lords, acting under the influence
of Lord Derby — the Rupert of debate — took a line
opposed to the true interests as well as to the per-
manency of their order. Since that time the economical
laws have been steadily working against the hereditary
peerage. If, as Lord Bacon says, nobility is but
ancient riches, how can the nobles preserve much
authority when their riches are gone ?

My brother George, who was looked upon by my
father as the heir to his uncle, had made a short
apprenticeship in Cornhill before I took my seat there
in 1846, and was at that time travelling in the East.
Henry Currie had a son of the same name about my
own age; and my father, fearing perhaps that I should
come into competition with his eldest son, always
spoke of my connection with the Bank as temporary
and preparatory to some other employment. This
uncertainty as to the future probably stimulated me
to exertion, and made me secretly resolve that I too
would be a banker. AncJi' io son pitiorc.

One of the first memorable events which disturbed
the calm of City life in my time, was the failure of
Harman and Co., the London bankers of the Russian
Government. It was reported that some years before
the catastrophe, the Russian Ambassador, having
heard rumours unfavourable to their credit, had pro-
posed to Messrs. Harman that they should divide the
Government account with Messrs. Rothschild. To
this Mr. Harman is said to have replied that they

Panic of iS^j. 21

would willingly transfer the account but that it was
contrary to the rules of the house to divide it. A
splendid example, if true, of successful bluff, for at the
time Messrs. Harman must have held many hundreds
of thousand pounds of Government money, which they
were not in a position to repay. In 1847, came the
memorable panic in which so many ancient mercantile
houses were swept away. Our firm was not specially
concerned with any of them, but Mr. John Cockerell
was an intimate friend of my father's, had been always
particularly kind to me, and appeared to my inexperi-
enced eyes the incarnation of stability, wealth, and
splendour.

I have always thought that the baptism of fire
through which I passed in 1847 ^^'^^^ useful to my
career as a banker. It made me question the solidity
of many showy and pretentious institutions, taught
me that old firms, like old men, are liable to decay,
and that if there is anything irregular or not easily
to be explained in their transactions, the most un-
favourable estimate of their credit is probably the true
one. The old saying that there is only one solution
to a commercial enigma is to be recommended for
its sagacity.

In 1848, my brother George being about to return
from his travels in India, my father urged me to take
a holiday, so as to leave the field in Cornhill clear for
him. At the time of his arrival in England, we were
living at a house in Eastern Terrace, Brighton, whence
I travelled daily by train to London, a plan not at
all conducive to my health. At this time I was a
great sufferer from nervous headache?. Among my

2 2 Aix la Chapclle and Iloniburg.

companions in the railway carriage I remember
Mr. R. C. L. Bevan, and the unfortunate Sir John
Dean Paul, both bankers of eminent piety, but of
very different characters and fortune.

In accordance with my father's wishes, and nothing
loath myself, I left England in the spring of 1848 for
Aix la Chapelle, and took a course of sulphur baths
which had been recommended to me. After some
weeks I repaired to Homburg to complete the cure.
The revolutionary Diet or Parliament was sitting at
Frankfort, and had chosen the Austrian Archduke
John as Rcichsverivescr. I remember meeting Lord
Cowley, who was accredited as British Minister to
the Diet, and his secretary Mr. George Petre, at an
evening party at Frankfort.

At Aix, I made the acquaintance of 'M. Blanc, who
farmed the gambling tables at Homburg. I did not
play myself, but it amused me to see the patriotic
deputies from Frankfort staking their money on the
green cloth.

The coarse face, red hair and beard of Blusu, a
Radical leader, is still before me. He was destined,
like many of his colleagues, to fall a victim to the
revolution which they had raised.

Among the English were some good-looking young
ladies, with w^hom I made many expeditions in a
phaeton and pair which I had hired at Frankfort.
Having completed my cure, I visited my old friends
at Weimar, and quartered myself — not with the Herr
Rath and his charming daughters — but in rooms over
a jeweller's shop in the market-place. At this time
a religious reformer, named Ronge, was conducting a
crusade against Rome, and particularly against the

A German Mob. 23

Holy Coat of Treves, which he denounced as an
imposture. A meeting of his supporters was held in
the market-place, and the proceedings were noisy.
Being confined to my room with illness, this disturbance
of my quiet irritated me, and with the imprudence of
youth I opened my window and blew a shrill note
with my dog-whistle. The consequences might have
been serious. My landlord was a Catholic and native
of Italy, and the crowd began to menace his house.
He came upstairs to my room trembling with fear.
The only reparation which I could make was to
address the people from the window in my best
German, and to say that it was I, an English
Protestant, who had whistled for my dog, and that
my landlord was entirely innocent. Whether this
satisfied them I cannot say, but the government of the
Grand Duke after a time ordered out their small army
and gradually dispersed the crowd.

I was eventually summoned to the municipal police
court, which I think inflicted on me a fine, subsequently
remitted by the clemency of the Grand Duke. Many
articles about this affair appeared in the German
newspapers of the day, in which I was deservcdlv
ridiculed as Dcr englische Pfeiffer.

My friends at Court did not lessen their attentions
to me in consequence of this foolish escapade. They
were not sorry, I think, to see ridicule thrown upon
what was more or less a revolutionary movement.
Just after my departure from Weimar this movement
increased in force, and the poor old Duke had to leave
his capital in haste and take refuge in Eisenach until
the storm subsided.

Soon after my return to England my father had,

24 Messrs. Dovill, Ponsfovd, and White.

through a civil engineer, Mr. George Bovill, become
interested in a patent for improving the grinding of
wheat, from which great resuhs were expected, A
successful builder, named Ponsford, and Mr. White,
a country miller from Reading, were induced to
establish a firm into which I was to be admitted as
a partner, my father providing me with a capital of
^20,000. A large building was erected in Thames
Street, which still "rears its tall head," but remains
untenanted, and experiments were begun at a small
flour mill lower down the river. My faith in the
undertaking was never great, and I only consented to
take part in it on receiving a promise in writing from
mv father that in case of failure, I should be received
back into the Bank.

Disputes about increased capital soon arose between
the partners. Eventually, Mr. Ponsford assumed the
whole responsibility of the firm, and mirahih dicta my
father got security for his capital, and in time recovered
his money. I have always thought this a remarkable
instance of the good luck which followed him through
life.

Mr. Bovill had the sanguine temperament of the
inventor, was always more or less in pecuniary straits
himself, and the wonderful patent which was to make
all our fortunes proved to be of no practical value.

While this affair was in suspense, having no daily
work to occupy my time, I happened in my reading
to come across Sir Francis Head's amusing Ride across
the Pampas. My health was not very good, or my
apprehensive temperament made me think so, and I
fancied that a life in the saddle would set me up.

About this time, through the good offices of Herr

Departure for South Ameriea. 25

Lachmaure, our common master in German, I had
become intimate with my Hfe-long friend Edward
Baring, who had studied at Gotha about the time of
my first visit to Weimar. From Gotha he had been
removed to a merchant's counting-house at Antwerp,
and was then acting as a clerk in the house of Baring
Brothers and Co. We spent a great deal of our time
together, and more than once I visited his family at
Cromer Hall.

The house of Baring, having some interests to
protect in Mexico, despatched their agent, M. Falconnet,
to that country, and allowed Edward to accompany
him, so that he might make acquaintance with their
correspondents, and enlarge his knowledge of the
world.

My father, always liberally disposed to further my
wishes, and still believing in the success of the milling
scheme, willingly consented to my desire for foreign
travel. Through the influence of Admiral D. Dundas,
he obtained a passage for me from Plymouth to Rio
Janeiro on board H.M.S. Dm-^r, Commander Johnson.
At that time there was no communication by steam
with South America, and the postal service was
conducted by ten gun brigs of H.M.'s navy plying
between Falmouth and Rio. I sailed in March, 1849,
just as Sir C. Napier was starting to take command of
the British army in India, well supplied with letters of
introduction from Baring's and other mercantile houses
to their South American correspondents, with recom-
mendations from the Foreign Office, and above all with
a letter from Mr. Mandeville, an ex-diplomat, to the
redoubtable Don J. M. de Rosas, the autocrat of the
Argentine Republic. I remember my disappointment

26 Arrival at Rio.

when, after many days of sea, the Driver reached
Madeira, and we were not allowed to land by the
Portuguese health officers in consequence of sickness
on board.

In due time — six weeks, I think — the Driver entered
the glorious harbour of Rio. She had what was
called an auxiliary screw, but the Captain's orders
were not to consume coal, as long as he could make
way with the sails. My natural impatience of con-
finement made me urge him on, and he used to
declare that, when he referred me to the Admiralty
regulations, I replied that he might charge me with
the cost of the extra coals. He was a pleasant,
friendly little man and treated me very well, but the life
on board ship did not suit me. I tried to teach myself
Spanish, in which I had already taken a few lessons
in London, by reading the famous translation of Gil
Bias by the Padre Isla, and I managed with a
dictionary to make it out.

The Driver landed me at Rio, and soon proceeded
to the West Coast, where she joined the squadron of
Admiral Hornby on the Pacific Station. At Rio I
found Mr. — afterwards Sir James — Hudson installed
as head of the British Legation. He was a man of
distinguished appearance and charming manners. By
his advice I avoided the unhealthy climate of Rio,
and started soon after my arrival for Petropolis, a
German colony recently founded in the mountains,
but not before Mr. Hamilton, another member of the
Legation, had taken me, together with two or three
of his young family, for a cruise in Botafogo Bay.
Whether purposely or not (for he was an eccentric
being), the canoe that carried us was upset in the

Petropolis, Monte Video, and Buenos Ayrcs. 27

bay. His children seemed used to the adventure, and
struck out for the shore. My swimming, the only
useful thing I had brought back from Eton, stood
me in good stead, but my watch was spoiled, and a
rather loud suit of dittos, which I fancied had excited
the wrath of Hamilton, was shorn of its glory. At
Petropolis I put up at a sort of pension kept by one
Moss, a Hebrew, who had been butler to Lord
Strangford during his mission to the Brazilian Coast,
and was now a well-to-do slave-owner and landed
proprietor.

After a few weeks spent in Brazil, I sailed for
Monte Video in a small schooner of two hundred tons,
which carried the mails, and came in for a pampero,
or storm from the south. The siege of Monte Video
— which had lasted almost as long as the siege of
Troy — was still nominally in force, but there seemed
to be little or no firing going on when I walked on
the ramparts with Mr. R. Gore, the British Consul.
After a day or two spent with him I went on to
Buenos Ayres. To those who have visited this city
in recent years, my description would appear in-
credible. It was a mean-looking town, without
anything in the shape of an hotel above the standard
of Wapping. It boasted of an unfinished Plaza, the
buildings round which, including the Cathedral, were
formed of dried clay. The private houses, constructed
of the same material, had flat roofs and open courts
after the model of those of Seville or Cadiz, but
without their artistic charm.

Mr. Southern, a disciple of Jeremy Bentham, and
a protege of Lord Clarendon, was H.M.'s Minister at
Buenos Ayres, tolerated, but not officially recognized

28 Life at Buenos Ayres.

by the Chief of the Republic, who had some grievance
against the British Government. His secretary,
'C. Henderson, afterwards Consul at Boston, U.S.,
•was my daily companion. We had a mutual friend
in Domingo Arcos, the son of a wealthy Spaniard,
who had fled from European revolutions to Santiago
■de Chili. Our evenings were spent at the Opera, or
at the house of the Governor Rosas, whose daughter,
Manuelita, received every day of the week. Riding
Avas the principal occupation of the day. Horses cost
a few paper dollars only, and I remember to have seen
in the town that remarkable phenomenon, a beggar
on horseback. We paid a visit of some days to an
estancia belonging to General Rosas, and were initiated
into the life of the Campo, saw bulls chased, ostriches
■entangled with bolas, young horses lassoed and
mounted for the first time, and were regaled with
matte and came con ciccro — a piece cut out of the back
of an ox with the hide left on, and cooked on the
'embers of a wood fire.

The intention which I had formed in England of
crossing the Pampas to Chili, was frustrated by the
time of year at which I arrived, as in the winter the
passes of the Andes are blocked with snow. So,
instead of spending some weeks only in Buenos Ayres,
I stayed there several months until the summer came
in October or November. In the meantime, I amused
•m3'self with an excursion to the provinces of Santa
Fe and Entre Rios. I was attended by a vigilante,
or police officer, w-hom General Rosas put at my
■disposal, and was furnished with a passport, which
■entitled me to use the Government post-houses free
of charge. I went as far as the frontier of Paraguay,

Mendoza and Santiago. 29

and after some weeks on horseback, arrived at Guali-
guaychee, where I found an Italian boat freighted
with oranges, which took me to Buenos Ayres by
water. I went back to my old apartment in the Calle
Tacuari, rode to Palermo, the General's quinta in the
afternoons, and attended a icrtiilia in the evenings^
The Portinas, or young ladies of Buenos Ayres, were
pretty, graceful, and engaging, and I found their
society attractive. There were not many resident
Britons, and I lived principally with the natives, with
whom I could by this time converse freely in their
own language. At last the time came to move,
westward. 1 engaged an English servant, who had
lived with Mr. Southern, and we rode by S. Luis to-
Mendoza, changing horses eight or nine times in the
day. One journey of one hundred and twenty miles
was my greatest performance. At Mendoza, I made
a bargain with a muleteer to take me to Santiago by
the Uspallata Pass, and he landed me there safely, in
spite of earthquakes and narrow ledges cut in the face
of the rock, along which the mules had to pass in
single file. It was an expedition which I should not
care to repeat.

At Santiago I was hospitably entertained by the
father of my friend Doniingo Arcos, whose brothers,
like himself, were clever young men and great musicians..
P^rom Santiago I descended the slope of the Andes
in a one horse conveyance to Valparaiso, where the
English and American merchants were established.
Thence I embarked in a steamer of the Pacific Co., and,
after touching at various places on the coast, landed
at Callao, the port of Lima, where I had arranged
to meet my friend Edward Baring on his return from

30 Lima. Peru.

Mexico. The British Minister was Mr. WilHam Pitt
Adams, whose wife was Baring's cousin, and I found
him Hving with them at the Legation. I remember
the crowd in the Plaza on Christmas Day, 1849, where
I met the Hornby family, including the celebrated
Sir Geoffrey, who had come up from Callao. I visited
the Admiral, on board H.M.S. Asia, and was amused
at the deferential manner of Commander Johnson in
the presence of his chief, having known him on the
quarter-deck of the Driver, where everybody bowed
down before him. Baring and I were delighted to
meet after such a long separation. We stayed together
at the sea-bathing hamlet called Chorillos, where a
shanty was lent to us by one of the Lima merchants.
We gave an entertainment to the bathing guests, which
consisted in a great haul of sea-fish by the Indians ;
we engaged with Peruvian gamblers in the game
of Monte, at which the stakes were gold ounces ;
and had a Christmas dinner with a benevolent old
German, who presided over the mercantile house of
Huth and Co. I remember my surprise at finding
that my German speech had departed, having, I
suppose, been driven out by talking Spanish for so
many months.

As Baring intended to return by way of Chili and
Buenos Ayres, we agreed to go part of the way
together, and taking steamer at Callao, we made for
Arica and Tacua. Thence we rode to Arequipa, a
considerable town in the interior of Peru, where we
saw alpacas used by the Indians as beasts of burden.
The scenery through which we passed was magnificent,
but we failed to detect anything remarkable in the
ancient buildings of the Incas, about which we had

By Chagres to Jamaica. 31

read glowing descriptions in Prescott's History of the
Conquest of Peru. He must have taken his facts from
Spanish chronicles, and not from personal observation.
I remember that we had a French cook besides other
servants, and camped out when we were not living at
Arequipa. The consequence was that they all caught
malarial fever, from which my friend and I happily
escaped. Returning to the coast, we parted to meet
again in New York. Baring sailed to \'alparaiso, and
I went in the opposite direction to Panama, which
was then, I think, the terminus of the Pacific Steam
Navigation Co. Here I found a hospitable entertainer
in H.M.'s Consul, Mr. Perry, brother of my friend
Sir Erskine, and son of the well-known Whig editor
of the Morning Chronicle. He had a charming young
daughter, with whom I rode about in the neighbouring
country. M\- object now was to catch the Royal Mail
steamer at Chagres, on the other side of the Isthmus.
There were no roads, and the onl}' mode of transit was
on horseback. The gold discoveries in California had
recently been made, and I met crowds of desperate-
looking Yankee adventurers crossing the Isthmus on
foot in order to make their way to S.Francisco.

I think the journey took two days, as I remember
sleeping, or trying to sleep, at a wretched half-way
house full of dangerous characters. At Chagres the
R.M. boat soon made its appearance, and I took my
passage for Jamaica. The Bishop of that island,
Dr. Spencer, was on board, and we became friends.
I visited him at his delightful cottage in the Blue
Mountains, where the garden was full of humming-
birds. I also dined and slept at Government House
with Sir Charles Grey, surnamed Pickwick, who was

32 Arrival m New Yoi'k.

a friend of my father. The scenery of Jamaica
dehghted me, and I wondered why it was not more
frequented by travellers in search of a tropical climate.

From Kingston an American boat took me to New
York. Some of the United States passengers were,
I remember, outraged at the impudence of a coloured
newspaper editor who took a leading part at a luncheon
given on board in honour of our departure, and made
a flowery speech.

I have no distinct recollection of my itinerary in
the United States where I stayed for many months,
but, besides New York and Boston, I was at Saratoga
and Newport in the height of the season, and at the
latter place saw what the Kcw York Herald called,
" Hon. Henry Clay in the surf.*' I was at a com-
memoration-day at Harvard, and heard Mr. Everett
denounce King George III. I also spent a Sunday with
the Shakers, at a place called Sharon. All the people
to whom I brought letters, including Mr. Bancroft the
historian, treated me with kindness. I danced a great
deal and generally amused myself. The principal
public event was the sudden death of the President,
Z. Taylor, which the papers informed us was caused
by his making a hearty meal of berries and milk ; and
at Boston I heard the news of the death of Sir Robert
Peel.

At Washington I found Sir Henry Bulwer, and at
his house met the leading public men of the time, such
as Webster, Clay, Winthrop, and Sumner. They
struck me as somewhat pompous, and resembling in
manners and appearance the notables of an English
provincial town. Bulwer used to say that the greater
a senator or a public man was, the slower he spoke —

Sir Henry Bu liver and his Nepheiv. 2)Z

and certainly the celebrated Daniel Webster was
alarmingly deliberate in his utterances.

Among the young men at the Legation were
Messrs. Pennell and Fenton, and during my stay at
Washington Robert L}'tton, Sir Henry's nephew, the
future Viceroy and Ambassador, arrived as attacJie.
He was a boy of not much more than seventeen,
who had just left Harrow, eccentrically dressed, with
abundant velvet cuffs and collars, and shiny boots,
but even at that early age witty and original as he
remained to the end. He always appeared to me as
a most amusing and charming companion.

Sir Henry, when not laid up with illness, real or
imaginary, which happened about four days out of the
seven, was also a brilliant talker with a considerable
gift of sarcasm. The American papers described him
as a small, pock-marked man, weighing i2olbs. ; but
he managed to outwit their State Secretary Clayton,
with whom he negotiated the treaty which bears their
names. Whether this diplomatic triumph was worth
much remains to be proved. To me he was especially
kind. I conceived a great regard for him, and always
regretted my neglect to cultivate his friendship in
later years when he returned to Europe. By that
time, however, I was engrossed in business, and had
become unsocial in my habits. He invited me to
accompany him in an e.xpedition which he made with
Lady Bulwer to Canada. We visited Niagara together,
dined with Lord Elgin at a villa near Toronto, where
he had retired after the rebellion at Quebec, and went
back to Saratoga Springs.

Towards the end of 1850 my friend Baring
arrived at New York from the River Plate, having
D

34 Return to England.

spent some months at Buenos Ayres, where he
made acquaintance with all my Argentine friends,
male and female. The name of Baring carried great
weight at that time in America, and I remember
a dinner which was given to us at the Astor House,
then the first hotel in New York, in order to introduce
us to what was called " the privacy of the Astor."
Mr. S. Draper, a leading wire-puller and politician,
made a speech mostly about himself, the relevance of
which we failed to perceive, and he perorated thus :
" I ask no favour, I expect no favour, I am entitled to
no favour." Baring put up at the hotel in New York
where I was sta3'ing, and after a short time we sailed
together for Liverpool in the Cunard steamer Niagara.
As was to be expected at that time of year, we had a
stormy passage which lasted many days.

Having now concluded my transatlantic travels,
the only serious travels which the engagements of
business ever allowed me to undertake, and having no
record of dates or events to guide me, I shall drop the
chronological method, and endeavour to put down
whatever I can recall, either respecting things or
persons which may interest my son Laurence, the
only survivor of my four children.

When he gave up living at Albyns, the air of which
he fancied did not suit him, my father had for some
years no fixed country residence, but usually hired
some place for the summer. In 1847, before I left
England, he took Canizzaro House, Wimbledon, for a
few months, and I formed my first connection with
that neighbourhood in which I have had a dwelling of

Wimbledon and Redleaf. 35

some sort for more than forty years. Lord Cottenham,
the Chancellor, was living close by at Copse Hill, and
we dined there with him. One of the subjects discussed
at his table was the marriage of the Duke of Wellington
with Miss Burdett Coutts, which many people, includ-
ing her partner in the bank, Mr. Majoribanks, believed
to be impending. Our nearest neighbours were Sir
John Lefevre and Sir James Stephen, both distinguished
members of the public service. At Roehampton lived
Sir G. H. Larpent, one of the victims of the monetary
crisis of 1847, ^-^^ ^^'^' ^- Robarts, a worthy specimen
of the banker of the old school, who inhabited the
fine Palladian house built by Sir W. Chambers, now
occupied and enlarged, but not improved, by the Jesuit
Fathers.

Soon after my return from America, I remember a
summer spent at Redleaf, near Penshurst, an unpre-
tending house belonging to Mr. Wells, whose uncle
had formed a valuable collection of pictures, and had
shaped the undulating grounds near the house into a
charming and original garden.

Here, on September ist, my brother jPhilip (born
1S34) had his first day's shooting, which resulted in
the death of a sporting dog belonging to Sir Edwin
Landseer, who had been a constant visitor to Mr. Wells,
senior, and had painted for him the choice animal
pictures which fetched such large sums at his nephew's
sale in iSgo.

A neighbour who proved a great acquisition to our
society was Lord Hardingc, of South Park. He was
a most lively, unpretending little man, full of amusing
anecdotes relating to his eminent political and military
career. The curate of Penshurst was an eccentric

36 Mr. Devey, the Architect.

parson named Boissier, wlio amazed us by the emphasis
which he laid upon the personal pronoun, when he
read in the lesson for the day : " Saddle me the ass."

In after-years I heard much about Penshurst from
my friend Mr. Devey, the architect, to whom I am
indebted for whatever taste or merit there may be in
all the buildings at Minley, Coombe, and Whitehall,
upon which in the course of my life so much money
has been wasted. It is to him that the admirable
restoration of Penshurst Place, the ancient home of
the Sidneys, is due. He built a picturesque, rambling
cottage in the village for Mr. Nasmyth, of steam-
hammer fame, who used to laugh at what he called
the " Deveyations " of his home, and he was employed
as an architect by many other residents in and about
Penshurst. His sudden death, in the middle of my
building operations at Minley, was a great blow to
me. In order to appreciate his inventive faculty and
fastidious attention to detail, the great house which he
planned for Lord Kenmare at Killarney should be
studied. I flatter myself that my own humble dwelling
at Coombe Warren is a rather happy reproduction of
the Tudor st)"]e. He had a healthy horror of sham
ornament and unstable construction, so that his works
will live at any rate until they are pulled down.

I sometimes amuse myself by thinking that as the
present tendency of things is to reduce great fortunes,
whether derived from land, from commerce, or from
savings, and to equalize the income of men, most of
the great houses which for centuries have adorned the
country, will cease to be inhabited, and in their place
will arise highly ornamented, semi, or wholly detached
villas, of which thousands already exist to disiigure the

^— - -Ml

A^au*wi.i

^.A;! 1=^^

Mr. and Mrs. Grote. 37

earth. Mankind will, no doubt, as of old, adapt itself
to the environment, but to those who were born when
George IV. was King the prospect is not inviting.
The type of our race may be altered, if it be true that
early association with houses and gardens full of historic
and artistic treasure influences the mind, for nothing
can be so utterly banal and uninspiring for the young
as the associations of the modern suburban villa,

Villadom has already given its name to a school of
politicians distinguished for the absence of ideas, for
the glorification of chauvinism, and for faith in such
patriots as that precious pair of knights, Sir Ashmead
Bartlett and Sir Howard Vincent.

I must not forget to record my friendship with
Mrs. Grote, the wife of the historian of that name, and
herself a woman of unusual force of character and
intellect. At her house in Savile Row I met politicians,
men of letters, artists, and musicians, with all of whom
she was able to hold her own. Her sense of humour
was very lively, and she invented nicknames for many
of her friends. That of Puffendorf, which she bestowed
upon Mr. Henry Reeve, was particularly happy.
Mr. Grote was an interesting person of great simplicity
of character, formally polite in his manners, but a true
philosopher in practice as well as in his writings.
When he had accumulated a moderate fortune as a
banker, he retired from business without a sigh, and
devoted all his time to literature; and when, after the
great success of his history of Greece, a peerage was
offered to him, he had the sense, in spite, I fancy,
of his wife's predilections, to decline so incongruous
an honour.

38 Jenny Lind.

I remember a Sunday spent at Burnham Beeches,
where the Grotes had a cottage — surnamed " History
Hut," because it was supposed to have been built out
of the profits of the history — at which the only other
guests were Lumley the lessee of the Italian Opera,
the famous Jenny Lind, and her Swedish companion.
The interest and curiosity excited about this singer
was unprecedented, although the art of reclame was
still in its infancy. She had not yet appeared in
public, and I know not how Mrs. Grote had managed
to accaparer such a prize. Mademoiselle Lind was
doubtless a great artist, with a splendid voice, but, in
spite of Mrs. Grote's exhortation to go in and " cut the
girths " of some supposed admirer of her charms, I
was not fascinated by her sparse, tow-coloured hair,
high forehead, and fishy eyes. Neither she nor her
companion spoke French or English, and I remember
laughing when Mr. Grote, whose knowledge of German
was not colloquial, said, in solemn tones, and with a
most British accent, at breakfast, " Mcin Fraulein,
wollcn Sie ein Ei nehncn ? "

Another well-known person who took notice of me
at this time was Mr. Samuel Jones Lo3'd, the banker
and financial writer. My father, who was his intimate
friend, loved to magnify both his wealth and his intel-
lect, and was a devout believer in the wisdom of the
Bank Charter Act of 1844, which was founded upon
the theories of Lo3'd and G. W. Norman.

I often visited Mr. Loyd at Wickham, in Kent,
where he had bought a place from a cit}' merchant
in difficulties, on condition that all the contents of the
house, down to plate and table-linen, should be included
in the purchase. He had a great dislike to domestic,

Sanmel Jones Loyd. 39

as well as most other forms of expenditure, and used
to say that the best place to live in was an hotel. He
once gave me a sovereign when I was a boy at Eton,
which was considered a remarkable distinction ; and
he very kindly invited me as a guest of the Political
Economy Club, to attend the dinner which was given
at Greenwich in 1846, to celebrate the repeal of the
Corn Laws.^ Lord Grey, Mr. C. \'illiers, and other
public men were present, but my impression is that
by far the best speech was made by the chairman,
Mr. Loyd.

His father, Lewis Loyd, the founder of the family
fortune, and, I suspect, a much wiser man than his
son, had retired to Overstone, a moderate-sized country-
house near Northampton, where he had bought a large
estate, and on the occasion of the meeting of the Royal
Agricultural Society, I was invited, together with his
nephew William, to stay with him. His favourite
author seemed to be his banker's pass-book, which lay
on a table beside him. He was wonderfully alert for
his age, and entertained us with many stories of his
early experiences of the City.

' "The other day the Political Economy Club gave a dinner at
Greenwicli to celebrate the passing of the Corn Bill, and each member
was allowed to bring a friend. Mr. S. J. Loyd %'ery kindly selected me,
and we went down there together. There were about twenty-seven
people present, among others Sir H. Larpent, Messieurs Van de Weyer
and de I'ollon the Belgian and Sardinian Ministers, Milner Gibson,
Lyall, Warburton, C. Villiers, M.l's. Messrs. Lefevre, McGregor,
Whitmore, Strzlecki, Varden, Ricardo, Tooke, Senior, &c. We had a
capital dinner, and Loyd made a splendid speech highly complimentary
to Villiers. We had also speeches from Milner Gibson, Warburton
(who proposed the health of Peel amidst faint cheering), Whitmore,
Van de Weyer, ttc. After dinner, Messrs. Lefevre, Loyd, Varden, and
myself drove over to Wickham in a fly, and slept there." {^Letter from
B. IV. C. to Raikes Curric. Esq., M.P. Kissingen. July i8lli, 1846.)

40 Far77iing Woods.

The glory of the family has now departed. The
wealth was, I think, always exaggerated. The business
in Manchester, as well as the bank in Lothbury (which
Mrs. Grote called a great commercial inheritance) were
abandoned, and the purchases of land, to which father
and son devoted large sums, have proved a delusion
and a snare.

In 1850, while I was travelling in the United
States, my brother George married the only daughter
of Mr. Vernon Smith, who was my father's
parliamentary colleague at Northampton. I became
intimate with the family of my sister-in-law, and
especially with her mother, afterwards. Lady Lyveden,
for whom I had a true regard. More than once I took
a subordinate part in theatrical performances at
Farming Woods, a comfortable house, originally a
hunting-lodge, which Lady Lyveden had inherited
from Lord Ossory, the friend of Reynolds and of
Horace Walpole. The paintings of the one, and the
manuscript letters of the other were among the
treasures of the house.

The principal leader in these performances was
Augustus Stafford, W.V., the heir of a neighbouring
squire, and well known in the political and social
world of London. Gowran Vernon, a son of the
house, and F. Ponsonby, since Earl of Bessborough,
were among the actors. Each believed that the
rare mimetic gift had been bestowed on him ; I being
under no such illusion with regard to myself was
content with the humblest parts. Miss Mary Boyle, an
enthusiastic amateur, was the heroine, and Mr. Vernon
Smith's handsome face and good figure showed to
advantage as Squire Hardcastle in She stoops to conqticr.

George Ciirrie. 41

By this time the firm of White, Ponsford, and Co.
had been dissolved, and I was again regular in my
attendance at the bank in Cornhill. My father and
Henry Currie had other occupations and interests ;
my brother was newly married, and much in society,
for which his wife had really remarkable qualifications,
and the drudgery and monotony of our business were
irksome to him. He was a man of great originality
of character, with perhaps an undue contempt for the
opinion of others, fond of pleasure, gifted with more
than usual ability, and willing to exert himself if any
particular object was to be gained ; but he had little
ambition, and was incapable of self-control, or of
sustained effort. In after-years, when he had retired
from the bank, he took a leading and effective part
in the affairs of the different undertakings with which
he was connected. His judgment and power of lucid
exposition were much appreciated by those with whom
he acted.

I used sometimes to envy his powers of enjoyment.
Hunting, shooting, yachting, all delighted him in turn,
and the so-called pleasures of the table aggravated,
I fear, the disease of which he died in 1887, to my
lasting regret, for we had always lived on the most
affectionate terms.

My cousin, the younger Henry, retired from the
bank on an annuity. This was a voluntary act on his
part, or on that of his father, who proposed an
arrangement which was willingly accepted by us.

My uncle, Isaac George, at the mature age of fifty-
five, and after he had experienced two paralytic seizures,
fell a victim to the charms of a widow, the mother of
five children. The natural consequences ensued, and

42 Financial Panic of i8^y.

the fortune, with which my father had always in
imagination endowed my eldest brother, was alienated,
and in time dissipated. Soon after his marriage my
uncle's infirmities increased, and he also withdrev/
from the Bank.

Thus I, who had been admitted into the business
on sufferance only, became, not so much from any
merit of my own as from the inabilities of my partners,
the responsible manager. The concern was fairly
prosperous, and we considered the year a poor one
which did not give a profit of 3^20,000.

Looking back upon the events of business from
1852 to 1864, little of exceptional interest occurs to
me. The great financial panic of 1857 inflicted no loss
upon us, and we profited by the high rates of interest
which were easily to be obtained on bills of exchange.
I remember that one of our debtors who had under-
taken to pay cash on a given day, could only offer us
a bill at three months on the house of Hambro and Co.
This he gladly left with us for discount at ten per
cent., plus one-half per cent, commission. Such rates
must appear fabulous to the banker of these degenerate
days, who has to be content w^ith the half per cent,
interest, and no commission. As every name was
questioned in such anxious times, before agreeing to
take the bill I consulted Messrs. Gurney, who said of
the acceptors : *' They are as safe as thy house."

The failure of Streatfield, Laurence, and Co. made
a sensation in its day, and caused heavy losses to the
bankers and discount brokers who held their paper,
as will be found recorded in the articles and caricatures
which appeared in the newspapers of the time. The
legitimate business of the firm was that of leather

Mr. TJiomas Bai'iiig. 43

factors, but they had developed a huge system of
accommodation bills. Their banking account had been
transferred to us from Messrs. Dorricn, and both the
partners, Messrs. Laurence and Mortimore, used to
impress upon me the advantage of increasing our line
of discount ; Laurence assuming an air of patronage
and threatening to remove his account to some other
bank, and Mortimore, who was a person of ostenta-
tiously penurious habits, enlarging upon his own great
wealth. Confidence, as Lord Chatham observed, is a
plant of slow growth in an aged bosom. Though mine
was still comparatively }oung, the plant which this
crafty pair endeavoured to put upon me did not take
serious root, and our loss by the failure was, contrary
to the expectations of our neighbours, no more than
we could bear without inconvenience.

My great friend and constant companion was now
Edward Baring, who was conducting, with much
energy and ability, the produce department of the
house in Bishopsgate Street. The heads of that firm
were Joshua Bates, at whose villa at Sheen we used
to dine, and Thomas Baring, a merchant prince, and
worthy successor of the Medici or the Fuggers. He
was of a sarcastic turn of mind, and if he did not
actually "hate us youth," he had no objection to
snubbing us when we were in spirits, I was often a
guest at his somewhat ponderous banquets, and
although I know that he looked upon me, perhaps
with reason, as a bumptious }outh, I had always
a great respect for him, and admired the way in which
he raised the reputation, and enlarged the foundations
of his house. There were occasions on whicli he
must have run great risks, but his courage and the

44 Sumjner Months at Wimbledon.

unexampled credit which the firm enjoyed carried him
through the most difficult times, and when he died in
1870 he left an ample fortune and an unblemished
name.

In 1854, the year of that unwise adventure the
Crimean War, Baring and I hired for the summer
months a cottage at Wimbledon, near the old Roman
encampment, the lines of which could then be clearly
traced. The cottage now serves as a club for golf
players, and the ditch which surrounded the camp has
been barbarously filled up. In the three subsequent
years we rented three other houses at Wimbledon, the
most interesting of which was that which once
belonged to Parson Home, afterwards known as
Home Tooke, at the south-west corner of the
Common. Here, according to the memoir of his life,
Mr. Home used to regale his Sunday visitors with a
leg of mutton, and here he desired to be buried in the
garden ; but his undutiful executors placed his remains
elsewhere, and stored potatoes in the tomb which he
had prepared for himself.

I find that I have omitted to record my flitting
from the domestic hearth in Hyde Park Terrace,
which took place about 1853, with the full consent if
not at the instance of my parents. My first establish-
ment was in chambers at the end of Harcourt Buildings
in the Inner Temple. The Thames Embankment was
yet to be made, and I have often watched from my
windows the barges gliding along the stream by
moonlight, and thought the river not unworthy to be
compared with the Grand Canal at Venice. The
house which I occupied has now been destroyed, or

Rooms in the Imicr Tcniplc. 45

obliterated by a large modern building of pretentious
character, which fronts the Embankment. I had
three rooms, besides a vestibule and a kitchen, and
with a man and his wife to do for me, I led a not
uncomfortable life. The distance from the West End
was a bar to society, the charms of which never
attracted me much, but the propinquity of my
chambers to the City, to which I used to walk every
morning, by way of Apothecaries Hall and Doctors
Commons, was an advantage. When not in the
humour to dine at home, I sometimes repaired to the
Cock or to the Mitre, both ancient taverns within
"the dusty purlieus of the Law." The theatres were
close at hand. It was at the Olympic in Wych Street
that I first saw Robson act the part of Shylock, in a
wretched burlesque of the McrcJiant of \'cnicc. I
believe that under happier circumstances he would
have been the greatest English actor since Garrick,
and quite capable of representing the real Shylock, in
a style very different from that of Mr. C. Kean, or of
K. Irving, whose merits, to my shame be it spoken,
I was never able to appreciate.

After the summer at Redleaf, I can recall no
other temporary home of my famil\-, until they
settled for some months at Rickmansworth Park,
an unattractive place belonging to Sir John Kirkland.
Here it was, I think, that my father, who had thrown
himself with his usual lightheartedness into the cause
of the Hungarians in their struggle with the Austrian
and Russian Governments, entertained the famous
Kossuth. One of our most intimate friends of that
time, and indeed as long as he lived, was Paul
commonly called Count Strzlccki, of whose origin

46 Count Stj^zlecki.

and parentage little or nothing was known ; though
I have been told that his father was a steward in
the employment of Prince Sapieha. He never spoke
of his own affairs ; upon other subjects he was full
of fun, and poured forth anecdotes, which on account
of his imperfect pronunciation of English perhaps
seemed more amusing than they really were. He was
a confirmed Anglomane. His circumstances appeared
to be easy, and he was on friendly terms with most of
the leading men of the da}^ especially with those on
the Liberal side in politics. I have never knov/n any
one who had a more rational enjoyment of life, or
who was in practice such a true philosopher. When
the end came unexpectedly he turned his face to the
wall without a complaint, and desired that no stone or
other memorial should mark the place where he was
laid.

I was not at Rickmansworth when Kossuth arrived,
but my father told me that his manner, which had
been most attractive, suddenly changed when he saw
the Count, whom he suspected, without reason, as I
believe, to be a spy. Other Hungarian refugees who
came to our house were M. F. Pulszky and his
interesting young wife, each of whom had escaped
separately and in disguise from the clutches of the
Austrian police. There was a valuable art collection,
principally, I think, of Majolica belonging to the
Pulszky family, part of which found a temporary home
in Hyde Park Terrace.

It must have been soon after this period that my
father shifted his summer quarters to Sandling, near
Hythe, in Kent, which he rented for some years from
Mr. Deedes, the Member for the county. The house

Sand ling. 47

is ugly, square, and comfortable, and may be seen
from the South-Eastern Railway, Miss Austen, in
one of her letters, dated from Sandling, mentions a
room in which there was a fireplace immediately
under the window. This arrangement, then a novelty,
seems to have commended itself to her, but in spite of
my unbounded reverence for the immortal Jane, it
has always appeared detestable to me. The combina-
tion is unnatural. A fireplace should be snug, and
sheltered. A window should be easy of access.
I have seen the plan reproduced in some of the
modern villas, which have at various times excited
my wrath.

The foreign legion, which was recruited by the
Government of the day, in order to supplement the
scanty British force in the Crimea, had its head-
quarters at Shorncliffe, and an entertainment of the
legion was got up by the neighbours to be held in the
park at Sandling. I came dov.n from London to be
present on the occasion. Lord Palmerston, M. Musurus,
the Turkish Ambassador, and the Duke of Cambridge
were among the guests. Speeches of the usual
patriotic character were made in a tent. My
brother Maynard was acting at this time as curate
to the Venerable Archdeacon Croft, rector of the
parish (Saltwood), and a pluralist of no mean dimen-
sions. The Archdeacon, a handsome specimen of the
higher clergy, had earned his preferment by marrying
the daughter of Archbishop Manners Sutton. In
lamenting the decline of the Episcopal order I
remember to have heard him say : " My father-in-law
never went abroad in Canterbury but in a coach and
six, whereas the present Primate (J. Ij. Sumner)

48 Maynard and the Village Schoolmaster.

actually walks up from the railway station to his
palace carrying a hand-bag." It may be questioned
which of the two men was the better witness to the
doctrine, then much debated, of Apostolic Succession.
Another utterance of the Archdeacon which grieved
my good mother, though it seemed to me to be not
inconsistent with sound sense, and to be specially
appropriate to his audience, was contained in a
charge which he delivered to the clergy of the diocese.
He exhorted them to lay by money, saying, that
observation had taught him that a clergyman was
always respected in proportion to his means.

My brother took an active part in the parish
affairs. The village schoolmaster was a somewhat
insubordinate person, who, having partaken too freely
of stimulants in the housekeeper's room at Sandling on
the occasion of the festivities in the park, became
noisy and offensive. When requested to withdraw, he

declared that he did not care a d for Radical

Raikes or his family. A body of London police had
been sent down to keep order at the/^'/^, and Maynard,
who had a sufficient sense of clerical authority, desired
one of the policemen to remove the excited pedagogue,
and to lock him up. No sooner said than done. The
result was that the schoolmaster brought an action
for false imprisonment. The Judge who presided at
the trial, indulged in jokes of the average judicial
calibre about Mrs. Housekeeper, and her private
bottle of strong waters. The British jury felt that
the liberty of the subject had been infringed. My
father had to pay ;^5oo in damages, and could only
revenge himself by inveighing against the wisdom of
our ancestors, who had committed our dearest interests

Al7\ Nathaniel Hibbert. 49

to the decision of twelve just men, not infrequently
noodles !

It was, I think, in the autumn of 1858, after spend-
ing the summer months at Camp Cottage, Wimbledon,
of which I had now acquired the lease, that Mr. George
Hibbert invited me to visit him at his shooting-place,
near Brechin, in Scotland, The elder brother of my
host, Mr. Nathaniel Hibbert, was from his modest
and retiring character far less generally known than
he deserved to be, though no man was more appre-
ciated by his few intimate friends, among whom I may
record the Dowager Lady ?.Iorley, and Mr. George
Tierney, names now forgotten, but celebrated in their
day for wit and social charm. I often visited
Mr. N. Hibbert at Munden, in Hertfordshire, which
still contained a residuum of the famous library and
picture-gallery of his father, G. Hibbert the elder, a
great West India merchant, and one of the dramatis
personce in Dibdin's trumpery Decameron. In all my
experience of life I have never met a more fascinating
host and companion than Mr. Nathaniel Hibbert.
He was full of information and happy allusion, not
averse to paradox, somewhat irascible, and so light
in hand, and so changeable in his humour, that I
should best describe him as an anti-bore. T. L. Peacock,
my favourite minor poet, has written a line which
aptly describes him :

For nature had but little clay

Like that of which she moulded him.

He married the younger daughter of the Rev. Sydney
Smith. She and all her children have long been dead.
E

50 Mr. and Mrs. Rttssell Sturgis.

It was during this visit in Scotland that I made
the acquaintance of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Sturgis.
He has been commemorated in a memoir published
by his son, and not unduly praised for his kind heart
and generous nature. I remember that Thackeray,
who was his frequent guest, once said to me :

" My occupation leads me to study human nature,
and in all my observation I have never found a more
really benevolent man than Sturgis."

Mr. Sturgis had passed many years of his life as
a merchant at Canton and at Manila, and was now
a subordinate member of the house of Baring.
Mrs. Sturgis, his third wife, was a beautiful woman of
frank unaffected nature, the best female product I
have ever known of New England. I did not pursue
the grouse, nor fish for salmon, with the sportsmen,
but preferred to climb the heights of Lochnagar in her
charming compan}^ When the Sturgis family returned
to England and settled at Mount Felix, near Walton-
on-the-Thames, I was their frequent visitor, and con-
stantly rowed up from Surbiton to have luncheon there
on Sundays during the summer months.

From the Temple, urged, I think, by my dear
mother, who feared that I should become a recluse,
I moved to a small house in Green Street, which I
proceeded to decorate, and to furnish, after the
manner of beginners, with doubtful taste.

During this period. Baring and I generally ended
our Wimbledon season with a short tour on the
Continent. We went one year by P. and O. steamer
to Gibraltar, rode thence by Algiciras to Ronda and

Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. 51

Seville, spent some days at Madrid, and returned by
malh poste to Bayonne. The discomfort of this con-
veyance is still vivid in my memory. The seat was
hard and narrow, and the roof of the carriage low.
When we stopped for half an hour at Burgos, our
only halt on the sixty hours' journey, while my
companion, with his splendid organization, was
quietly eating the dinner which was prepared for us,
I could only lie down flat on the floor of the dining-
room, feeling as if my back were broken.

Another year we went by Verona, a place hardly
over-praised by the exuberant Ruskin, to Venice,
which did not fail to exercise upon us the charm
which it has cast over so many generations of tourists.
But the month was August, the sun was powerful,
the canals were putrid, and I had a sharp attack of
dysentery which shortened our stay.

We went once, if not oftener, together to Switzer-
land, then comparatively free from German Jews and
Cook's tourists. We walked round, but not up Mount
Blanc, stayed at homely inns, and were served by
pretty Swiss maidens. I fear that the delights of
travelling can never again be what they were before
the days of gigantic hotels and German waiters.

The advent of democracy has probably its uses, and
it is vain to rail against the inevitable, but it may end
by destroying the enjoyment of the individual without
greatly adding to the pleasures of the masses.

Perhaps the coming generation will not be so
fastidious and intolerant as I must with shame confess
myself to be.

Oh, why were farmers made so coarse
Or clergy made so fine I

52 Expedition to Holland.

Another of our expeditions was a gastronomic one,
undertaken in search of Water Souche, which some-
body had told us was not to be truly eaten except
in Holland. But since the days of our informant,
the Haarlem Lake, which contained the finest fish,
had been drained, and it was only on the very last
day of our tour that we were offered two noble perch,
swimming in a bowl of Oriental china, and flavoured
with great bunches of parsley.

If we were disappointed in the main object of our
journey, the Rembrandts at Amsterdam, Rotterdam,
and the Hague made ample amends. Baring had an
hereditary connection with the house of Hope and Co.,
the great bankers of Holland, and through their
introduction we were admitted to some of the private
collections of pictures.

To return from domestic matters to my business
life. I remember that I urged with success upon my
partners at Cornhill the policy of saving money, and
of creating a reserve. But I could not conceal from
myself that the Joint Stock Banks were growing while
we stood still, and that the race was, if not always,
at least generally to the strong. Various plans of
amalgamation suggested themselves. We had pour
parlers, which led to nothing with such houses as
Jones Loyd, Fuller, Prescott and Cunliffe. The only
negotiation which made any serious progress was
with Robarts, Lubbock, and Co. I visited Sir J.
Lubbock, the elder, at his country place, and, as I
supposed, came to an understanding with him, but
the younger members of the firm, who had not been

Ainalganiation with Glyu, Mills, and Co. 53

consulted, protested, and expressed their disinclination
to a fusion with our firm.

When this came to the knowledge of Mr. C. Mills,
the senior partner of Gl3-n, Mills, and Co., he deputed
Mr. William Murray, who was the confidential friend
and solicitor of his firm, as well as of my own, to make
overtures to me with a view to amal^i^amation.

We speedily arrived at an understanding, and on
1st of July, 1864, the firm of Glyn, Mills, Currie, and
Co. came into existence.

My old partners, Henry and George Currie, retired
from business. Messrs. Edward Mills and St. Leger
Glyn, who were incapacitated by ill-health, took a
similar course, and my father and I became the only
representatives of Currie and Co. in the new firm.

Having now established m}-self in the business
which I was to follow with varying fortunes for so
many years, I will revert to matters of a more personal
and domestic nature.

I must confess with gratitude that my lot in life
has on the whole been as happy as my anxious and
apprehensive temperament would permit. The aspi-
rations which I formed in youth have been more than
realized. True, they were not pitched too high, and
to some minds they might seem unworthy or ignoble.
But it is surely a part of wisdom to pursue what is
attainable, and not to strive after ideals for which one
is by nature and constitution unfitted.

My father at one time endeavoured to place me in
the diplomatic line ; at another, he advocated the civil
service of India; later on, at his instigation, I actually

54 -^ Retrospect.

issued an address to the free and independent electors
of Hull, a city with which, through the Raikes family,
we had some slight connection.

I had not the passive endurance, nor the spirit of
compromise, which are essential to a Member of
Parliament. For success at the Bar I wanted
accuracy, and the power of mental concentration ;
for the Church I was in every way disqualified, so that
nature seemed to have destined me for a banker.

Comparing my own life with that of my contem-
poraries, I have every reason to be content. Though,
like Faust, I was never able to say to the moment :
" Stay, for thou art fair," and though I have had my
troubles, and even more than my share of that greatest
of all sorrows — the loss of children — the balance, when
the account comes to be made up, is on the right
side, and if I cannot pretend, with some of my friends,
that I would willingly live it all over again, I can say
with truth I am thankful to have lived my life.

That I am able to make such a declaration is
greatly owing to an event which took place in i860 —
my marriage with Caroline, the younger daughter of
Sir W. L. Young. Our first meeting was, I think, at
the house of my aunt, Mrs. Chambers, whose marriage
in 1S34 has been already chronicled. Miss Young's
father had been dead for some years. Two of her
brothers were victims of the Crimean War. Her only
sister was married, and she and her mother having no
fixed home in England, spent much of their time on
the Continent. Thither I followed them to Reichen-
hall, an obscure Kur Ort in Bavaria, and there, walking
with my intended in a pine-forest, I spoke the fateful
words, and performed what I can truly say, at the

Marriage. 55

distance of thirty-six years, was the most sensible act
of my Hfe. As these recollections of mine must
necessarily be read by my wife, I will say no more,
except that for sweetness of disposition and soundness
of judgment I could not name her equal. For her
mother, who was the exact opposite of the conven-
tional Bcllc-mh'c of the Drama, I had a great affection.
She was a most gentle, unworldl}- person, hardly fitted
to cope with the serious business of life without the
advice and support of her daughter.

When their cure was completed, I accompanied
the ladies on a tour through the Bavarian Tyrol. \\'e
witnessed a performance at Ober Ammergau, which
was then in the simple and pristine condition so
■admirably described in the novel of Madame Taut-
phoeus. The Passions Spiel had not been vulgarized
by falling into the hands of a Hebrew syndicate, as
I have been told is now the case. The only spectators,
besides the peasants and ourselves, were some members
of the Royal Family of Bavaria. I can quite believe
that this curious survival of the middle ages may have
had the power of confirming in the faith some of those
who were present ; though I cannot honestly say that
it produced that effect on me. From Bavaria we
travelled to Lucerne, where I left ces darner in a villa
on the lake, which one of their relations had hired for
the summer.

After this sentimental journey had come to an end,
I reverted to the prosaic occupation of banking at
29, Cornhill, which soon engrossed my time and
thoughts. My parents warmly approved the choice
which I had made. Lady Young and her daughter in

56 Minlcy Manor bitilt by Raikcs Ciirrie.

a few weeks returned to England, and on the 31st of
October, i860, I was married by Samuel, Bishop of
Oxford, at Chaddleworth church, Berks. After passing
a day or two at my own house in Green Street, we
started to spend the honeymoon at Pau. We came
home in time for the Christmas festivities at Minley
Manor, the new house which my father had built, and
upon which I have since his death spent, or wasted so
much.

His many wanderings were now brought to an end.
He had at last found a home. During my childhood
and youth I remember that he was constantly talking
of fixing himself in some country place for the
remainder of his days. His main object was health,
and he had a great belief in the efficacy of a gravel
soil, high situation, and pure air, to preserve that
blessing. All these were combined at Minley, There
was a small house on the property, said to have been
once inhabited by the notorious Colonel Blood.
Thither, having sold his London house, he repaired
with my mother and my sister Edith, my other sister
having been married in 1858, to my old friend, W. S.
Deacon, who, like myself was a banker, and had been
my school-fellow both at Cheam and at Eton.

Mr. H. Clr.tton, the architect, was employed to
make the designs for the new house. He chose the
style of the French Renaissance, and aimed at repro-
ducing on a small scale a part of the famous Chateau
de Blois. This was rather a bold undertaking, and I
cannot say that the idea was a happy one, though the
details were carefully worked out, and there was less
of sham decoration than might have been expected.
Any attempt to build in such an ambitious style, at a

'o

^^

Its Characteristics. 57

small expense, is doomed to failure. Instead of trying
to combine the maximum of ornament with the mini-
mum of cost, the aim should be to spend whatever
money can be afforded, on solid construction, and just
proportion. These will always give satisfaction both
to the architect, and, what is more important, to the
occupier. If I had to build again myself, I should be
content with a simple elevation, a solid staircase, and
well-shaped rooms. Another objection to Minley, in
my opinion, was, that the style of Frangois I. was
adapted to a chateau dominating a town like Blois, and
is out of place in a wild country of heath, braken, and
fir-trees. But these criticisms must be taken for what
they are worth. Sons are seldom the most favourable
judges of their father's works. Soon after the house
was built, we had a visit from Sir James Colvile, a
retired Indian judge, and a man of reputed taste.
My sister-in-law, who had brought him there, insisted
that he should admire everything that had been done.
Being pressed beyond his powers of endurance, he
exclaimed at last : " Well ! if it was absolutely necessary
to build a house in the middle of Bagshot Heath, I
don't know that you could have done better." Since
his time many additions have been made to the house,
and the trees which my father planted in 1S5S make a
creditable show in i8g6.

Whatever its deficiencies may have been, the place
suited my father, and he spent more than twenty years
of his life there, diversified by visits to Cannes, where
he bought a villa after my mother's death.

He had a happy, easy disposition, and nc\er
allowed the cares of life to depress his spirits. One
faculty he had, which I have always thought of great

58 Taste for Btiilding and making Gardens.

value — the power of living alone, and of being inde-
pendent of others for his enjoyment of life. He read
a great deal, was a capital sleeper, and amused himself
with the ordinary pleasures of the country.

The pastime of destroying animal life, inherited
from our savage ancestors, had never any charms for
me, although in youth I pursued it to a limited extent,
for in my early days neither to shoot nor to drink wine
would have made a young man unpopular, or even
suspected. It is to be hoped that we are more tolerant
now. Miss Berry, in her amusing journal, avers that
when she was young, unusual cleanliness was con-
sidered a sign of doubtful morals, but now, thank God,
we can wash ourselves all over and yet preserve a
decent character.

I used sometimes to be invited to shooting-parties,
but, when sure that nobody was looking, I have often
let hares and rabbits go across the green rides un-
molested. For hunting I had neither time nor money
to spare, and probably wanted the requisite nerve, but
riding has always been a favourite pursuit with me,
and I esteem a well-bred, well-shaped, and well-
mannered hack as one of the choicest gifts that the
gods can bestow upon mortal man. The bicycle and
the electric motor may in time supplant the horse, but
they can hardly convey the exhilarating sensations
which are felt on a balmy day by one who guides his
bounding steed over elastic turf.

I mention these sporting deficiencies in order to
account for, or to palliate, my mania for building and
making gardens ; a pursuit in which I have been pretty
constantly engaged since my marriage, with what
degree of success, my posterity, if I have any, must

Panic of 1866. 59

judge. I have built two houses at Coombe, the first
having been destroyed by fire, and have spent more
than enough to build two others at Minley and at
Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, and in planting, laying
out grounds, and general improvements, I have never
rested for a day. The pursuit is at any rate harmless.
It affords innocent amusement to the projector, and
profitable employment to the labourer. I exhort my
descendants, if they have the means, to continue my
labours, as I am convinced that if a moderate sum be
judiciously spent every year on a pre-arranged plan,
and if each succeeding generation will bear its part, a
beautiful and enjoyable place might in time be created.
If I may judge by my own feelings, nothing gives more
pleasure to the beholder than the evidence of ancient
expenditure, applied with taste and judgment. But
my descendants will doubtless follow their own inclina-
tions, and it may well happen either that they may not
have the money to spend, or that expenditure of this
kind upon private objects may become unusual and
unpopular. My son, who shares my tastes, will, I feel
assured, worthily continue what I have begun.

After this digression into the domain of private life,
I return to my more important duties in the City.
Hardly had I begun to feel my feet at my new quarters
in Lombard Street, when the panic of 1866 broke over
our heads. The banks and financial houses which
foundered in the storm were mostly those which had
been connected with the London, Chatham and Dover
Railway, and Messrs. Peto and Betts, the contractors
for that ill-starred undertaking. A huge amount of
accommodation paper had been created, in order to find

•6o Suspension of Overend, Giirney, and Co.

money for the construction of the railway, and those
who had rashly invested in such unsubstantial security,
paid the penalty which rarely fails to attend a departure
from sound principles of finance.

Sir S. M. Peto was an old friend and client of
Glyn and Co. They had, however, kept clear of his
transactions with the railway, and did not suffer any
loss through his failure. But the great event, which
will always make 1866 a memorable year in the history
■of commerce, was the suspension of Overend, Gurney,
and Co. The old firm had recently been converted
into a Company. Its credit, though somewhat shaken,
was still good ; but when my partner G. G. Glyn,
K. D. Hodgson, and R. C, L. Bevan were hastily
summoned one morning to a meeting at the office of
the Company, it was found that its affairs were in a
desperate condition, and that the only course to adopt
was to suspend payment. Some months before the
catastrophe, I remember that I predicted it to my
partner, C. Mills the elder, who, admitting that heavy
losses had been incurred, and that the management
of the business was defective, pinned his faith on the
great wealth of J. H. Gurney, and of the other partners
in the Norwich Bank, all of whom were liable to the
full extent of their fortunes.

The original cause of my suspicion was this. We
•had in Cornhill the account of an Italian firm, Rocca
Brothers, of good standing in their own country, and
recently established in the City. Signor Rocca, who
knew little or nothing of London business, surprised
me one day by sa3'ing that he had been offered a
banking commission by Overends if he would consent
to accept the bills of their nominees. In spite of all

G. G. G/y)i. 6 1

the reputed wealth and credit of the Overends, this
could only mean that their resources were locked up.
About the same time Mr. Edmund Gurney proposed
to borrow money of us at a special rate on some
securities which seemed to me of doubtful value, and
I remember his indignation when I threw doubt upon
them, and his remark : " Do you presume to question
the credit of Overend, Gurney, and Co.?"

Up to iS68, G. G. Glyn gave a fairly regular
attendance to the business, but in that year he accepted
the position of Political Secretary to the Treasury in
Mr. Gladstone's Government, and naturally withdrew
from the Git}-. Until his sudden death in 1887, we
remained the closest friends. In 1884 he became my
neighbour at Coombe. He was quick, lively, and
intelligent, and able to inspire personal regard, a
valuable attribute in the qualifications of a banker,
but he was too fond of change and excitement to be
content with the daily round and common task of city
life. I'^or his father, the first Lord W'olvcrton, he had
the greatest respect, and it was, I think, to please his
father that he remained so long a worker in Lombard
Street. Both father and son warmly approved a pro-
posal which was made to us in 1865-66 by four of the
principal Scotch banks, who desired to acquire jointly
a share in a London banking business, in lieu of the
separate agencies which they have since founded. The
premises and good-will of our house were to be valued
at a million sterling, and two-fifths of this were to be
bought from the Mills family by payment of ^400,000
in cash b}- the four Scotch banks. The negotiation
was in a forward condition, and would probably have
been completed, when the failure of Overends took

62 The Council of India.

placfe. The perils of unlimited liability alarmed our
Scotch friends. They behaved with perfect fairness,
but evidently desired to be released, and we readily
acceded to their wishes. It must be remembered that
limited liability in banking was then unknown, and
illegal. Had the affair been concluded, it was intended
that Mr. C. Gairdner, of the Union Bank of Scotland,
and I should be the joint managers. A powerful com-
bination would no doubt have been created, which in
time might have absorbed both Glyns and Curries, but
my excellent young partners, C. and A. Mills, have no
cause to regret that they still preserve their inherit-
ance, and I rejoice that my son is able to follow the
path which has been trod by five successive genera-
tions of his family.

It was in November, 1880, that Lord Hartington,
prompted, I think, by Sir Erskine Perry, offered me a
seat on the Council of India. He told me that they
felt the want of a financial adviser, and desired to
revert to the practice which prevailed in the days of
the East India Company, some of whose directors had
always represented the City interest.

My reply to their offer was that the business in
Lombard Street must always be my first consideration,
but that, if the service expected of me was not too
arduous and engrossing, I was willing to make the
experiment, though I was doubtful whether I could
be of much use to the Council.

In December I first took my seat at the carved
mahogany table, which had served for the meetings of
the old Company in Leadenhall Street. The Council
then consisted of fifteen members, some appointed for

Lord Randolph Cluirchill. 63

life, and some for a term of ten years. When I retired
from the Council in December, 1895, its number was
reduced to twelve, and my original colleagues had all
disappeared.

In accordance with the rule which I have prescribed
for myself, I will express no opinion about persons still
living.

Of the six Secretaries of State who presided over
our deliberations, only one. Lord Randolph Churchill,
has pre-deceased me.

I shall never forget how nervous and ill at ease he
seemed to be at our first meeting. His manners were
not, as might have been supposed, at all presumptuous
or assuming : he was very quick of apprehension, and
not over-burdened with scruples, but I failed to detect
in him that zeal for economy which he is said to have
afterwards displayed at the Treasury. I never heard
him express any large or statesmanlike views, and in
my secret heart I thought him rather deficient in
quality. But my opportunities of judging him were not
many, and it is quite possible that I underrate his
merits.

He belonged to the school of political adventurers
of which D'Israeli was the most brilliant disciple, and
that school never roused me to enthusiasm. The type
of the laborious, conscientious, and disinterested public
servant, incarnated in such statesmen as Peel and
Gladstone, was better calculated to command my
admiration.

Soon after my appointment, Sir Ashley Eden, the
Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, was nominated to the
Council. He took his seat next to me. We served
together on the Finance Committee, and became great

64 Sir Ashley Eden.

friends. Of all the Indian civilians appointed in my
time, he was the only one that impressed me as a man
of more than ordinary capacity. He was not a product
of competitive examination, but had passed through
Haileybury in the old days of the Company, without,
I believe, any distinction. But he possessed that most
uncommon gift, strong common sense, and soon after
his arrival as a youth in India, an emergency arose
which gave him the chance of showing what was in
him. He was not at all afraid of responsibility, and
his judgment was generally to be trusted. But for his
untimely death in 1887, he would, I believe, have
gained a position of great authority' on the Council.

It was mainly at his instigation that, in 1887, I
gave a garden party at Coombe to the princes and
nobles of India, who had come to England for the
Queen's Jubilee. He took a great interest in the
preparations, but was struck down by apoplexy on
the eve of the entertainment.

In the same year, it being my turn to serve as Vice-
President of the Council, I was requested by Lord
Cross to represent him. at the annual distribution
of prizes at Cooper's Hill College, an institution
founded and supported by the Government of India.
I had to make a regulation speech of the hortatory
kind, and managed to dilute the usual platitudes by
introducing the lines from the poem of " Windsor
Forest," in which Pope celebrates the beauties of
Cooper's Hill. To make amends for my oratory, I
undertook to endow a scholarship for the encourage-
ment of the students present and future.

Another of my colleagues, much better known to
fame than Eden, and who had indeed an European, as

Si/' Henry Maine. 65

well as an Asiatic reputation, was Sir Henry Maine.
His published biography, which did not seem to me
lively or interesting, relates his life, and enumerates
his writings. To me his character appeared somewhat
complex. Gifted with unusual clearness of vision and
foresight, of which his recorded minute on the probable
consequences of the Ilbert Bill gives eminent proof, he
never seemed to have enough faith in his own opinions
to make him stick to them manfully in the face of
opposition. Time-serving I should not like to call him,
but if his independence and courage had been equal to
his intellect. Sir Henry Maine would have been a man
of the highest class.

Besides his duties as a member of Council, he
performed those appertaining to the Master of Trinity
Hall, Cambridge. He kindly invited me one year to
the annual Christmas festivities, which have been
celebrated from time immemorial at that ancient seat
of learning. Mr. Fawcett was a Fellow of the College,
and Sir Andrew Clark, ^ like myself, an invited guest.
What principally struck me, whose habits have for
many years been most abstemious, was the quantity of
food and liquor consumed. At a Gargantuan college
breakfast on the morrow of the great banquet, I asked
Sir A. Clark whether he was able to indulge in these
pleasures with impunity. He replied with his pro-
nounced Scottish accent : " It is the every-day practice
that is of importance, my dear sir, and not these
occasional outbursts."

On the previous evening a tabagie, or smoking salo)i,
had been held in Professor Fawcett's rooms. There
Sir Andrew laid down dogmatically that there was no

' The celebrated physician.
F

66 Three Grievances.

such thing as sleeplessness, it was only the appre-
hension of sleeplessness. Very likely his nervous
system was such that insomnia never troubled him ;
but had I needed a physician at that time, I should
have chosen one of more delicate organization, and
more able to feel for the unfortunate to whom sleep is
denied.

When I came to the India Office, Sir Louis Mallet,
a doctrinaire of the purest water, was the permanent
Under-Secretary of State, and Mr. Drummond was
Chairman of the Finance Committee. It was commonly
believed in the City :

1. That, at the weekly sales of Council bills, the

Secretary of State was more or less at the
mercy of the Exchange Banks, who, it was
said, were wont to combine together to depress
the price of his bills.

2. That, in the shipment of stores to India, he was

not sufficiently protected against the machina-
tions of ship-owners and ship-brokers.

3. That the employment of his surplus funds in the

money market was not properly conducted by
the broker of the Council, a sort of hereditary
ofiter, who had been transferred from Leaden-
hall Street to Whitehall, together with the
good-will and fixtures.
Having these three grievances, which were not
altogether unfounded, present to my mind, I set to
work to seek for a remedy.

That the Exchange Banks may to some extent have
combined to depress the rate when the demand for
Council bills was slack, is possible. I do not believe
that during the last fifteen years such combination has

Remedies suggested and effected. 67

been frequent or serious, and I am convinced that it
does not at present (1896) exist at all.

However, to counteract any such tendency on the
part of the banks, I persuaded the Council to publish a
minimum price each week, below which tenders for
bills would not be received. I still think that the
experiment, which after a time we abandoned, was
worth trying. The banks for some months refused
to tender at the minimum, but when trade became
active, they applied for as many bills as the Council
had to sell. Whether the ultimate effect of this
was to raise or to depress exchange, it is difficult
to say.

I was more fortunate in my endeavour to improve
the working of the department of stores. At my
instance, a firm of ship-brokers was appointed to act
as agents for chartering ships and engaging freight on
account of the Secretary of State. The charge made
for these services was very moderate, and the business
has been so well conducted, that for efficiency and
economy I think the shipping business of the India
Office will compare favourably with that of any private
undertaking.

The other grievance to which I have referred was
one which I was better able to appreciate, inasmuch as
the lending of money for short periods formed part of
my own daily avocations, and the higgling of the
market was my constant joy. The hereditary broker
above-named found his slumbers disturbed, and his
bargains severely criticized and overhauled. He soon
resigned his post in favour of a nephew, who, being
required to ally himself with another reputable firm of
brokers, and to consent to a reduced scale of rcmuncra-

68 Conversion of India Stock.

tion, still transacts the business of the Indian Council
to the satisfaction of all concerned.

After these not very important changes, I can
remember nothing which particularly concerned me
until 1888.

At this time Lord Cross sat in the chair of state,
which w^as enriched with the coat of arms of the
honourable Company. Sir Louis Mallet had retired,
and I had become chairman of the Finance Com-
mittee. I must break my rule for once, to say in the
fewest words, that a better appointment than that of
Mr. Godley as successor to Sir L. Mallet could not
have been made, and that my own duties at the India
Office became much more interesting and agreeable in
consequence of his help and his companionship.

The period was approaching when the four per
cent. Stock of India, amounting to fifty-three millions
sterling, became repayable at the option of the Govern-
ment. This stock was at a small premium in the
market, while the three and a half per cent. Stock was
under par. The proposal of the financial department
was to offer about £"103 of three and a half per cent,
in exchange for each ;;fioo four per cent. Stock. I
persuaded Lord Cross to adopt a bolder method, and
to give the public notice that the interest on the four
per cent, debt would be reduced to three and a half
per cent.

To effect this some manipulation of the market was
required, and as the Secretary of State in council was
evidently unequal to the task, I advised that we should
invoke the assistance of a financial house, who, in
consideration of a commission, would undertake to
place twenty millions of three and a half per cent.

Lord HerschelTs Committee. 69

Negotiations were opened with Messrs. Baring,
who, in conjunction with Messrs. Rothschild, eventually
undertook the business. Before anything was settled,
Lord Cross, at my desire, consulted the Governors of
the Bank of England. They dissuaded us from the
attempt, adding that as large holders of India four
per cent, on behalf of the Bank, it was not their
intention to accept a reduction of interest. In spite
of such weighty authority we persevered. The financial
houses, in addition to their commission of three per
cent., made a handsome profit out of the conversion,
and the Government of India effected a large saving in
interest without adding to the capital of the debt.

The next, and by far the most important affair in
which I was concerned took place in 1892-93. The
Governor General and his Council, who ever since
1872, when the fall began, had urged the Home
Government to co-operate with other nations in
measures for the rehabilitation of silver, were now
in favour of independent action, and asked the Home
Government for permission to close their mints in the
hope that a gold standard might in time be attained.

The officials of Her Majesty's Treasury did not
view this proposal with favour, believing that a sound
currency could only be based on free and unlimited
coinage, but Lord Kimberley, with the full approval of
Mr. Gladstone, decided to appoint a committee under
the presidency of Lord Herschell, to hear evidence,
and to advise as to the reply which should be given to
the proposal of the Indian Government.

A good many witnesses came forward. Most of
them, such as the managers of Indian banks, and
merchants trading with the East, expressed the view

70 The Closing of the Indiaji Mints.

that the closing of the mints would injure, if not
destroy, the export trade of India, would lower the
price of opium, and handicap the tea-planters of Assam
and Ceylon in competing with their rivals in China.
The members of the committee were selected with
care, and included many whose names were calculated
to influence public opinion on such an abstruse
question. With perhaps three exceptions, I think
that they began their task with a feeling that the
proposal was unsound. But when they were brought
face to face with the difficulties which threatened the
Indian Treasury in the event of a further fall in silver,
and when, after the dispersion of the Brussels Con-
ference, it seemed probable that such a fall would be
precipitated by the repeal of the Sherman Act, the
members of the committee, though some of them were
believers in the bi-metallic remedy, came unanimously
to the conclusion that the Government of India should
be allowed to carry out its policy.

This recommendation was accepted by the Cabinet,
and immediately carried into effect by legislative enact-
ment in India.

The secret of the deliberations of the committee,
although they extended over many months, had been
admirably kept, but as soon as the conclusions at
which they had arrived were laid before the Cabinet,
their purport began to leak out, and curiously enough
the heads of the despatch which it was proposed to
send to the Government of India appeared verbatim
in a Frankfort newspaper. A wild speculation began
in rupee paper, from which some Hebrew financiers
are said to have derived advantage.

Though I was in no way responsible for this

Effects of this Measure. 7 1

accident, against which I had taken every precaution
in my power, it caused me much annoyance.

Now that three years have passed since the closing
of the mints, and considering, firstly, that Indian
exchange has not rapidly risen, as some of my
colleagues on the committee expected, and secondly,
that the decline of the export trade and the other
misfortunes foretold by expert witnesses have not
come to pass, it may be well to record my own view
of the question, bearing in mind how fallible is human
judgment, and how seldom events shape themselves in
accordance with our anticipations.

As far as I am able to judge, the policy of the
Government of India has succeeded in its object,
which was to arrest the further and incalculable fall,
which might have occurred so long as exchange was
indissolubly linked with silver ; and, in spite of the
imprudent utterances of Mr. Balfour and others in
the House of Commons, I cannot believe that the
Government of India will willingly reverse their policy,
or be led away by the phantom of International
bi-metallism. With the present rate of exchange, the
Government of India can meet their foreign, as well as
their home engagements without further taxation, and
if, as I anticipate, that rate should slowly but steadily
rise, they will be able to reduce taxation, and so to
strengthen their hold upon the races subject to their
rule. The only recommendation made by the Herschell
Committee from which I dissented, was that which
fixed IS. 4d. as the point at which gold should be
accepted by Government in exchange for rupees. My
belief is that India as a great exporting country can
get as much gold as she requires in the natural course

']2 Bank of Ejigland and the Indian Debt.

of trade, and that the more nearly exchange reverts to
the rates which obtained before 1872, the easier will
be the task of Government. It is impossible to foretell
the time when, or the ratio at which gold will be
coined at the mints of Calcutta and Bombay, and were
I responsible for the finances of India, I should not
trouble myself much about these questions, convinced as
I am that the advantages of a gold standard are attain-
able without a gold coinage. My ambition would be
to reduce expenditure by lowering the salaries of the
European officials, which are calculated on a much
higher scale than can be found in any other colony or
country, and the nearer the rate of exchange approxi-
mated to the old level, the easier would be the task of
reduction.

Immediately after my term of office expired in
December, 1895, I was taken ill, and had to undergo
a severe operation. As soon as the state of my health
allowed, I undertook, at the desire of Lord George
Hamilton, to make a new arrangement with the
Governors of the Bank of England, for the manage-
ment of the Indian debt. A correspondence, to
which I was a part}', had taken place some years
before, between the India Office and the Bank, in
which it was stipulated, that when the capital of
the debt came to exceed one hundred millions, the
charge for management should be subject to revision.
This contingency had now arisen. After several inter-
views with the Governor and Deputy Governor, who
were fortified on one occasion by the presence of two
distinguished ex-governors, the terms which I suggested
were accepted by the Bank. With this negotiation
my connection with the India Office came to an end.

Bank Charter Act of 1S44. "j"^

Looking back upon the fifteen years which I spent
there, I feel that it was well for me that I accepted the
offer which Lord Hartington made in 1880, and which
Lord Cross renewed in 1890. My part in the
government of India was obscure and of little
importance, and the necessary attendance at the
Council and on committees was often irksome and
inconvenient, but the work was sometimes interesting;
and, unlike the pursuit in which I was generally
engaged, it had the advantage of affording no
opportunity for the advancement of my personal
interests.

Having taken my leave of Whitehall, I revert to
my old haunts in the City, and will make some
reference to the currency question, as it concerns the
dwellers in Lombard Street, and the parts adjacent.

I was brought up in the belief that the Bank
Charter Act of 1844 was founded on principles which
could be proved by experience, and demonstrated
by logic to be universally and immutably true.
Messrs. Loyd and Norman were intimate friends
of my father; he admired their pamphlets, and
adopted their views. Moreover, the authority of
Sir Robert Peel, whose financial policy he supported
in Parliament in opposition to his own part}', had
naturally great weight with him.

The periodical suspensions of this Act by order in
Council in 1847, 1857, and 1866, first led me to doubt
whether it was really so unimpeachable and of such
general application as its founders supposed. The
primary object of the Act was to make it certain that
under all circumstances the notes of the Bank of

74 Discussions with Mr. Newinarch.

England should be redeemed in gold ; and Mr. Loyd
maintained that the contraction of the note circulation,
which a demand for gold must necessarily bring about,
would automatically lower prices, and turn the foreign
exchanges in our favour. The experience of fifty
years has proved this theory to be delusive. The note
circulation plays each succeeding decade a decreasing
part in monetary transactions, and it is only in times
of panic and distrust, when the other instruments of
exchange become discredited, that it tends to expand.
Clearly therefore, the remedy for a panic is not to
contract the note circulation, but to meet any sudden
demand for notes by issuing more of them until the
demand is supplied.

Mr. Newmarch, the disciple of Tooke, used to
discuss this question with me. He agreed that the
separation of the Bank of England into two depart-
ments— one of issue, and the other of banking — was
a mistake ; and that a better plan would be to enact
only that the bank should publish its accounts weekly,
and be required to redeem its notes in gold, leaving
it to the discretion of the directors to settle what
amount of gold was wanted to enable them to meet
their obligation. An excessive issue of notes such as
the authors of the Act of 1844 apprehended, seems
now chimerical ; for the public, when panic has
subsided, will not demand more notes than it can
profitably employ. I was wont to combat the
arguments of Mr. Newmarch, but I am inclined to
think that he was right. What is really essential to
a bank-note is not so much convertibility into gold, as
(if one may coin so barbarous a word) exchangeability ;
and can it be doubted that twenty-five millions of

Practice of the Bank of France. 75

Bank of England notes, or even double that amount,
would be accepted by every one, at all times, in
exchange for goods or services, secured as they are in
reality by the wealth and credit of a nation, whose
annual income exceeds one hundred millions sterling.

The Bank of France, which it must be confessed,
has of late years managed its affairs much better than
the Bank of England, is governed by such a law as
Mr. Newmarch advocated, except that the total
amount of its issue is limited by statute. What has
been the result ? The law requiring payment of its
notes in coin has never been suspended, except during
the German invasion of 1870, and even at that terrible
crisis, although the notes in circulation exceeded one
hundred millions sterling, such was the credit of the
bank that they circulated freely at a trifling discount
which disappeared as soon as peace was concluded.
It is seldom that the holder of a bank-note desires to
convert into gold. What he requires is the certaint}'
that under all circumstances it will be accepted by
those to whom he has to make payments at its
nominal value.

The authors of the Act of 1844, who had either
themselves experienced, or had heard from their
fathers, the evil wrought by irredeemable paper, were
determined that this evil should never again prevail ;
but the danger was not so great as they supposed.
As wars became infrequent, and as wealth increased,
the whole complexion of things was changed. The
issue of notes by private persons, which had enriched
so many bankers, and defrauded so many innocent
persons during the war period, had ceased to have
much importance, and might well have been gradually

76 The Money of the Future.

extinguished by the Act of 1844. The issues of the
Bank of England, instead of expanding in harmony
with the enormous expansion of trade, tended to
contract and diminish, until they came to form but
an insignificant part of the instruments of exchange ;
and the important discovery was made that credit,
whether of a nation or of a firm, is really the one thing
needful, and that, if their credit be undoubted and
unchallenged, the bank-notes or promises to pay
which they issue may be left to take care of them-
selves.

I sometimes amuse myself with speculating on the
money of the future. No one has been a stronger
advocate than I of gold, as against silver or incon-
vertible paper money ; but the causes which have in
the course of ages made such articles as iron, flocks
and herds, piece goods, cowry shells, copper and
silver ineffective as instruments of exchange, may in
time perform the same office for gold. The greatly
increased and increasing production of gold will not
improbably have the same effect upon that metal, as
the modern improvements in mining and refining
have had upon silver, and both the -precious metals
may lose their place in the estimation of mankind.

The value of these metals must originally have
arisen from their rarity, and been enhanced by the
facility with which they could be hoarded, or
transported in times of war or disturbance. In the
French Revolution for example, the emigres, who
were forced to leave their lands, their houses, and
their goods to the mercy of the Convention, were able
to carry off to foreign lands what silver they could
scrape together, either in the form of coin or plate.

The Gold and Stiver Commission,

/ /

As far as one can judge, such a condition of things
is not likely to recur. Frenchmen who dread war
or revolution, have probably made investments in
England, or in the United States, so as to provide
against possible risks, and bank-notes, or bills of
exchange, are used by emigrants instead of gold or
silver money.

I incline to the opinion that the money of the
future will consist of tokens either of metal or of paper,
limited in quantity and secured on the credit of the
State. Their intrinsic value may be small, but they will
pass freely from hand to hand as long as the credit of the
State, whose effigy they bear, remains unimpeachable.
Who now desires a better security than the acceptance
of a first-class firm, or the promissory note of a solvent
State ? But as the use of cheques, transfers, postal
orders, and other instruments of exchange becomes
universal, the sphere of money properly so called wili
be narrowed, and it is conceivable that the most
civilized communities will in the course of time
dispense with it altogether.

The first occasion on which I took any part in the
discussion of these matters was in 1887, when, at the
instance of Lord Farrer, I gave evidence before the
Gold and Silver Commission. To the views which I
expressed I still adhere, except that the theory that a
low exchange stimulates exports, which I thought
plausible at that time, no longer has any weight with
me. As I have stated elsewhere,^ I believe it to be a
delusion, in spite of the many respectable authorities
by whom the theory is still maintained.

The Commission of 1887 came, as might have

' National Reiitw, June, 1895.

yS Mr. Goschen and the National Debt.

been expected from its constitution, to a lame
conclusion. It has always seemed to me that the
evils caused by the collapse in the price of silver and
by the fall of Indian exchange were enormously
exaggerated ; that, as in many similar cases, if left
alone they would cure themselves ; and that any
attempt to bolster up silver by artificial means would
end in disaster.

In 1888, Mr. Goschen, then Chancellor of the
Exchequer, consulted me on the question of reducing
the interest on the National Debt. The plan of the
Treasury, as explained by Sir E. Hamilton, was to
offer to each holder of ;^ioo Consols to divide his
stock into two equal portions. ^^50 to bear three per
cent, and -£"50 two and a half per cent, interest.
I combated this idea, and strongly urged upon
Mr. Goschen that he should follow the practice
of Mr. Goulburn in his dealings with the old
three and a half per cent., and should offer to
the holder of Consols in consideration of his
accepting an immediate reduction of his interest to
two and three-quarters per cent, a guarantee against
any further abatement for a term of years. Whether
my arguments had any weight with him I cannot say,
but this was the plan which Mr. Goschen adopted,
and which, owing greatly to the favourable condition
of the money market, was crowned with success. A
good deal of nonsense was uttered at the time about
the commission of is. 6d. per cent, allowed to bankers
on conversion, which it was said bribed them to give
their consent to the plan. In the first place, bankers,
as by far the largest holders of Consols, lost a great
deal more in income than they could possibly gain by

A Delegate to the Monetary Conference. 79

•commission, and in the second place, if no such
allowance had been made, they would have infal-
libly charged their customers with a heavier com-
mission than IS. 6d. per cent, fur effecting the
conversion.

Many arguments might be used against this
operation, and there can be no doubt that it gave a
stimulus \.o speculation, and was one of the causes of
the ruin and devastation which began in 1890 ; but it
can hardly be seriously maintained that the State is
not bound to borrow on the best terms it can, and, if
the present condition of the money market (1896)
continues, further reductions of interest may be effected,
until the burden of debt, which seemed so appalling
to our forefathers in 1816 becomes of little moment to
the tax-payers of igi6.

In 1892, Mr. Goschen requested me to act as one
of the British delegates to the monetary conference,
which the Government of the United States desired
to summon. One of the proposed delegates was a
Government official, and the other was Sir William
Houldsworth, a well-known bi-metallist. I suggested
to Mr. Goschen that the delegation as he proposed to
constitute it, would speak with little or no authority,
as my ideas and those of Sir William Houldsworth
were directly at variance, and what seemed to me
sound doctrine, to him was foolishness. To this he
replied that what he wanted to bring about was free
discussion, and a conflict of opinion. After some
demur on my part, I yielded to the pressure which he
put upon me, and consented to act as a delegate, but
only on the condition that I was at liberty to deliver
myself at the Conference in favour of the gold standard,

8o Monetary Conference at Brussels.

and against any international arrangement which
should include Great Britain.

Mr. Goschen accepted my condition, and observed
that I had served him with notice. Soon after my
last interview with him, the Government was changed,
and Sir William Harcourt became Chancellor of the
Exchequer. Again, I attempted without success to
escape from this distasteful duty. Mr. Alfred
Rothschild and Sir Rivers Wilson were added to the
number of delegates, and it was decided that the
meeting should be held at Brussels. The Conference
sat for about four weeks, and, as might have been
foretold, much nonsense was talked, and nothing was
settled. Our proceedings are narrated at length in
the Treasury report, so I need not refer to them.^

The general impression among the delegates, was,
1 think, that the United States Government had not
been well advised in calling the Conference together,
as they had no definite plan to propose, and no reason
for thinking that the European nations had changed
the views which they had expressed at previous
conferences. Moreover, the delegates of the United
States were badly chosen. With one exception
(Senator Allison) they were not men of authority,
or likely to influence opinion ; and, without any
exception, they were ignorant of the language in
which the proceedings were conducted.

I can hardly suppose that the experiment of a
conference will be tried again. Any international
agreement is in my opinion visionary and impracti-
cable ; but the only possible way of approaching such

1 B. W. Currie's speeches at the Brussels Conference will be found
in the Appendix.

Defeiice of Gold Standard. 8 1

a question would be by direct negotiation between
the Governments concerned.

After my return from Brussels, I continued to
interest myself more or less in what is called the
currency question. I wrote one or two letters to
the papers, and made a speech at the Institute in
Finsbury Square which was fully reported in the
Bi-Mctallic Journal.'^ I never could bring myself to
believe that the gold standard, which has prevailed in
this country ever since the resumption of specie
payments after the great war, was really in danger ;
but when Mr. Balfour attended a meeting of the
Bi-metallic League at the Mansion House, and
declared his adherence to their doctrines, it was
felt that some demonstration should be made on the
other side.

A meeting was accordingly held at 67, Lombard
Street, of the principal merchants and bankers of the
City, who thereupon formed themselves into an
association for the defence of the gold standard,
raised a substantial fund, and appointed a committee
with Mr. George Peel as secretary. They also agreed
to and signed a letter to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, to which he returned a reply fully
approving of the views which they had expressed.
This correspondence was made public, and to judge
from the comments in the newspapers was generally
approved.

I have said nothing as yet about politics beyond
a reference to my ill-timed address to the electors of
Hull, which fortunately came to nothing. My father,
^ This speech will be found in the Appendix.
G

82 Political Opinions.

when he entered Padiament in 1837, associated
himself with the so-called Philosophical Radicals,
among whom such men as Grote, Molesworth, and
Charles Buller were conspicuous. Bentham, I suppose,
was the founder of the school, and their doctrines
which were then thought subversive, are now generally
accepted as true. I have never deviated from my
allegiance to the Liberal party, though in the great
controversy which took place in 1866, concerning the
reduction of the franchise, the arguments of Mr. Lowe
commanded my assent. His eloquent predictions
have come true. Every mole-hill is now a mountain,
and every thistle a forest-tree. It was perhaps
hopeless to attempt to arrest the democratic movement,
but why was it necessary to hurry it on by ceaseless
agitation ? In 1866 the metropolitan boroughs,
including the City of London, were impregnable
strongholds of the Liberal party. The number of
metropolitan seats and of metropolitan voters has
been trebled, but the good old Liberal doctrines of
Peace, Retrenchment, and Reform appeal to them no
more. Their confidence is bestowed upon local
nobodies, and is reserved for the champions of ancient
heresies, and of obsolete institutions.

More than once I have been invited to offer myself
as a candidate for Parliament, but several reasons
combined to make me decline the honour.

Firstly. As I could reckon with certainty upon no
inheritance from my father, an expectation which at
his death in 1881, was realized to its fullest extent, my
first duty was to provide for my family, and make
myself independent. A seat in the House of Commons,
if taken seriously, would have diverted my mind from

Municipal Reform. 83

money-getting, and would have interfered with this
primary object of my ambition.

Secondly. Although I always placed the service of
the public on a higher plane than the pursuit of
personal objects, I felt convinced that my temperament
unfitted me for public life. The boredom and banality
of the House of Commons would have made my life
there a burden to me.

Thirdly. In 1880, I disqualified myself from
becoming a Member of Parliament by accepting a seat
on the Indian Council.

In addition to these three excellent reasons, I
may add that my politics were unsuited to every one
of the constituencies with which I had any natural
connection; so that, except as a carpet-bagger, my
prospect of success at the poll would have been small.
I am now the fortunate possessor of six votes, without
ever having had the remotest chance of returning a
single candidate of my choice.

When the agitation for municipal reform began, I
gave some support, principally, if my memory serves
me, of a pecuniary character, to the League of which
Mr. Firth was chairman ; though I attended a meeting,
made a speech, and moved a resolution at the
Memorial Hall, a task very antipathetic to my habits.
The objects of the League have been in great part
accomplished by the Act which created the County
Council of London ; but what moved my wrath and
made me become for once an agitator, was that
ancient imposture which, like the heroine of the
Dunciad, never dies — the Corporation of London.

The perpetual guzzling of Aldermen and Common
Councillors, the jobbing in City lands, in which some

$4 The Corporation of London.

of them were notoriously engaged, their want of public
spirit, the cadging for subscriptions on every possible
occasion, the thirst of " Mayors and Recorders for
titles and orders " — all these excited my bile. But
more than all was I indignant that such men should
be held out to the world as genuine representatives of
the great merchants and bankers of the City — a class
which I considered second to none in education and
in refinement, and which for two generations at least
has held itself aloof from the Corporation and all its
works.

I remember to have heard that my partner,
Mr. G. C. Glyn, whose grandfather and father both
filled the office of Lord Mayor in the last century, had
in his youth the idea of becoming an Alderman, but
was dissuaded by his father, who told him that the
office was no longer fit for a man of his character and
station.

This sensitive and surly ebullition of my feelings
may be forgiven, for it relieves me and does not hurt
the Corporation. In spite of my sarcasms, the Lord
Mayor, the man with the fur cap, the mace, the gold
coach, and all the frippery will survive me ; and on
each gth of November the traffic of the streets will
still be interrupted, and serious men of business will
still be annoyed by the tawdry tomfoolery of a Lord
Mayor's Show 1

When, after the Reform Bill of 1868, the con-
stituency of Mid-Surrey came into being, I acted as
chairman of the Liberal committee ; and I have
supported at each election the Liberal candidates
who have failed ignominiously to win the seat.

Mr. Gladstone. 85

The part of Surrey in which I came to hve, had,
hke the City of London, been always looked upon as
a safe Liberal seat. Alcock and Locke King were our
trusted representatives, and no Tory had a chance
against them. Now the genius of villadom is
triumphant, and I feel that it is hopeless to contend
against it until times are changed and new ideas
prevail.

I was also chairman of the City of London Liberal
Association, and in that capacity took part in inaugu-
rating the statue of Mr. Gladstone, which adorns the
hall of the City Liberal Club.

On that occasion I pronounced an eulogy upon
Mr. Gladstone, to every word of which I adhere, and
I ventured to make a prophecy, which has already
been partly fulfilled, namely, that when he withdrew
from public life, the scurrilous attacks upon him,
which were then of daily occurrence, would cease, and
his great qualities and noble character would be
recognized even by those who disliked his politics.

To have known Mr. Gladstone, and to have enjoyed
his friendship, is among the most interesting events of
my life. With many of his opinions I was unable to
agree. His views of life were different from mine, and
his taste in literature did not accord with my own. In
fact, while he was something of a Stoic, my philosophy
inclined to that of Epicurus. But his wonderful vigour,
his enthusiasm, his versatility, commanded my admira-
tion. I have never conversed with any man whose
intellectual superiority I was so ready to acknowledge,
or who in the common intercourse of life took such
original views of things, and was so free from the
demon of commonplace.

86 Irish Fi7tance Commission.

I agree with Sir C. Dilke, in thinking him the most
interesting person of our times, and beheve that when
he is gone his memory will continue to attract many
generations of men. He was the best example of his
age, and of the class in which he was born, cultivated,
courageous, independent, disinterested, and courteous
— and all these qualities he gave with absolute devo-
tion and untiring energy to the service of the State.

Will democracy produce so good a sample ? Look-
ing across the Atlantic at the ignoble strife of Bryans
and MacKinleys I am inclined to doubt it.

In 1894, my friend, Mr. John Morley, asked me to
serve on the Royal Commission which was appointed
to inquire into the financial relations between Great
Britain and Ireland. Mr. Childers, whom I first saw as
a small boy at Cheam school in 1836, was our chair-
man, and in spite of failing health did much useful
work. We had many meetings, and heard much con-
flicting evidence. What struck me most was the
ability which Mr. Sexton displayed in cross-examina-
tion, and the service which he rendered to the claims
of Ireland. The conclusions at which the Commission
ultimately arrived are before the world, so it is need-
less to repeat them here.

The result of our proceedings was to confirm me in
the opinion which I had long held, that the Act of
Union passed in 1801 was a mistake. It has utterly
failed in its main object of reconcihng the Irish people
to the British Government, and it has lowered the
tone of the House of Commons by introducing into it
an irreconcileable and barbaric element. The Members
from Ireland, treated not unnaturally as aliens by their

The Tory Party and Ho7nc Rule. 87

English colleagues, had recourse to the usual devices
of a minority. They either sold their votes to the
highest bidder, or endeavoured by well-known arts to
bring Parliamentary Government into contempt.

Admitting to the fullest extent all that can be said
against the character of Irishmen, their want of self-
respect, their inability to combine for a corimion object,
their mendicant habits, and all their other notorious
defects, I still believe that they could manage better
for themselves than we have managed for them. It is
a delusion to suppose that nations are enamoured of
rulers more civilized than themselves. They detest
the government of superior persons, and prefer their
own customs and their own prejudices to the teachings
of philosophy.

It is hardly possible that the practically unanimous
report of the Commission will be altogether ignored.
Such a course would arm the Irish Members with a
formidable weapon, against which no English party
could permanently stand. I incline to the belief
(expressed by me many years ago) that the deliverance
of Ireland will ultimately come from the Tory party.
I have seen that party swallow its principles with
undeviating regularity ever since 1832, and when the
alternative is presented to it of contributing two and
a half millions in cash to Ireland, or of letting the
people go, it seems to me that in spite of the clamour
of Unionists, and in spite of the fulminations of the
Times, the leaders of the Tory party may be driven to
afford to the Irish people the same measure of relief
as Pharaoh reluctantly granted to that equally uncom-
fortable race, the children of Israel.

In making this prediction, I assume that the great

88 Thirly Years in Loniba^'d Street.

majority of Irish electors will remain constant to their
demand for Home Rule. But I am by no means sure
that they would persist in this demand if they thought
it was likely to be granted. They may well hesitate to
undertake the responsibilities of Irish finance without
English support, and they will reluctantly part with an
ancient grievance, which enables them to put forward
claims for relief. But the hands of the British Govern-
ment would be greatly strengthened if they were pre-
pared to offer the alternative of Home Rule, provided
that no other terms were acceptable.

It would be impossible for me, without consulting
books and memoranda, to trace the course of our
business for the last thirty years; and as my principal
object in writing this memoir is to amuse my son by
recording long past events, known onK-, or mainly, to
myself, I can safely leave him for information respect-
ing this period to such persons or records as are to be
found at 67, Lombard Street. Suffice it to say, that
since 1864, the transactions of the firm have greatly
increased, its credit has certainly not been diminished,
the premises occupied by the bank have been almost
doubled, and the step which was taken in 1885, of
publishing a balance-sheet, though criticized at the
time by our brother-bankers, has been followed by
them all to their manifest advantage, as shown by the
increased esteem and confidence with which the public
now regard them.

Probably the most important episode in my bank-
ing life, and certainly the one which touched me most
nearly, was the so-called Baring crisis of i8go.

I have already spoken of the feelings of respect

The Baring- Crisis of i8go. 89

with which I regarded Mr. Thomas Baring, and of my
close intimacy with Edward Baring, who shortly
before the crisis had exchanged his honoured name
for that of Lord Revelstoke. I may add, that with
H. B. Mildmay, another of the partners, I had lived,
since we were boys at Eton together, on the closest
terms of friendship and affection.

For once my principles were at fault ; and although,
in common with most discerning people, I deplored
the departure from sound traditions which was
manifest to all observers, and disapproved the intimacy
with Mr. Sanford, and the close identification of the
firm with the needy republics of the River Plate, I
could not bring myself to believe that the resources
and credit of the house of Baring were not equal to
any strain. Let this example be a warning to my
successors. If such colossal houses as those of
Overend and Baring, the two greatest probably that
I had known, paid the penalty of their imprudence,
what man of business can witli impunity depart from
the beaten track? In both cases the evil probably
began from a plethora of money attracted by the high
credit which each house enjoyed. In the case of
Messrs. Baring, it was aggravated by a taste for
extravagant expenditure, and by the marvellous success
which had attended some of their ventures.

As regards the part which I took in the arrange-
ments which was made in November, 1890, under the
auspices of the Bank of England, a memorandum,
drawn up in January, 1894, exists in the archives at
67, Lombard Street. It was a great satisfaction to me
that I was able to contribute something to the salva-
tion of a house which from my earliest years I had

90 Memorandimt.

been taught to look upon as the first among British
merchants.

[The memorandum referred to in the preceding
paragraph is as follows :

67, Lombard Street, London.

January 11, 1894.

I have been asked to put on record my recollection
of the circumstances attending the Baring crisis of
i8go, so far as I was personally concerned with them.

The first intimation of any trouble in the affairs of
Messrs, Baring Brothers and Co. was conveyed to me
by Mr. S. Brunton, the broker, on October 13, 1890.
He came with a message from Lord Revelstoke to say
that the firm required a large sum of money, and that
it was difficult for them to appear in the market as
borrowers. Before replying to this proposal, I told
Mr. Brunton to ask Lord Revelstoke for a statement
of the bills payable and receivable. He returned wdth
the answer that the acceptances of the firm amounted
to ten millions sterling, and the bills in portfolio to
nine millions sterling.

Thereupon Glyn and Co. made an advance to
Messrs. Baring of .^500,000 on the security of stock
in A. Guiness and Co., Limited, standing in the names
of various partners in the Baring firm.

Subsequently a further sum of 3^200,000 was
advanced on Canada Government Treasury bills and
;^50,ooo on securities sold for delivery on the Stock
Exchange.

On the nth of November the annexed letter from
the Governor of the Bank reached me.

The Baring Crisis. 91

Bank of England,

November 11, 1890.
Dear Mr. Currie,

I want to see you on a very important
matter. Could you come over here soon ? I go to the
Treasury at 4.30 p.m.

Yours faithfully,

Wm. Lidderdale.
Bertram Currie, Esq.

The very important matter was that the firm of
Baring Brothers and Co. were in difficulties, that the
writer had been in communication with Mr. Goschen,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the subject, that
the latter had provisionally agreed to the suspension of
the Bank Charter Act, so as to enable the Bank to
afford assistance, but that H.M.'s Government required
to be assured of the solvency of the firm, and with
that object Mr. Lidderdale proposed, that, in con-
junction with Mr. Hoskier (a former partner in the
firm of Brown, Shipley, and Co. and a friend of
Messrs. Baring), I should look into their affairs and
express my opinion as to their condition.

I declined to act with Mr. Hoskier, but offered to
do so with Mr, B. B. Greene.

Having undertaken in conjunction with Mr. B. B.
Greene, a director of the Bank of England, eighty-
three years of age, to verify as far as possible the
figures contained in a statement which had been
handed to Mr. Lidderdale by Messrs. Baring, we pro-
ceeded together to their counting-house in Bishopsgate
Street, and examined and counted the bills receivable,

92 Memorandiun.

which amounted to about seven millions. We required
each partner to authenticate the above-named state-
ment by appending his signature thereto. Mr. Greene
undertook the valuation of securities, adopting the
prices quoted in Wetenhall's list wherever practicable.

On Friday, 14th November, after leaving the India
Office, I called about 2 p.m. on Mr. Greene at the
Bank, and found him uneasy in his mind about the
value of the securities, and impressed with the magni-
tude of the advances which it might be necessary for
the Bank to make in order to meet Messrs. Baring's
engagements : the bills payable alone amounting to
^15,750,000.

After some discussion we agreed upon a joint
report to be made to the Governor of the Bank, in
which we said that after verifying the statement as far
as was possible in the limited time at our disposal, we
were of opinion that the assets of the firm showed a
substantial surplus over its liabilities.

At about five o'clock in the afternoon of the same
day, I was summoned to the Governor's room at the
Bank, where several members of the Committee of
Treasury were assembled, including, besides Mr.
Lidderdale the Governor and Mr. D. Powell the
Deputy Governor, Sir Mark Collet, Messrs. H. Gibbs,
J. P. Currie, H. R. Grenfell, B. Greene, J. S. Gilliat,
and possibly some others.

I was invited to take a seat by the side of the
Governor, who, having informed his colleagues of the
purport of our report, stated that he was prepared to
recommend the Bank of England to undertake the
liquidation of the Baring estate, and to contribute one
million sterling to a fund for guaranteeing the assets,

The Barmg Crisis. 95

provided that a sum of not less than three milh'ons
were contributed by other parties. I then rose and
said that, as an evidence of my behef in the correctness
of the estimate, which, in conjunction with Mr. Greene
I had made of the assets, the firm of Glyn and Co.
would contribute ;^500,ooo to the fund, provided that
Messrs. N. M. Rothschild and Co. would become
responsible for a like amount.

At this moment it was announced that Lord
Rothschild had arrived, and I was asked to see him.
When informed of the circumstances of the case and
of the condition which I had made, he hesitated and
desired to consult his brothers, but was finally and
after some pressure persuaded to put down the name
of his firm for £"500,000. Mr. H. Raphael, Messrs.
Gibbs, Morgan, Brown Shipley and Co., and others
joined in the guarantee for sums of ;£'200,ooo and
^250,000. At the request of the Governor I
proceeded to call on Ijarclay and Co. and Smith
Payne and Co., who each promised a contribution
of £100,000, so that at about 6 p.m. an amount
exceeding three and a half millions had been
subscribed without any application to the Joint Stock
Banks, whose managers were summoned to meet the
Governor on the following day, with the result that
the amount of the fund was increased to about
eighteen millions.]

Having endeavoured to give a short description of
my old partners in Cornhill, I will now attempt to-
perform the same office for those who have left the
world since they and I joined our forces in Lombard
Street.

94 ^^- Charles Mills.

Our senior, Mr. Charles Mills, had been for many
years a director of the East India Company, and very
fairly distributed the valuable patronage which belonged
to that office, though, as he used to tell me, an applica-
tion from a good customer of the bank was not often
refused. Before the monopoly of trading with China
was taken away from the Company, the public sales of
tea used to be conducted in turn by the directors, some
of whom were bankers like himself. It was said by
one of them, probably by way of joke, that he used to
knock down the chests of tea to his own customers,
and to ignore the bids of outsiders. What a curious
picture of bygone manners !

When the old East India Company was abolished,
Mr. Mills became a member of the Council of India,
where he left the reputation of a shrewd and sensible
man. These qualities were apparent to all with whom
he was brought into contact. He wisely left the
principal management of the bank to his partner,
Mr. Glyn, but was much interested in the division of
profit and loss. When I became his partner, he was
already advanced in years, and did not come early or
often to the City. Shortly before his death, while he
was dozing before the fire, one of the busybodies who
frequented our counting-house wished him many happy
years of life. He turned to me and said : " That fellow
talks nonsense. I have had my years, and very happy
ones they have been."

His system of philosophy was not to expect too
much, and to be content with the ordinary blessings
of life.

Mr. George Carr Glyn, afterwards Lord Wolverton,
was of a different type. His quickness and alertness

Mr. George Carr Glyn. 95

of mind were remarkable, and if he had not been so
engrossed in the details of business, and if his domestic
environment had been a little more intellectual and
sesthetic, his natural talent for conversation and for
society would, I always thought, have been developed
to a high pitch. But the puritanical and philistine
element which prevailed in his days in the banking
and mercantile world checked his flight, and made his
private life somewhat colourless and uninteresting.

In business he displayed great ambition. He desired
to make his house the first in London, and to perpetuate
a long line of bankers. He was bold without rashness,
prudent almost to a fault in his own expenditure, and
gifted with a wonderful facility for endearing himself
to his customers, whom he was ever ready to support
in time of need. One of his maxims was : " Get hold
of the right sort of people, and then let them have
what they want."

He was a great admirer of the sweet simplicity of
the three per cents., and eschewed investments which
offer high interest. I remember to have been told that
in some time of panic Mr. Glyn sold a part of his
Consols at a fraction under the price of the day, in
order to help a customer, while S. J. Loyd, chuckling
to himself as he bought the Consols cheap, buttoned
up his pockets, and allowed a perfectly solvent firm,
which banked with him, to suspend payment. This
incident is characteristic of the two men, and shows
which of them possessed the true banking instinct.

I do not dwell on Mr. Glyn's early connection with
the founders of the railway interest, as their history
may be read elsewhere, but there is no doubt that
the sagacity and courage with which he threw himself

96 Mr. New77iarch.

into the railway movement contributed largely to the
fortunes of his house.

My father used to tell me that when he came to the
City about 1820, the position of Glyn's bank was not
specially eminent, whereas in 1850 its business was
certainly more extended, if not more solid and sub-
stantial, than that of any of its competitors.

I will add a few words about Mr. Newmarch, who,
though not a partner in the bank, had become
identified with it about 1863 as secretary or manager.

He had already acquired reputation as the colla-
borateur of Tooke in his History of Prices, and as a
writer of authority on economical questions. The
merit of these productions was recognized by the
Institute of France, of which he was a corresponding
member. Mr. Glyn had become acquainted with
Newmarch at the old Globe Insurance Society, of which
he was a founder and director, and Mr. Newmarch was
the actuary and manager.

I suppose that Mr. Glyn's original idea was that
Newmarch should take part in the management of our
business, but for this, in spite of his remarkable
abilities, he was not fitted. The banking trade is only
to be successfully carried on by those who have been
brought up to it from early youth. But in the intro-
duction of a proper and scientific system of accounts
in place of the obsolete and rule of thumb methods
which he found in Lombard Street, and to a less
degree in reforming the discipline and management of
the numerous staff, Mr. Newmarch was of great service
to the house of Glyn and Co., and amply justified his
appointment.

Considering the disadvantages of his early life, his

Mr. Newmarch. 97

knowledge was remarkable. There were few books
which he had not read, and few subjects upon which
he was not competent to form and to express an
opinion. He had a ready, if not a refined wit, and
was capable of making a capital and amusing speech
on the spur of the moment. Born of humble parents
in Lancashire, the letter "h" was not included in his
vocabulary, and upon this deficiency we sometimes
mischievously played. Having to speak at a meeting
of the Grank Trunk Railway Company, he made use
of a favourite metaphor.

" Gentlemen, we must take the bull by the 'orns."
When the assembled shareholders smiled, he went
on : " By the 'orns, I repeat."

While still in the prime of life, and after he had
arranged to retire from the bank, and to devote himself
to a continuation of the History of Prices, he was seized
with a paralytic stroke while sitting at his desk at
Lombard Street.

Of my living partners it would not be decorous for
me to speak, so that, having exhausted the topics which
may be of interest to those who come after me, I find
that my task is finished. My fifty years of banking
are accomplished, and I have received unmistakable
notice to quit.

Having, up to the month of August, 1896, been a
regular attendant at the bank, an inactive life offers no
attraction to me. Better to depart in full possession
of what faculties one has than to prolong existence as
an incurable.

Ein nnniitz Leben ist ein friiher Tod,
H

98 Conclusion.

When I think of the friends I have lost, and of the
number of better men than myself who have gone
before me, whose places, in spite of all their qualities,
have quickly been filled by others as capable, why
should I repine at the common lot of humanity ?

I leave the business in safe hands, with as good a
prospect of increasing prosperity as is to be found in
this world of development and change ; and whether it
stands alone, or whether, as I have sometimes thought
probable, it becomes the nucleus of a larger constella-
tion, may it continue to shine and be an example to
the world of the soundness of the practice of private
banking.

Many generations have toiled in their day to make
and keep the business. To enlarge and improve it,
and above all to uphold its credit and reputation, the
best years of my life have been devoted, and at its
close I can say, in humble imitation of Lord Holland :

A City banker born and bred,
Sufficient for my fame,
If those who knew me best have said
I tarnished not the name.

APPENDIX.

The following is the English version of Mr. Bertram
Currie's speech at the Fourth Session of the International
Monetary Conference at Brussels. Mr. Currie spoke in Trench.

" As I think it is the duty of every Delegate to
show his respect for the Conference by contributing
his mite to the proceedings, I shall ask leave to say a
few words, though I fear that my opinions will fail to
commend themselves to the majority of my honourable
collcagues-

I am not one of those Vv'ho believe that great evils
are impending upon the world from the disuse of silver
as the standard of value. This disuse has, I think,
gradually arisen in obedience to the natural law of
selection, by which progressive societies choose for
themselves the methods best suited for their develop-
ment. Any artificial attempt to arrest this process
seems to me doomed to failure. We have witnessed
the heroic labours of the United States in this direction.
The fable of Sisyphus has been repeated for our
edification, and although for a moment silver was by
gigantic efforts forced up to a certain height, it soon
came tumbling down again.

He must be a sanguine person who believes that
such a costly experiment is likely to find imitators.

What, I may ask, are the supposed evils that we
are called upon to remedy ? As far as can be

lOO Appendix.

ascertained, we are met here to endeavour to raise
the price of commodities. Such an object is entirely
opposed to the economic doctrines which are accepted
in the country from which I come. Cheap goods and
not dear goods, plenty and not scarcity have always
been held to be conditions of profitable trade. That
the general fall in prices has been brought about by
the scarcity of gold has never been proved, and such
a theory is, in my humble opinion, at variance with
the facts which are within our knowledge.

To the question, What then is the remedy ? I
venture to reply, ' A gold standard, even without a
gold currency.' Such a system is already at work in
several countries, and apparently it performs its
functions to the satisfaction of the communities which
have adopted it.

Theoretically, a gold currency like that of England
may be best, but it is a costly luxury, involving an
outlay which may perhaps be avoided.

I do not deny that exchange may sometimes be
unfavourable to nations who do not possess an effective
gold currency, but unless the credit of the nation sank
very low, the fall in exchange would hardly be so
disastrous as the fluctuation to which silver-using
countries, such as India, have been exposed.

In conclusion, I would venture to submit that the
wealth of a nation does not depend upon the gold and
silver which it possesses. The contrary indeed is
much nearer to the truth, and it might be argued that
the more prosperous and civilized a nation becomes,
the less occasion has it to use the precious metals, and
the smaller is the stock which is required for its
transactions. The real desideraiu7n for a nation is to

speeches at Brussels. loi

maintain a surplus of revenue over expenditure, and
thereby to establish and extend its credit. When
that has been accomplished, it may command as much
gold as it can profitably use, and failing such credit,
its monetary system can never rest upon a safe
foundation."

At the Tenth (and last) Session of the International Monetary'
Conference at Brussels, it is recorded in the official Report that
Mr. Bertram Currie [Ddcgatt of Great Britain) made the following
speech in English :^

" It may seem ungracious to raise any objection to
the adjournment which has been proposed ; and if
I do so it is rather with the view of saying a few
parting words in my individual and private capacity,
than from any intention of calling for a vote on the
question ; but it must not be forgotten that the Con-
ference of 1881 still remains adjourned, and if during
the eleven years which have elapsed since that time it
has not been found expedient to summon it, what
prospect have wc, the Delegates of 1892, of a speedier

reunion .■'

Three times the Delegates of various nations have
met at a Monetary Conference. On each occasion
they have exhausted their ingenuity in devising plans
for the increase of silver money, and thrice they have
been compelled to separate without accomplishing or
even advancing the object which they had in view.
Has not the time arrived when, as men of the world,
and some of us men of business, we should recognize
the fact that the task which was set to them was

^ This speech is printed here in the terms in which it was actually
delivered in English. It differs, in a few phrases, from the French
version handed in by Mr. Currie and printed in the official minutes.

I02 Appendix.

impossible ? Would it not be wiser, instead of post-
poning our decision, to declare plainly to our bi-metallic
friends, that the plan which they advocate is no cure
for the ills of which they complain ; so that, abandoning
vain imaginings and illusive visions which can never
become realities, they may turn their attention to some
possible alleviations of their distress ?

It would be presumptuous in me to indicate the
quarter to which their inquiries should be directed ;
but unless I am greatly mistaken, the malady which
affects them is political rather than financial.

The world is not suffering from a penury of gold,
but from the loss of its savings through hazardous
investments, from exaggerated tariffs which destroy
and hamper trade, from heavy taxation, and above all
from the many unproductive consumers of its wealth.

If there be any ground for the complaint which has
been made in the course of our discussions, that gold,
if not actually scarce, is difficult to be procured, it is
explained by the fact that more than one of the great
nations of Europe has accumulated gold in excess
of financial requirements, and views with alarm and
suspicion any diminution of its stock.

Reference has been made by some of the Delegates
to the practice of the Bank of England, as well as of
other banks of issue, with respect to gold, and our
eminent colleague, M. Tirard, drew an interesting
comparison between the stability of the rate of dis-
count in France, and the constant changes which
have occurred in England.

It is not for me to criticise the action of the Banks
of France or Germany, but I am confident that the
Bank of England will never depart from the policy.

speeches at Brussels. 103

which is indeed prescribed to it by law, of paying gold
freely and without demur in satisfaction of all lawful
demands.

The question that has been raised whether that
Bank habitually holds a gold reserve sufficient to meet
all emergencies is a fair subject of debate. If a larger
stock be thought desirable, it might perhaps be
provided by the other banking institutions of London,
out of the large balances which stand to their credit in
the Bank of England.

There was another remark which fell from M.Tirard
which made a great impression upon me. I refer to
the eloquent protest which he uttered against opening
the mints of his country to unlimited coinage of silver,
so as to compel France to receive from Mexico and
the United States a commodity which she could never
return to the countries from which it came, nor use
for the payment of her debts or the satisfaction of her
requirements.

Are not these words of M. Tirard the condemnation
of silver as a fit medium of unlimited coinage ? For
how can any substance provide a good currency which
will not pass current, or be fit for circulation if it
refuses to circulate ?

It is a matter of indifference to me as a seller of
goods or services, whether I am paid in paper, in gold,
or in silver money, but on this condition, that when
in my turn I become a buyer, the money which I
have received will be accepted without deduction in
exchange for the goods or services which I require.

Tried by this test, silver has broken down. Nobody
wants it for himself, but everybody desires to pass it
on to his neighbour, like one of those coins of South

1 04 Appendix.

American origin of which the unwary tourist is apt to
find himself the possessor.

After the categorical and repeated declarations
against free coinage which we have heard from the
Delegates of France, Germany, and Great Britain, we
•should only delude ourselves if we did not admit that
the question is closed.

Let the bi-metallists, supported in some degree by
the high authority of my friend, Mr. Rothschild, and
-encouraged by the utterances of persons so competent
an these matters as Archbishop Walsh and Mr. Chaplin,
•console themselves with predictions of the calamities
and perils which are to follow as the result of our
inaction. We will not venture upon the domain of
prophecy, content to meet present difficulties as best
we may, refusing to aggravate them by any attempt to
interfere with the natural course and tendency of
events, and leaving it to our successors, the Delegates
of the twentieth century, to discuss and determine the
monetary system of the future."

Speech delivered at the London Institution, May 22nd, 1S95,
by Mr. Bertram Currie. Referred to p. 81.

" Mr. Courtney and gentlemen, I am here to-night
.at the instance of my friend Mr. Tritton, who assured
;me that unless some defenders of the gold standard
put in an appearance it would be said that we were
afraid of the bi-metallists and had no answer to make
to their arguments. Mr. Tritton has laid us under
great obligation by the very valuable paper which he
read at the last meeting of this institution, supported
as it is by facts and figures which are not easily to be

speech at the London Institution. 105

controverted. I therefore obeyed the invitation of
Mr. Tritton, but the opinion which I expressed to him
is unchanged, that not much practical good is Hkcly
to arise from this discussion. It seems to me to
resemble a theological debate in which much heat is
engendered but few conversions are made. (Laughter.)
To make a debate of this sort profitable there must
be some premises on which both sides are agreed,
some common basis on which to rest our arguments.
Now, having given my best attention to the able and
well reasoned pamphlet of Mr. Gibbs, I find myself in
the unfortunate predicament of being unable to accept
any of the propositions he lays down. The}' are three
in number, and I propose in the brief and cursory
manner which the exigencies of the time and place
alone permit, to deal with them in their order. The
first proposition is that trade and finance are unduly
depressed. Now, the word unduly is somewhat vague
and indefinite, but I assume it may be taken to mean
unusual or unprecedented. Now, I have one advantage
over Mr. Gibbs which I am sure he will not envy me.
I am old enough to remember other times of depression
when he had either not come into the world or was too
youthful and joyous to be depressed. (Laughter.)
With a most lively recollection of 1847, 1857, 1866,
I can confidently assert that the disasters of 1890-94
are not to be compared in number or severity with
those which occurred at the former periods. Why, in
1847 twenty-one banks failed, five directors of the
Bank of England, and the Governor of the Bank of
England, failed, besides many mercantile houses of
the first importance. In 1857 sixteen banks failed,
including two of the largest country banks, the

T 06 Appendix.

Northumberland and Durham District Bank and
the Liverpool Borough Bank, both institutions of the
highest importance. In 1866 five London banks
failed, besides the world-wide renowned iirm of
Overend, Gurney & Co. On all these occasions credit
was shaken in the most serious manner, and the Bank
Act of 1844 was suspended. I only mention this to
show that our predecessors had their troubles as well
as we, and that financial and commercial depressions
are not new. The real depression seems to me to
amount to this : Many people belonging to a class who
are able to make their grievances heard have lost large
sums of money through unwise speculations in North
and South America. Many merchants, brokers, whole-
sale dealers and other middlemen have seen their trade
and profits vanish owing to new developments in
the conduct of business. Why, I am told that my
friend Mr. Ralli, who is here this evening, sells whole
cargoes of jute and of cotton and seeds for one-fifth or
one-tenth of the profits which used to be divided
among the classes to which I have referred, and which
went to swell the prices of those commodities before
they reached the consumer. Mr. Ralli has devoured
whole hecatombs of British merchants. It was
unpleasant for them, but his smiling countenance
assures me that he has not found the process of
digestion painful or difficult. (Laughter.) I now come
to the second proposition, namely, that defects in our
monetary system are to a great extent responsible for
these evils. Well, this proposition I am altogether
unable to accept in spite of the resolution of the House
of Commons which Mr. Gibbs brings forward in its
support. Having had some experience of the resolu-

speech at the London Institution. 107

tions of that honourable House in connection with the
Government of India, I am bold enough to say that
I do not view them with any great respect, nor am I
strongly impressed with their authority, but the history
of this particular resolution must be known to many
who are now present, and certainly to my distinguished
friend who occupies the chair to-night. I suspect that
this resolution was allowed to pass unchallenged as a
tactical move in order to conciliate some agricultural
supporter of the Government or some Lancashire
member with a doubtful seat. (Laughter.) As no
action was contemplated it was thought that no harm
would be done, but I am unable to accept this abstract
resolution as embodying the real opinion of the
majority of the House of Commons. As for defects
in our monetary system, they may exist, though it
remained for bi-metallists to discover them. But it
would seem that the systems of other nations must be
more defective still, for they arc all, to the best of
their capacity, adopting ours. Germany and the
Scandinavian States have got the gold standard.
France and the Latin Union by refusing to coin silver
have practically adopted it. Russia and Austria
(countries with a nominal silver standard) arc tending
to a gold standard, so that our defective monetary
system promises to become universal in Europe, if not
in the world. The third proposition is that inter-
national bi-metallism would alleviate those evils. Well
this, gentlemen, I confess, is the most unacceptable of
all the three. It is true that we have had no experience
of international bi-metallism, but the nearest approach
we have known to it was when b^rance enjoyed the
blessings of the double standard, and in those good

io8 Appendix.

old days we were no more free from commercial and
financial depression than now. But leaving aside the
arguments, from experience I venture to say that, in
my opinion, and in that of those much better able
to judge than myself, an international agreement
belongs to the region of dreams and not of realities.
It is impracticable and unattainable. We who reject
the nostrum are, you must allow, considerable in
numbers and not wholly unprovided with this world's
goods. We utterly disbelieve that the value of silver
can be permanently raised by Act of Parliament or by
International agreement, and no amount of discussion
will shake our faith, which is founded on principle and
confirmed by experience. Clearly, therefore, if we
seriously apprehended that such a course was con-
templated we should endeavour to contract ourselves
out of it, and we should collect and store up as much
gold as we could afford in the sure and certain hope
of selling it at a profit when the bi-metallic bubble
burst. (Applause.) I am aware that Mr. Balfour,
when he honoured us with a visit in the City, treated
this idea with derision, but I hope and believe that, in
any conceivable Government that may be formed in
this country, some sober-minded men of his own party
will be found to stop him from tampering with the
gold standard or from entering upon an untried and
hazardous experiment. The benefits to be derived
from such a course are speculative and imaginary,
while the possible dangers are real and palpable,
sufficient to appal the stoutest heart and shake the
nerves and disturb the slumbers of the most solvent
trader in the City of London,"

THE CURRENCY QUESTION— FOR LAYMEN.

Article in The National Riviciv, June, 1895, referred to in page 77.
I OBSERVE that the form of a dialogue as a method
of expounding their views is much in favour with
Bi-metalhsts, who are by no means so ready to answer
the real questions which their adversaries put to them
as they are to find replies to imaginary interlocutors.
Lord Farrer, for example, reiterates in The Times
newspaper an inconvenient but pertinent inquiry, to
which no intelligible answer has yet been vouchsafed.

Let us assume, however, that the questions in
Mr. Courtney's dialogue^ proceed from a real living
interrogator, and we will endeavour to answer them in
the order in which they appeared :

The General Case.

1. Low prices are not an evil.

2. Fluctuation in prices is a quality inseparable
from the nature of commodities.

3. Abnormal competition from silver countries is
moonshine.

The assumption that any of these things have been
caused or aggravated by a change in the relations
between gold and silver is unproved ; the most that
can be said is that silver has fallen in price at the
same time that other (not all) commodities have fallen,
and for the same reason, viz., that it can be produced
in larger quantities and at a lower cost. Labour has not
^ Sec The National Review, May. 1895.

1 lo Appendix.

fallen in price. Neither has coffee nor tobacco. Hay,
in the summer of 1893, doubled in price in the course
of a few weeks.

I. — Low Prices.

Wheat, cotton, wool, and other articles are cheap,
because during the last few 3'ears they have been
offered for sale in excess of the demand for them.

As for the abnormal competition of silver countries,
how is it that Argentina, which in spite of her name
uses no silver, has driven India out of the wheat
market ? How is it that in i8go-gi, with an average
exchange of iSd'oSg, the wheat exports of India were
14,320,496 cwts. ; while for eleven months in 1894-95,
with exchange at 13' i, these exports have fallen to
6,592,521 cwts. ?

The assumption that gold has appreciated begs the
whole question in dispute, and can only be met by the
counter assertion that there is no evidence of any
scarcity in the supply of gold, which is now produced
in larger quantities and held in greater stocks than at
any previous time, while the demand for gold money
tends to diminish as banking facilities are increased.

That the quality of gold money affects prices at all
is another assumption which urgently calls for proof.

Low prices, whether taken alone or in conjunction
with other things, are not an evil : to prove this, it is
only necessary to state the contrary proposition. Are
high prices a blessing ? Were the good old times of
fifty years since, when wheat, cotton, and wool cost
twice or thrice as much as they cost now, better for
the mass of the population in England than the
present year of grace ?

The Cu7'rency Question. 1 1 1

I recommend Mr. Courtney to introduce into his
next dialogue some mechanic or labourer who was at
work in 1845 to give an answer to this question.

Merchants, brokers, wholesale dealers, and other

middlemen, whose charges tended to swell the price of

the commodities which they handle, have lost their

trade ; but what they have lost the consumers have

gained,

II. — Fluctuations of Prices.

Fluctuations of price are inevitable unless the
seasons could be controlled, and supply could be regu-
lated. As already stated, the drought of 1893 raised
the price of hay from ^^4 per ton to £^.

This is mainly a home product, which is not exposed
to foreign competition in the same degree as wheat or
wool. Would Bi-metallism have prevented this rise ?

It is highly probable that fluctuations will in the
future be much less violent than in the past, at any
rate in the price of such articles as wheat, cotton,
and sugar, which are supplied to this country from so
many different sources that the risk of a general failure
of the crops is reduced to a minimum.

The price of wheat in Mark Lane rose to 120s. per
quarter in 1847. So long as we have Free Trade with
all wheat-exporting countries, such a calamity is hardly
conceivable ; but perhaps Protectionists and Bi-metal-
lists would consider the price in 1895 more calamitous
than that in 1847.

III. — Competition of Silver-using Countries.
It is not easy to understand why the competition
of silver countries is more abnormal than that of gold
countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland,

112 Appendix.

whose rivalry is keenly felt both in the iron and textile
trades.

That India, Japan, and possibly China, will manu-
facture in increasing quantities goods of which England
had once a practical monopoly, is not only inevitable,
but should hardly be a subject of regret to those who
hold to the principles of Free Trade.

As soon as order and tolerable government were
established in the East, and as soon as capital followed
in their wake, was it natural or likely that cotton
grown in the Bombay Presidency, or in Japan, should
travel to and fro thousands of miles in order to be
woven into cloth for the use of those who cultivated
the plant on which it grew ? As well might we lament
that the woollen stuffs which the Medici, the Riccardi,
or the Peruzzi of Florence, sent on pack-horses to be
dyed in Flanders, no longer yield the profit from which
the wealth of those mediaeval bankers and merchant
princes took its rise, just as Manchester spinners grew
rich by weaving cotton to clothe the nakedness of a
large part of the human race.

We must expect and be ready for competition,
whether it come from the East or from the West, from
cheaper labour or longer hours, from greater advant-
ages of soil, of climate, or of situation, but to suppose
that the use of a silver standard gives any advantage
to our competitors is an unproved assumption, and in
my humble judgment one of the most singular delu-
sions that has ever taken possession of educated and
intelligent minds.

Bertram Currie.

MR. GOSCHEN'S CURRENCY SUGGESTIONb-.

To the IMitor of The Times.
Sir, — I should like, with your permission, to make a
few remarks on the very interesting speech delivered
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Chamber
of Commerce at Leeds.

Mr. Goschen dwells in forcible language upon the
calamity which would have ensued if the firm of
Baring had stopped payment in November last, and
founds his main argument for increased reserves of
gold upon the danger from which we then escaped.
That this calamity was avoided and that confidence
was so quickly restored, can hardly be adduced as
evidence of the unsatisfactory condition of our banking
system.

It is not apparent that the difficulty which occurred
in Paris in 1889, in connection with the Comptoir
d'Escompte, was more easily overcome, although the
gold reserve of the Bank of France may have been
double that of the Bank of England.

In advocating a larger gold reserve in London,
because that reserve is habitually less than those of
France, Germany, and the United States, it would
have been pertinent to show that the condition of
business in those countries is sounder and more
progressive than in England. It might be argued
that the capacity of England to attract gold in time
I

114 Appendix.

of need is far greater than that of other countries, in
consequence of the exceptional position which England
holds as the universal creditor and central banker of
the world, and this hypothesis would be supported by
the evidence of what actually occurred in 1847, 1857,
and 1866, as well as in November last, when large
supplies of gold were attracted from Australia, Brazil,
and other countries, in addition to the artificial
supplies from France and Russia.

As to the possible remedy indicated in Mr.
Goschen's speech to result from an issue of £\ notes,
it remains to be seen by what method they could be
put into circulation. There are few things upon
which mankind are so much the slaves of habit, or so
suspicious of change, as in regard to the money which
they are accustomed to handle in their daily trans-
actions.

The banks who are invited by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer to increase their cash reserves will
naturally inquire to whose custody such reserves are
to be entrusted. Is it seriously proposed that they
should largely increase them for the benefit of a rival
establishment, whose competition they already feel
with increasing severity ?

Would not the effect of creating any new and
special reserve, to be used only in case of danger,
intensify alarm whenever it was found necessary to
encroach upon it ? Such, at least, seems to be the
case in New York, whenever the limit of 25 per cent,
of the banking deposits is overpassed.

In conclusion, I would observe that the present
banking system has gradually developed itself to meet
the exigencies of business without State interference,

Mr. Goschens Currency S2iggestions. 1 1 5

that if it has not created our financial supremacy, at
any rate, it has been found compatible with such a
supremacy as the world has never seen, and that under
its operation no solvent firm has failed to meet its
engagements. No banking system can be invented
which will suspend the economical laws under which
improvident trading leads to ruin, and the best service
that the State can render in this and similar matters
is to interfere as little as possible with the operation
of those laws.

The improvements in our present system which
seem useful and attainable are, I believe, to be sought
in the direction of more extended co-operation between
the Bank of England and the other leading banks, and
possibly by the abandonment of the futile attempt to
fix officially a rate of discount which it is impossible
any longer to enforce.

SPEECH

DELIVERED BY MR. BERTRAM CURRIE ON THE OCCASION

OF THE UNVEILING OF A STATUE OF MR. GLADSTONE AT

THE CITY LIBERAL CLUB, WALBROOK, REFERRED TO ON

P. 85. DECEMBER I3, 1883.^

The first intention of the committee was to have
addressed themselves to the noble President of the
Club,^ and I hoped he would have undertaken the
duty which is undertaken by me, but I suppose the
noble lord felt it would hardly be becoming in him to
pass a public eulogy on a colleague with whom he is
so closely connected, whose responsibility he shares,
and, I may add, to the success of whose Administration
he so ably contributes. (Cheers.) The next person
to whom the attention of the committee was directed
was Lord Wolverton, the attached follower and
personal friend of Mr. Gladstone — (cheers) — but Lord
Wolverton was unfortunately obliged to leave this
country for the Continent, and I am commissioned to
express his regret that he was unable to avail himself
of the honour intended for him. This much I have
said by way of excuse for my appearance here to-day,
for I am painfully conscious that I have no qualification
for the place I occupy except an extreme and sincere
admiration for the great original of the statue we are
to uncover. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I believe it is

* Reprinted from the Daily News, Friday, December 14, 1SS3.
" Earl Granville.

speech on unveiling a Statue of Mr. Gladstone. 1 1 7

customary on occasions like the present to trace with
more or less detail the life and actions of the man
whom we have come to honour, but I feel that would
be impossible in this case. The political life of
Mr. Gladstone has been so protracted, his actions
have been so numerous, that even in the most dis-
cursive manner I should be unable to give a connected
account of them. I think it would be more acceptable
to you if I were to endeavour to select out of the
whole of his great and glorious career some parti-
cular instance of great and never to be forgotten
service to the Liberal party ; and, if I were called
upon to select such instance, I should select the
Midlothian campaign. (Cheers.) We vividly re-
member the state of affairs that existed in this country
when the campaign began. We have not forgotten
the anxiety and apprehension with which we viewed
the policy of Lord Beaconsfield's Government. (Hear,
hear.) We felt that the vessel of the State was being
navigated by rash and reckless men, that she was
entering on a dangerous course which could only lead
to misfortune. All this we felt, but how few of us
were able to express our thoughts with effect, or to
make them heard by others. We looked forward
with grave apprehension to the meeting of a new
Parliament which appeared likely to be swayed by
the same counsels and obedient to the same leaders
as the last. At this juncture Mr. Gladstone came
forth from his retirement armed with the most
righteous indignation. (Cheers.) He left his quiet
home, his studious leisure, to which I doubt not he
intended to devote the remainder of his days, and he
left them in our cause. (Cheers.) Shall wc ever

1 1 8 Appendix.

forget how he fought that battle ? What force of
declamation, what freshness of illustration, what
wonderful feats of memory, what mastery of facts he
then displayed ! How he discomfited his opponents,
and secured a triumph to the Liberal party, the latest
history shall tell ; and, surely, if ever conqueror
deserved that a statue should be decreed to him by
his fellow-countrymen, that honour is most justly his
due. (Cheers.)

Having in the briefest manner sketched one of the
most interesting periods of Mr. Gladstone's career,
I should like, with your permission, to say a few
words of the man himself, of the qualities and com-
bination of qualities which distinguish him from other
men. Strong men lived before Agamemnon. Great
orators and statesmen have never been wanting in
this country, and for eloquence and the power of
swaying assemblies it would be hard to surpass the
power and passion of the elder Pitt, the argumentative
force of Fox, the reasoned eloquence of Burke, or the
wit and fancy of Sheridan ; but I have never learned,
as I have read the history of these great men, that
they combined with their wonderful eloquence those
no less rare and valuable gifts of patient industry, of
mastery of detail, which in those days may not have
been a necessary attribute of statesmen, but which
are now so necessary to constitute a successful leader
of a party, or to enable him to pass useful measures
through Parhament. (Cheers.) This, gentlemen, is
the wonderful combination we find in Mr. Gladstone —
a rhetorical ability of the highest class coupled with
a power of elaborating the most difficult and com-
plicated measures, of explaining them to Parliament,

speech on tmvciling a Statue of Mr. Gladstone. 1 19

and of passing them through the opposition, not
always of the most scrupulous nature, which there
awaits them. (Cheers.) It has often occurred to
me to ask why, while the name of Mr. Gladstone
fills us with such enthusiasm, it seems to create in
the breasts of our opponents exactly the opposite
feeling. (Laughter.) I can only attribute it to the
contraction of their views and the feebleness of their
minds. (Laughter.) When I hear a man revile
Mr. Gladstone, as we all of us so often hear, it is an
indication to me, not that Mr, Gladstone is not great,
but that his reviler is so small. (Laughter and cheers.)
You all remember the happy maxim of La Roche-
foucauld, which I will translate in this way: "No
man is a hero in the eyes of his valet." And you
know, doubtless, the admirable comment that was
made upon that maxim: "That is not because the
hero is not a true hero, but because the valet is and
remains a valet." (Laughter.) His mind is so con-
structed that he cannot see, he cannot understand the
heroic proportions of his master. Gentlemen, you
have shown by your presence here to-day that you
know how to recognize a true hero, the man of simple
tastes and simple manners, with a noble scorn for
vulgar aims, forgetful of himself, free from all personal
motives, devoted to the public interest, and especially
devoted to those of the poor and the unfriended.
(Cheers.) If such qualities do not make a hero, if
such a man does not deserve to be commemorated
in marble, I know not what human object is worthy
of our praise. (Cheers.) I have said the abuse of
Mr. Gladstone proceeds from the inability of our
opponents to understand him, but there is yet another

I20 Appendix.

cause. I fear that the base passion of envy has much
to do with it. (Hear, hear.) They are dazzled by
the glare and the blaze of his unrivalled superiority.
It is the privilege of superior wisdom and superior
■virtue in all times to excite the animosity of the vicious
and the unwise :

Sure fate of him beneath whose rising ray
Each star of meaner merit fades away.
Oppressed we feel the beam directly beat,
Those suns of glory please not till they set.

Gentlemen, when that glorious sun shall set —
when, in the fulness of time, his name shall be added
to the roll of those illustrious men who have ruled
England before him, I venture to predict that the
voice of envy and depreciation will be hushed, that
from all parties and from all quarters of the world
•will come the universal feeling that a greater and
nobler and more truly patriotic statesman never rose
lo guide the destinies of his country.

LETTERS FROM GERMANY.
1845. 1846. 1848.

I.

LETTERS.
1S45. 1S46.

In the preceding autobiographical sketch, not more than two
or three pages are given to recollections of the months spent at
Weimar. The writer expresses regret that the loss of the diarv
kept at that time, prevents him from being certain about names
and dates. ^ He was ignorant of the existence of several packets
of letters addressed by him to his parents and brothers during
the time he spent abroad, which were carefully presened by
them, and have since been found in a despatch-box that belonged
to his father.

The following letters, written by Bertram when in his
eighteenth year, relate in detail his life in Germany.

Ven-icrs Raihcay Station, on the frontier of Prussia,

Friday, May 2, 1845.

My dear Mother,

As we have to stay at this station for about
an iiour, I will take out my pen and ink to write you a
letter. I had intended doing so last night, but as I
rose at three, and did not get to bed till eleven, you
may imagine that I was rather tired. We sailed from
Dover in the Princess Mary, and were down at the
place of starting at four o'clock, but we did not get off
much before twenty minutes to five. We had a very

' See p. 15.

1 24 Ostend. [1845

quick passage, but considerably rough, the wind and
tide in our favour. Eden suffered considerably, but I
did not experience any unpleasant sensation. We
arrived at Ostend about a quarter before ten, the
distance being seventy miles. We met at the hotel at
Dover, and afterwards in the steamer, a Colonel
Cowell, formerly of the Guards. He was residing at
Brussels, and consequently gave us advice about the
inns in Belgium. We repaired to the Hotel des Bains,
recommended by Murray, and after breakfast were much
surprised by meeting with Williamson, who, with his
father and mother, is residing at Bruges. We found it
impossible to get our luggage through the douane in
time for the train at eleven o'clock, so we walked about
the town with W. There is one extremely fine airy
walk on the fortifications, where gentlemen in encum-
bered circumstances, who form a great part of the
population of Ostend, take the air. We then dined
at a capital table dliote, 2^ francs, including wine.
At three o'clock, at which time the next train started,
we set off. I determined to stop at Louvain, which
Murray described as an interesting place, with a good
inn. It is about a third of the way from Ostend to
Cologne. We passed through Bruges and Ghent, and
also Malines, or Mechlin, which is the centre of the
Belgian railroads ; the country very fiat and unin-
teresting, but the vegetation is much more advanced
than in England.

We arrived at Louvain a little after nine o'clock :
here we repaired to L'Hotel de Suede, and got some
supper and beds. Previously to going to bed, we
walked down to the railway, which is some way from
the town, to inquire about the trains, as the people at

iS45]

Loiivam. 12

the inn were so stupid, that we could make nothing
out. Here we found the station shut, and an obtuse
Belgian private soldier, who could not speak French.
The railroads here are very bad, and there are no
printed papers of trains in circulation, so that it is
difficult to find out when they start. As there was only
one train from Louvain to Cologne, we had no choice,
and were obliged to go at a quarter to nine. We were
called at a quarter past seven, and by a great effort
managed to see what was worth seeing before breakfast
at eight. There is a beautiful Gothic Hotel de Ville,
according to Murray one of the finest specimens of
Gothic architecture in Europe. The Cathedral also is
worth seeing,* numerous shrines, 3cc., and also a
beautiful carved wood pulpit, which last we could not
see very well, as service was going on. We then
started on the rail, and passed through the plain of
Neerwinder, celebrated for two great battles fought
there, Tirlemont and Liege, which is situated in a
valley, and of which there is a beautiful view from the
railroad. We crossed over the Meuse on a very fine
bridge. There are nineteen tunnels in the railroad from
Liege to Aix-la-Chapelle.

Cologne, II p.m. — I was obliged to leave off my
letter at Verviers, as the train came up. We stopped
at Aix-la-Chapelle for two hours, and walked down to
the town, saw the Cathedral, &c. We reached Cologne
about nine o'clock, p.m., and find ourselves in a very
comfortable inn. We have been to J. AL Farina's, and
dined. To-morrow we start per rail for Bonn, and
then join the steamer on the Rhine. We are in the
Hotel du Rhin, and find it a very good one. Soap, in
the German inns, is charged in the bill as an extra,

126 Cob lent z.

[1845

and one does not find it in the rooms, but the waiter
brings a cake wrapped up in paper.
With love to all,

Believe me to be your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.
Cologne, May 2, 1845.

Mayence, Monday, May 5, 1845.

My dearest Mother,

I am writing this letter under the same
circumstances as the last, viz., at a railway-station
where there is no table, so that I am compelled to hold
my desk on my knee, which must be an apology for
bad writing. We left Cologne on Saturday morning,
after visiting all the lions, which consist principally in
the different churches, which are filled with relics. We
started about eleven, and arrived at Coblentz about
ten in the evening, where we resolved to stop, as it is
beautifully situated at the junction of the Rhine and
the Moselle. We stopped here on Sunday ; there is a
very nice little English Church, which is given by the
King of Prussia to the English residents. It is the
chapel of the royal palace. Here we were enlightened
by one Menns, who takes pupils, among whom we
recognized two Etonians, Cook and Leech. The
former accompanied us over the Ehrenbreitstein
(Honour's broad stone), which is the principal fort of
Coblentz. The town is very strongly fortified : it is
said to be, after Gibraltar, the most impregnable fort-
ress in the world. From the top of this rock there is
the most beautiful view of the surrounding country,
watered by the Rhine and Moselle. I think the Rhine

1845] Journey to Mayence. 127

is decidedly more beautiful than the Scotch lakes, the
outline of the mountains is far bolder. We passed the
Drachenfels and Roland's Castle in sunshine, but the
day was very showery and cold.

We found a very good inn at Coblentz, all the
waiters speaking English. At all the good inns in
Germany, the waiters are sent abroad to learn the
different languages, and they are therefore very intelli-
gent and well-informed. I think that the inn-keepers
are far the most gentlemanly men that we have seen,
and certainly better dressed than any of their guests.

I was rather amused by meeting a steamer with
the name "John Cockerell " in huge letters on the
paddle-boxes, and I imagined that the fame of that
great prince had reached even to these distant shores,
but I find from Murray that there is an iron-founder of
that name of almost equal fame with his great namesake.

We started this morning at half-past seven by
steam for Mayence. There were very few passengers
on board, but I got engaged in conversation with a fat,
middle-aged lady, who I thought seemed very clever
and intelligent, and whom I soon found out to be Mrs.
Austen, travelling with her husband. We then talked
a great deal about the Grotes, Count Thun (who she is
going to visit), Saxe-Weimar, k.z. She seems to have
a quantity of friends on the Continent, and knows the
best German families. She was very chatty and agree-
able, and told me a great deal about Germany. It was
very great luck to meet with any conversable person,
they being very rare in these parts.

In the Cologne railway we met with a desperately
vulgar English shop-keeper, who, in spite of strenuous
endeavours on our part to get rid of him, would stick

128 F7'ankfort. [1845

to us, and bored us with accounts of his having been
cheated, &c.

Frankfiirt. — We have come to Frankfurt by the
railway from Mayence, a journey of about one hour.
I inflicted a good deal of French upon a wretched
native in the train. \\e find ourselves in a very
comfortable inn here, L'Hotel de Russie. We have
just finished our petit soiipcr in the coffee-room, and are
now sitting over our coffee in our own room, about
eleven o'clock. We find that the Eilwagen starts at
eight in the evening ; we have sent to secure the coupe
for to-morrow, but the office is shut, so that we have
desired them to go the first thing to-morrow morning
to secure places.

There are several things worth seeing at Frankfurt,
Dounecher's statue of Ariadne, pictures, &c. We were
very much bored to-day by being kept waiting on the
bridge of boats at Mayence twice for about half an hour,
while they opened the bridge to allow the vessels to pass.
This entirely stops the thoroughfare for some time.

To-day we had a very fine day for the Rhine,
though there was a cold wind. W^e were quite in the
middle of the castles, which are very beautiful. Prince
Frederick of Prussia has repaired, or rather rebuilt,
one of them, Rheinberg, and made a very pretty
summer residence of it. While we were waiting at
Mayence, we went to the gardens there just out of the
town, where there is a beautiful view of the confluence
of the Maine and the Rhine.

I hope to find a letter at Weimar. With best love
to my father, Mary, and Edith, believe me, my dear
mother, to be your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

i845] Arrival at Weimar. 1 29

Hotel de Russic, Weimar, Thursday, May 7, 1845.
My dear Father,

We arrived here last night about half-past
seven, having started from Frankfort at eight the
night before. We had the coupe, which luxury,
however, is participated in by a rather odoriferous
conductor, without an idea of anything but German.
I could not manage to sleep, as my interior was in
rather a disordered state, owing to some vin (or rather,
vinegar) ordinaire at dinner. The journey, on the
whole, was not disagreeable, as the pace is good, and
the motion not uneasy. We were not able to take our
luggage with us, as they will not allow more than forty
pounds to each passenger, and though we tried bribery
and abuse, it was impossible to persuade them to
allow us to take it.

Upon arriving last night, I posted off a card to old
Weissenborn, with a request to call at eleven the next
day, to which he returned a pasteboard, with an inti-
mation that Dr. W. sJiall have the honour of waiting,
&c. Accordingly he arrived, and immediately per-
ceived the astonishing likeness between me and
George. He then accompanied us first to Lieberkuhn's,
and then to Zwierlein's. We found the former in a
very greasy dressing-gown. He seems to be an amiable,
quiet man. We then went to Zwierlein's, where there
are three daughters, considered the belles of Weimar,

but they are no great shakes. Z himself was not

at home, so we walked about the Public Gardens, and
then went to the reading-room, where Weissenborn
put down our names. After dinner, we went to the
J

I •:o Mdna^e at Zivierlein s.

"<!>'

[1845

rifle-shooting, where we were introduced to the gun-
maker, who is the best shot, and quite the nob there.
We had a few shots. I got 11, 10, and 7, in three
shots (the highest mark being 12). The shooting was
entirely among the tradesmen, who have a meeting
there every Wednesday.

I suppose that Weissenborn has already explained
the menage, at Zwicrlein's. He seems a gentlemanly
man. He and Weissenborn came here, and had a
bottle of wine after dinner to-da}'. The onjy objection
to the place is that there is only one room, and I am to
sleep on a sofa about five feet long. I have, however,
made a strike against this. He seems disposed to be
very accommodating, and his daughters speak a little
English, and some French. There is a Madame
Zwierlein, but I have not yet had the pleasure of
seeing her.

Weissenborn tells me that I must get leave from
the Chamberlain to wear a plain black coat at Court,
as it is usual to have a court dress-coat, if one has no
uniform. The Court are soon going to move to their
summer residence at Belvedere.

At Zwierlein's I am to breakfast by myself and
dine with them. Tea is left doubtful. Weissenborn
tells me that a good coat comes to 20 thalers, which
is about 60 shillings. As I have not yet had inter-
course with the Schneider, I do not know the price

of waistcoats. W himself charges 18 dollars a

month. Zwierlein 40 — about ^6. I will send you
however in my next a full account of my expenditure,
as I have not yet had much time to inquire about it.
The journey came to £\^ for me. Eden had to pay
more in various ways. The principal reasons for this

1845]

Expenses of Jotirney. 131

expenditure were (i) the frequent change of money
first into francs, then thalers, then florins, and now
again into thalers; (2) the charge made by all the
railways for luggage (40 lbs. being all that is allowed).
The fare from Dover to Ostend was very dear —
£\ IS. ; the railroad from London i8s. 6d. ; the inn
dear and bad, los. ; this made the journey to Ostend
very dear. We incurred some extra expense in feeding
occasionally in our rooms, but after a long day's
journey it is almost impossible to sup in a room filled
with fumes of stale tobacco and smoking Germans, as
the public rooms invariably were at night, I made
a purchase on the journey of an umbrella, which was
necessary, as we have had a good deal of rain. The
gentleman to v/hom Mr. IMellish gave me an intro-
duction is not in Weimar now. I intend to send my
letters to-morrow. My direction is, "Chez M. le
Conseiller Zwierlein, Weimar," With love to my
mother, Mary, and the baby,

I remain, your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Curkie.

May II, 1S45.
My dearest Mother,

I have this moment linished reading your
agreeable long letter, which they sent here from the
post-office this morning. I find myself in very com-
fortable lodgings. I have a nice room, the only
drawback to which is that, as a matter of course,
there is no carpet. My landlord only occupies the
ground floor of a large house ; the rooms open into

132 The Zwierleifi Family. [1845

one another, and the approach to my room is through
the dining-room, which is never occupied except at
dinner-time. The family consist of M. Zwierlein, who
is an employe in one of the Government offices : he
would be agreeable if he were not so painfully civil
and obliging. He comes into the room generally
when I am breakfasting, with profound salutations
and requests to know if there is anything which I
would wish to have altered, and professes his desire
to accommodate me in everything. This I hope will
wear off, as it is a great bore to be always asked if
one does not want anything, and pressed to take
things which one does not want. Then there is a
Madame, who I have no doubt is very agreeable, but
she does not speak a word of anything but German.
Her gestures, however, at dinner, to induce me to eat,
are terribly intelligible. Then come three daughters.
The eldest is plain but agreeable, and speaks capital
French and very fair English, but we always converse
in French. The second is very pretty, by far the best-
looking person I have seen since I left England. She
speaks French well. The 3'oungest is shy, and does
not speak at all. These young ladies are extremely
refined for Germany, for they neither eat with their
knives nor pick their teeth with their forks, and the
only solecism which they commit at dinner is in
making small pellets of bread, which they throw at
one another : they are nevertheless more agreeable
than most English young ladies, as they are extremely
obliging, and have plenty to say for themselves. There
is one very painful circumstance attending the dinner,
which is that the 3'oungest daughter brings in and
takes away all the dishes, and the servant never enters

1S45] Professor Licbcrkuhn. 133

the room. Of course they cry out if one attempts to
move. Besides this, they make me sit at the head of
the table.

Our dinner yesterday was as follows. A kind of
thick meaty soup. Beef boiled to tatters and dry,
with an oily attempt at caper sauce. A pancake with
confiture dc framboise, and high cheese. This is rather
distressing, but I suppose one will get used to it. I
have breakfast about nine o'clock and tea about eight.
They are going to make an arrangement by which
I shall tea with Eden one night, and he with me the
next. I have as j'et had tea with them. I sleep on
a sofa which is rather too short, and when I get up
the servant removes the bed-clothes and makes it into
a sofa again. I have just, with the aid of the dictionary,
ordered my fiunky or servant to procure me a grossc
Tonne (great Tub), to which he answered that the
Englanders always asked for that. I have got a
capital servant : his name is, I think, Carl. He is
engaged by Zwierlein to come and brush my clothes
and attend upon me in the morning. He has attended
upon almost all the Englishmen that have been here.

The Professor Lieberkuhn is a great joke. Our
medium of conversation is Latin, and the other day
I had a long disputation in Latin as to whether the
Romans pronounced " Cicero" Kikcro or not. It was
capital fun, as we riled him considerably. He is a
very good-natured, harmless sort of creature. He has
asked me to-day to a great spread which he gives on
the occasion of the baptism of one of his children, or,
as he explained it to me, Christianonini cffusio. He is
one of the under Professors in the Gymnasium here.

I sent my letters yesterday to the Comtesse Eritsch

134 Schiller s Anniversary. [1845

and Madame Eglosstein. The Baron Zikagi is out
of town : when here, he Hves in this house. I find the
Zwierleins know Mr. MelHsh very well.

I met Mrs. Austen again on her way to Dresden
at the door of the inn. She told me that she had
looked about for us in Frankfurt, to make a proposal
that we should post together to Weimar. This would
have been agreeable, and I should think more econo-
mical, for in addition to the £2 for the fare of the
Eilwagen, we had to pay /i apiece for our luggage
by the Pack-wagen. Weissenborn told us that this
was the regular charge.

I began my lessons in German yesterday. We
read some of Lepin's fables, and I am going to do
some Tiark for him, and also some of Boileau's
exercises. He comes to Eden at ten, and to me at
eleven o'clock. I went yesterday evening and played
at Kegel with the officers : it is rather an amusing
game.

Last Friday was the anniversary of Schiller's
death, and we went down into the Grand Ducal vault,
which is very rarely opened, where he and Goethe are
buried. Madame Zwierlein placed a wreath of laurel
upon their respective coffins : these are regularly
renewed every year. There is a good view of the
town and surrounding country from the cemetery.
And we saw that ingenious contrivance for preventing
premature interment which I think George described
in one of his letters. Thimbles are placed on all the
fingers of the deceased, which at the slightest move-
ment by pulling the threads on which they are
suspended ring an alarum in a room which is always
occupied.

1S45] Settling at Weima7'. 135

I have just been interrupted by a visit from a very
great swell to demand my passport. I had great
difficulty in making out what he wanted. I find my
French considerably improved, and I can now speak
quite llucntly, though not grammatically.

I find that the Miss Zwicrlcins have met George
at the Schwendlers. I am going to ask Weissenborn
to introduce me to them. There is an English family
here of the name of Fane, connected I believe with
the Westmoreland family.

I cannot yet find out the exact price of clothing,
but I will send it as soon as I have. The banker here,
who is of the Hebrew persuasion, showed me the
letter of credit, which he says he does not understand,
as he is requested to pay the sum of £\o and to
continue the same for six months. He does not know
whether he is to pay it every month, or how it is to
be done. It certainly is not very clearly expressed in
the letter. I told him that I would mention it when
I wrote to my father. Perhaps he will write to the
bank to explain it. Old Weissenborn is a very good
fellow : he is very kind, and walks with us every day.
I have not yet seen the Gross Herzog, The young
Prince is in Holland, and they say he is going to
London. With love to all at home, and kisses to
Mary and the baby, believe me to be your affectionate
son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

Pray send my letter to Eton if Maynard wants to
hear. I think I have written you a good long proser.

136 Acquaintances at Weimar. [1845

Weimar, Monday, May 19, 1845.

My dear Father,

I have delayed my letter till to-day in order
to give you an account of our dinner and presentation
at Court, which took place yesterday. In my last I
told you that I was going to a Baptcmc at Professor
Lieberkuhn's, It was very amusing, as the company
was not very select, and they made a great noise and
got very much elevated.

On the Monday following (May 12th), Mr, Parry
arrived in Weimar for a day. He is a very pleasant,
good-natured little man, about 36 or 38. He was
extremely kind to us, and introduced us to some of
the best people here ; among others we called upon
Madame de Rochefoucault, who is very pretty and
agreeable. We afterwards went to the theatre with
him, and were introduced to Madame Maltitz, the
Russian Ambassadrice (who is also pretty and agree-
able : I am going to-night to have tea with her), and
also to the Countess Marschalle, who is related to
Mellish. We heard the Grand Duke and Duchess ask
who those distinguished foreigners were.

I saw the other day a very curious plan of shooting
vermin — hawks, ravens, &c. A large horned owl is
tied to a perch, near which is a hut underground with
holes for shooting out of. The birds are attracted by
this owl, and the man then takes a cool shot from his
den. Unfortunately the day that I went there the
owl was so shaken about that he became unwell, and
we were obliged to leave off without getting a shot.

On Thursday we went to see the cross-bow

1845] Cross-bow Shooting, &c. 137

shooting, which is very curious, as the shooting is
entirely confined to the ancient cross-bow. The steel
bow is of immense strength, and it is strung by a kind
of windlass. On Friday we walked with Weissenborn
to a very pretty village situated in a valley called
Buchfahrt : it is on the Ihlm, the same river which
runs through Weimar. Here we eat trout, and had
a game at whist. We were accompanied by a young
Englishman in the army here : his name is Cathray.
Some of the officers are very gentlemanly men. We
are now acquainted with most of them. On the same
day there was dancing in a place called the Resource,
or Erholung in German. The room is very fine, but
the company were not of the elite of \\'eimar. I was
introduced to Mrs. Fane, who is a sister-in-law of
Mr. Cecil Fane.

On Saturday I went to the theatre : the opera was
Don Juan : Mozart's music, and very fine. The female
singers are very fair. As the Duchess is extremely
fond of music, we frequently have operas. We also
left our cards on M. Spiegel, the Chamberlain, which
is a necessary preliminary to an introduction at Court.
On Sunday we were asked to dine at three, and to
come again in the evening at seven to the Palace.
W'e set out in full costume in sedan-chairs, and after
waiting some time were presented by two generals —
M. Birle and M. Beutwitz. This was managed for us
by a Captain Seebach, who is a very pleasant officer
in the same house as the Zwicrleins. The Duke said
he had forgotten his English, and hoped to see us
very often, and I treated him to Votrc alicssc Royalc.
The Grand Duchess remembered one of my name
having been there last year. She is vcr\- gracious.

138 Entertainment at Court. [184S

and a very fine, handsome person, with splendid
emeralds. The Prince of Modena was a guest, and,
as we had a great spread, about fifty people, the dinner
would have been good but for a fault which exists
always in Germany, that the plates were cold. As
we dined off plate, this was dreadful. In the evening
we had a very fair concert. I was introduced to the
demoiselles d'Jionnetir, who are pretty and agreeable.
I also made acquaintance with the Schwendlers, who
of course discovered the most striking resemblance to
George. The other day I shook hands in the street
with a man who I thought was an officer, but who
I found out was a policeman, and had been George's
servant. He had mistaken me for George, and offered
me his hand, I suppose George was on very good
terms with him.

The Countess Fritsch came and spoke to me about
Madame Pitt, She told me she was very thick with
the Imperairice de Russie.

I keep a journal of all the events of each day, and
my letter is principally a compilation from that
valuable work.

With regard to expense, the articles of clothing
which I am to have are as follows : Coat, 60 shillings ;
waistcoat (evening), 12 shillings; hat (I have been
obliged to get a Court hat, the price of which I do
not know, but it will be about 12 shillings), 15 shillings;
scarf (of black satin, which is always worn of an
evening here), 14 shillings; boots (of patent leather,
which I was assured b}^ Weissenborn were necessary
for the Court), 15 shillings. Zwierlein has accom-
modated me with a sword, and I had only a small
sum to pay for refitting it. This would make a total

i845] Expeiises. 139

of about ^6 los. These arc all the things which I
was in immediate want of, but I shall in course of
time want trousers. The expenses of masters are :
Weissenborn, per month, 18 thalers, which is a little
belcfw^3; dancing-master (whom I have not engaged),
4 thalers (12 shillings) the course — about ten lessons.
Zwierlein is 40 thalers — /"G per month. Washing
about i^ thalers, or 4s. to 4s. 6d. Gloves are very
dear (2s. the pair). Servant about 5s. the month : he
is paid the same sum by Zwierlein. Besides this,
there are the subscriptions to the Reading Room,
Resource, Shooting House, &c. The theatre is 21
groschen, rather more than 2 shillings. There are
besides numerous extras — wine, servants, and any
expedition or walk where a dinner is necessary. Con-
veyances are all dear. Weissenborn has calculated it
often, and he tells me that he has written to you on
the subject of expenses. I am not yet aware of many
of the incidental disbursements, but they seem to be
very numerous. I am going on with German steadily.
With man}' thanks for your kind letter and love to
all at home,

Believe me, your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

TO B. W. C. FROM HIS FATHER.

Hyde Park Terrace, May 26, 1845.
My dear Bertram,

Your agreeable letter of the 19th has just
arrived. Your full accounts of a society which is quite
as new to us as to yourself are very amusing, and I

140 Warnings and Advice.

[1S4S

hope that you will continue them. All descriptions
of persons with their sayings and doings, sketches of
character, &c., when they are parties you come in
contract with, are interesting to tis.

I am anxious to hear more of the " famille
Zwierlein," more particularly of the demoiselles, as
George (who says he was written you a long letter)
insinuates that one of your friends fell a victim to his
power of inadvertent captivation. As long as their
battery is confined to " bread pellets," well and good,
but pray beware of any serious flirtation. What are
their names, ages, &c. ? Tell us all about them.
Married ladies like Mesdames de Rochefoucauld, &c.,
know more of the world, and are, I should think,
better to talk to. I do hope you will avoid French
with all on whom 3'ou can learn German, this being
the great object of every twenty-four hours.

Mr, and Mrs. Cecil Fane dined here Saturday.
Mrs. W. F. was a Dashvvood, and is aunt to my
old friend Charles Bruce. . . . Mrs. Grote was not
well enough to come on Saturda}^, but we had the
glorious G. Warburton, the Coltmans, and a pleasant
party. I have been poorly since mama wrote last,
but am getting better and take an airing daily. With
regard to your letters, we had none from Louvain, but
we had one dated 2nd May, begun at Verviers R.
station and finished at Cologne.

How comes it that old Weissenborn's charge is so
high, so much more than for G. and James together?
Unless he devotes himself to you soul and body for
the day, I don't understand it. You must exercise
care in the disbursement of various pett}' expenses
and not arrange them according to English notions,

1845] Letters fro77i Home. 141

but be as economical as \ou can. The credit which
puzzled the Jew was simply a credit for £10 with the
usual limitations. I will shortly open another for the
same amount. Zwierlein and Weisscnborn I will pay
separately. I particularly wish you (taking a memo-
randum) to pay ready money for everything.

Your friend, de la Rousiere, is gone over to Paris
to bring back something very clever for his wife to go
to the Queen's hal cosiuine in — time, one hundred years
ago — all in powder.

We have referred to George's journal and find it
there recorded under date May 30th : " Met the
Fraulein Zwierlein : hey inadver. cap. very amusing ! "
Which of them was the victim ? Is the whole a
fable ?

On Wednesday, the R. Ellices, Mr. Vincent, Abdys,
Ld. Marcus Hill, Barnards, &c., dine here. Thursday
— R. Goslings, Goulburn, P. Bouverie, J. Cockerells,
V.-Ch., &c., Lucy Wodehouse. Next week — Seniors,
Hayters, Mr. Loyd, Forbes of Edinbro', Sec.

Here Mr. Raikes Cunie's letter abruptly ends, and the
remainder of the sheet is filled with a few lines from Mrs. Raikes
Currie.

May 2jth.
Dearest Bertie,

Papa tells me to finish this letter. I have
no news to communicate. We go on as usual. Papa
does not regain his strength so (juickly as I could wish,
and only goes out airing in the carriage. We have
dinner parties on the 28th and 30th, and talk of going

142 Letter from Home. [1845

on the Frida}' for change of air to the hotel at Slough
for two or three days. It has been re-opened by
Dotesio with a flaming advertisement. We have invi-
tations to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Strutt on the 7th,
and with the V.-Chan. on the nth, also with the
Macnaughtens on the 4th. The Wigrams are going
to the Court hal costuine. I shall go and look at them.
I cannot fancy the ball itself will be very pretty : all
the dresses in such a stiff style, and of course there
can be no dancing, save minuets.

Mary is invited to a little party to-morrow at
Mrs. Robartes in Hill Street — a conjuror and dancing
afterwards. A propos of conjuring, they say M. Philippe,
who advertises Soirees inysterieuses at the St. James'
Theatre, is the most wonderful conjurer ever seen,
beats Herr Dobler " into fits."

Dear Edith does not forget your instructions. She
said yesterday to Mary at tea, who had asked for more
cake, which was not granted her, " Don't you wish
you may get it ? " and added, " I mean by that, that I
don't think you will get it ! "

Your father wishes you to take a course of dancing
and to endeavour to accomplish waltzing icell. He
has explained that he wishes 3'OU to pay everything
except Zwierlein and Weissenborn, and to be careful
of expense. You must not indulge in frequent dinners
and other expensive amusements. Do you find English
books ?

I suppose in a short time you will be able to under-
stand the service at the Lutheran church. I wish
Sunday were not a day of complete amusement.

The weather here up to the present time has been
very cold, but it seems improving a little. I believe

1845] '^^^^ Demoiselles Zwierlein. 143

Mr. L. Loyd is to be married in about a fortnight.

I have not seen him since he was engaged. He put

us off dining here.

Mary and Edith unite in kindest love with, ni}- dear

Bertie,

Yours very affect.,

L. S. C.

FROM B. W. C.

Sunday, May 25, 1845.
My dear Father,

I received a joint letter from you and my
mother on the same da}- as the letter (also from her)
which was posted on the 17th. The post office
employees having previously forwarded two letters to
Zwierleins were, as I thought, aware of my residence,
but having expected a letter for a day or two, I sent
and found there had been a letter lying there since the
19th. I have, moreover, to acknowledge a short letter
from my mother announcing the hooking of Mr. L.
Loyd. I am ver\- much astonished at this match, and
hope Mr, L. may not have cause to grieve at his
departure from Green Street.

My mother states that you arc desirous for further
particulars concerning the menage Zwierlein. The
eldest daughter is the most pleasant ; she is, I believe,
considered pretty here, but her jaws are perfectly
cerbercan, which entirely precludes anything of the sort.
Her name is Therese. The second is really very
pretty, but she is not so agreeable; her name is Bella.
The third is tall, she rejoices in Emilie as a cognomen.
The father Z. is counsellor or Rath of the household,
which means that he has a place of /"loo a year in

144 Departure of the Court. [jg^^

the household department of the Grand Duke. His
business consists in calculating the expenditure of wax
candles and meat. Madame has been a beauty and
an heiress. They are not "von " {i.e. noble), but they
are in very good society here. I had tea the other
evening with Madame Maltitz, who is the most agree-
able person I have met, and very nice looking. Old
Maltitz is a cousin of B. Brunnow and very intelligent.
He is reading Cojiijigsby, and comes upon me daily for
explanations of English words.

I see Galignani every day. It seems that the
Queen is coming to Gotha, in which case she will
visit the Grand Duchess. Yesterday there was no
Court, as the Prince of Prussia, who is son-in-law of
Weimar, was here ; he is the heir presumptive to the
throne of Prussia. The celebrated Humboldt was also
here yesterday, but I did not see him.

The Grand Duchess is going in a few days to Ems
— a watering-place near Coblentz. She will stay there
for six weeks. The Grand Duke is also shortly going
to Carlsbad. This is rather a bore as the Court
will then be finished. I called yesterday upon the
Schwendlers, who I had met, but they were not at
home. They have now moved into the rooms formerly
occupied by George and James.

Monday, 26th. — I walked yesterday to Belvedere,
the Duke's summer residence. It was built by the
great-grandfather of the present man, and is in the
Louis XIV. style. The gardens, hot-houses, &c., are
on a very large scale.

I am glad to hear in the last letter that you are
improving in health, and hope to hear in the next
arrival of despatches that you are quite restored.

I $45] Weimar Manners. 145

I have already had to send my card-plate to the
engravers in order to get some more cards. The
consumption of pasteboard here is frightful. One
has to leave cards upon the father, mother, daughters,
tic. If one goes in person, the corner of the card is
turned up. The taste in pasteboard here somewhat
resembles Sir Bowyer's — the arms, titles, appoint-
ments of the individual being all blazoned forth.
I received one the other day from " Le Ministre de
France."

The weather here until Saturday was dreadful.
We had rain without sun every day, but we have since
experienced a change and it is now very line. I hope
you will send me in your letter some political news.
I have read of the '' gigantic scheme of godless
education."

My mother alludes to W.'s charge. It is eighteen
dollars a month or 2s. a lesson, this he says is his
established charge. My house here is situated at the
corner of a new street called the Fried-Hof or
Cemetery, because leading to that place. It is on the
borders of the town, but at no great distance from
any part of it. There is a small open space at the
end of the street which is faced by a part of our house.
Eden is in a street at right angles to mine and very
near. The streets are very broad and the houses low,
so that they are quite airy and light.

The only way of transmitting newspapers at a
moderate expense is by sending them through a book-
seller to his agent at Hamburgh, from whence they
are sent very reasonably by post. Ackermann is the
London agent of the Hamburgh man. We dine every
day at half-past one or two. Z.'s monthly payment
K

146 The Fried-Hof Strasse. [1845

will be due on the gth of June. Pray congratulate
L. Loyd from me. Where does he mean to live ?
With love to my mother and many thanks for her
amusing letters, love to Mary, the baby, believe me,
your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

If Maynard will write I will answer him.

P,S. — I am to begin Kotzebue's plays to-morrow.

The next letter in the series is addressed to his elder brother,
who had spent some time in Weimar in the preceding year.

Weimar, May 29, 1845.
My dear George,

I take the opportunity of a rainy day to
answer your letter, which I received on Wednesday,
the 27th. I gave your remembrances, which were
thankfully received by Weissenborn, Rheins, Sec.
Your knowledge of the topography of Weimar seems
to have become somewhat dim from your long absence.
My house is not near the Gymnasium, nor is that of
Mr. Maltitz, who lives in Goethe's house. I live in
the Fried-Hof Strasse, near the corner. The entrance
is by a high green door. The Zihagers and Seebachs
live in the same house. Maltitz's house is in a
small square very near to me. Opposite to me
is the house where V. Rex, the officer, lives, and the
next street parallel to me is the road to Belvedere,
with the avenue of chesnut-trees. Horrocks is in
England and will not return till July. M}^ flunk's

1S45] Weimar Officers. 147

name is Care (I don't vouch for the orthography), but
that is the pronounciation. As he is rather of an
obtuse nature, I am daily contemplating to " drive
dull Care away."

Mdlle. Zwierlein indignantly disclaims any connec-
tion with you beyond a passing acquaintance. Your
acquaintance with her seems to have produced melan-
choly in you, for she told me one day, " Monsieur
votre frere n'etait pas gai comme vous."

I have now become rather a dab at Kegel and
occasionally win a few pfennigs. I cannot, however,
come up to the twisting of v. Rhein ii. There has
already been one dance at the Erholung ; but the
society was not at all of the elite of Weimar. There
is one to-night if the weather improves, which is
unlikely, as it is the worst I ever saw. I am acquainted
with most of the officers. The most gentlemanly is
Rex, a fine 3'oung fellow and on the staff. Leibnitz is
also a nice fellow. One soon learns something of
German in their company. I go a good deal to the
guardroom, which is well attended by the officers.
I have been frequently to the theatre, but we have
hardly anything but operas, Don Giovanni, Sonnanibitla,
Norma, Sec. In the last we had a very good singer
who made her first appearance.

On Tuesday I went to take a last farewell of the
Gross Hedgehog. He started with the Duchess on
Wednesday. She will be away six weeks. The old
boy said to me, " Mi tear sir, I hope you are quite
well." I have been asked to-day to go to Madame de
Heldorf, but, as I have a Kopf-Schmerz, I declined.

I sent for the dancing-master the other day. lie
is a vile man, quite a Spitz-biiben, and professes to

148 Acquaintances. [1845

be an intimate friend of yours : his name is Engst.
He came into my room with a dramatic air, shook
hands with me ! and asked if you had not told me
" Mille choses de lui." He has since written to me
and directed only " Wohlgeborn," which is a horrid
insult. He is a kind of second lover on the Weimar
stage.

There is a man here named Cathray, who has been
in the West Indies, and has very bad health, who has
actually entered the Weimar service, for what reason
I cannot make out. He has travelled a great deal and
written novels. He is about twenty-eight and is much
addicted to long-bow practice, however he is a tolerably
good fellow. He and some other men, among whom
were Rheins and Thompson, came to me last night,
and had a game of whist and a bowl of punch. There
is a very nice fellow, an officer, but a man of about
forty, one Seebach. He has introduced me to most
of the people. The general of that name is also a
nice old fellow. Count Boyse is an agreeable old man.
Your principal friends, viz., those that have made
tender inquiries are, Engst, Duntz (who have both
shaken hands with me), and an Irish washerwoman.
Eden, having lost his fishing-rod on the road, has sent
to Frankfurt for one, and is going to try fishing.

I suppose you are going out to balls now. Although
you express a wish to be here, I would init grossem
Vergniigcn change with 3'ou, as ^^^eimar, though a very
fair sort of place, is decidedly inferior to the metro-
polis.

Weissenborn, with the exception of his ailment (as
he calls it), is in strong health. His conversation
principally relates to the aforesaid ailment, and to

1845] Dancing Lessons. 149

one Peter, a Yankee, who has been here and quite
captivated old W. I am reading with him the DeiUschc
Kleinstddtcr of Kotzebue.

With love to all at home, believe me, your affect.
brother,

B. W. CURRIE.

June 5, 1845.
My dear Mother,

I received a joint production of yours and
my father's on the 2nd, for which I am much obliged,
but as I had written to George on the 30th, I was
obliged to wait in order to get up some intelligence.
I accomplished a letter to Mr. S. J. Loyd on the same
day that I wrote to George, as he had exacted a
promise to that effect, before I left England. I have,
since that, had several lessons from the dancing-
master, who seems anxious to protract the lessons to
as long a term as possible, and consequently teaches
nie as little as he can. I find the gallope very hard,
but to-day I am going to have a lesson, and I have the
Misses Z. to dance with me.

On Sunday the Z.'s gave a spread. One of the
guests was a Professor of French and English at the
Universe of Jena, his name Wolf, and, like his
Bokhara travelling relative, a converted Jew. He was
very intelligent however, and talked a great deal about
the respective advantages of the systems of education
in England and Germany. On the same day I went
to the Resource (which I have before described), where
I was introduced to Madame de Donop and Madame
de Wolfskael. (I give the names for the benefit of

150 Sausage Feast. [,845

George.) They are remarkably agreeable young
married women, and lead the most agreeable society
here. They invited me the next day to a very pleasant
party at a place called Fifurt, where the Grand Duke
has a chateau and gardens. We set out at 4 p.m.,
and walked together to the place, which was about
two miles distant. The company consisted of twelve
ladies and the same number of gentlemen. We had
tea and danced in a summer-house constructed for
that purpose, and then danced a polonaise (which
consists merely in taking a lady's arm and walking)
in the garden. We continued dancing till eleven, and
then wound up by Bischopf. After this we all walked
home together. We had a most beautiful day and
the party was extremely pleasant, but the weather for
the most part has been very bad.

On Tuesday there was a curious feast at the
Resource called Brat-wurst, or Sausage Feast. Sausages
were cooked in the open air and were partaken of by
the company, who sat at tables in the garden. There
were some very agreeable people there, and I met the
two ladies whom I mentioned before. They both talk
very good English, and one is obliged in compliment
to them to speak it sometimes.

On Tuesday evening I had tea with the Schwendlers,
and presented the most affectionate remembrances
from James and George. The amusement of the
evening consisted in playing at a game called Black
Peter, the fun of which is that the person in whose
hand the Knave of Spades is found, is ornamented
with moustaches with a blacked cork. As there were
some pretty young ladies it was rather a joke.

On Wednesday I walked to Buchfahrt, where I

1845] Aiiswci' to IVarnmgs. 151

have been before. It is a long walk, and the Zwierlein
ladies went in a carriage while I and Weissenborn
walked. We treated them to trout, &c. I think the
story about the captivation is unfounded, and that
the perception of G. must have been distorted, for
the Miss Z.'s are not in the least forward. Your
letter seems to manifest some alarm as to the state
of my feelings with regard to the said Miss Z.'s. All
fear of their captivation is removed by their manner
of treating me, which is almost servile on their part.
They are respectful in the extreme ; besides, though
very good people, they have not the refinement of
manners necessary to captivate an Englishman.
I find some of the Vons extremely well-bred and
pleasant. . . .

Wciuiar, Friday, June 13, 1S45.
12 — I p.m. o'clock.

My dear Mother,

I received your letter on the loth, contain-
ing an announcement of the arrival of money, which,
with regard to the £10, proves to be correct, but up
to the moment of my beginning this letter (to-day's
post having already come in) nothing has been heard
of the /'20. As money is rather an object to Zwierlein,
I paid him from the £10 already arrived. His extra
charges amount to 9 thalers — for wine and some extra
wax candles. The change given here for £10 is
67 thalers 10 groschen, so that having disbursed
47 thalers to Zwierlein, I have now 20 left in the

152 New Arrangements. [,845

bank, and by subtracting,^ Weissenborn's 18 from that,
a balance of 2 thalers is left.

I have, at the beginning of another month of
i'odging, after having consulted \vith Weissenborn,
made an arrangement which I think you will not
object to. It is more agreeable both to the Zwierleins
and myself, and gives me the possession of another
room, the grievous want of which was very uncom-
fortable. The arrangement made, is that I should
dine at the tahlc dlwtc. It is more agreeable to the
Zwierleins, as they, being in rather embarrassed
circumstances, are able to retrench their expenses
by indulging in a worse dinner, which they could not
do while I dined with them ; and it is agreeable to
me, as their hour was inconvenient, and the necessity
of being in time (so as not to keep them waiting), very
irksome. With regard to any advantages in learning
German vs-hich I should lose by this change, I am far
more likely to pick up German at the inn, where
people cannot really speak an}' French and where they
are very conversational, than at the Zwierlein menage.
\ also by this arrangement gain a capital room, in
which they previously dined, and through which is
the only approach to m}' room. As I no longer dine
there, they will remove their table into another room.
The difference of expense is trifling. Madame
Zwierlein, through the mediation of Weissenborn,
has undertaken to furnish me liberally with a good
breakfast and supper, including candles, &c., for
30 thalers. This is not very cheap, but W. made
the best bargain he could, and as they are very liberal
people, it is better to be on rather handsome terms
with them. The charge for the Lobprinz tahlc dlwtc

1845] Their Advantages. 153

is 12 thalers per month, and allowing 5 thalcrs for
wine, the whole would come to 47 thalers : the exact
sum which I paid Zwierlein for the past month. The
advantages gained by the possession of a room twice
as large as the one I have, are very great.

I made my dchxU in dancing last Friday evening
at the public garden, where there are balls every
fortnight ; my performance was much applauded.

Gotha is about thirty miles from this place. In
the event of the Queen's coming there, I think I shall
present my letter to the Dowager at that Court. We
had a most terrific thunder-storm here on Sunday.
A great deal of damage was done in many parts by
the rain.

We went on Tuesday to a grand party at the
Maltitz's. They inhabit Goethe's house, and have a
very nice garden, where the military band played.
The Grand Duke and all the clilc of Weimar were
there. Yesterday the Prince and his wife came back
from their journey, and I left my letter on Baron v.
Ziegesar, who is his Chamberlain and has been with
him. I am anxious to be introduced to the Prince,
as the rook-shooting begins in a few days. The
Sonnamhula was very nicely performed at the theatre
by a debutante who sang very well.

I forgot to mention that the two surplus thalers
may reimburse me for the three thalers which I
expended on an Ollcndorf, which book Weissenborn
always uses with his pupils. I hired a horse to-day
and rode to see the soldiers exercise at eight o'clock,
but the animal entirely declined anything beyond a
walk.

154 Annual Wool Market.

[1845

Weimar^ Wednesday, June 25, 1845.

My dearest Mother,

I am sorry that so long an interval has
elapsed without my writing to you, but I have been
in daily expectation for some time past of a letter
from you, which came at last yesterday morning.

Soon after I wrote my last letter, we made a party
to a garden near here, where the military band was
in attendance. The principal object of the visit was
to drink a compound of sour milk, brown bread, sugar,
and spice, which is much admired here. The pleasure
of the evening was rather destroyed by a tremendous
thunder-storm, of which we have had several. A few
days after this, I got up at three o'clock a.m. to go
in pursuit of that almost fabulous bird, the bustard.
We only saw one of these rare birds, and were not
able to get near it.

On the i6th and two following days, the annual
Wool Market was held. This draws a great many
people into Weimar, and an immense supply of wool,
but there is no great amusement for the casual visitor.
I saw some curious examples of the agricultural
interest in Germany. Here we met Mr. Parry, who
had come in from the country to dispose of his fleeces
{i.e., to be fleeced). W'e had tea with him at the
house of a celebrated man in Weimar, Dr. von Frouep.
He is a retired physician of great repute. We also
met here a beautiful Danish governess of Parry's
who was very lively and agreeable. On another da}^
we sallied forth to the slaughter of the wary rook,
whom we exterminated in great numbers with rifle

1S45] Rook-Shooting. 155

and f^un. We (Eden and I) killed in about two
hours sixty of these animals, and might have con-
tinued all day, but after a short time we got tired of
it, and the contusions received on the face from
constantly firing high up in the air were very un-
pleasant. In another month I hope to have some
roebuck-shooting, and in September the partridges
and quails begin. The guns here are very bad, and
I hope my father will remember his promise of a gun.
This being sent by a London agent to Hamburgh
would come here at a small cost.

We have had another ball at the Resource, where
I figured in the waltz and gallope. I am now a prett}'
good hand at these accomplishments, and take everv
opportunity of improving myself in them. On
Saturday we were invited to Ettersburgh, the seat of
the Prince, in order to be introduced to him and the
Princess. This was managed for us by Zicgesar,
to whom I had a letter. The party was only of
sixteen persons, including all the people of the house-
hold, who are very numerous. The Prince desired me
to make his compliments to my brother. He seems
very good-natured and took ns all over his house,
which is furnished in the English style. The Princess
is a very agreeable person. They gave us a very good
dinner at five o'clock.

On vSunday we were invited to Belvedere, the
Grand Duke's summer place, but could not go, as we
were engaged to Mr. Parry's. We went there in a
carriage and arrived in about four hours. His
establishment is by far the most comfortable I have
yet seen. He is, I believe, a wealthy man, and has
a very nice wife, and all the comforts of England,

156 Entertainments.

[1S4S

He had, unfortunately, just suffered from a water-
spout on his estate, so that most of the grounds were
in great confusion.

Yesterday was the birthday of the Prince, and we
had to go at one o'clock to offer our congratulations.
It is also the etiquette to go to the theatre on that
night. We had a German version of Romeo and Juliet,
but several scenes are left out and it was vilely acted.
To-day we go at two o'clock to a dcjeitner dansante at
Ettersburgh, which is to be something very grand.
You will think by this letter that we have been ver}'
gay, but my letter occupies some space of time.

Mr. Roebuck seems to have been very plucky in
the House. I hope my father is now quite well.
With love to all at home.

Believe me, your affect, son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

Weimar, Sunday, July 6, 1845.

My dear Father,

I received your letter dated the 25th, and
was much shocked to hear of the sudden death of my
grandmother.^ It is announced in the Galignani of
Monday, the 30th.

I thought that you would have already gathered
from my letters how the day here was usually spent,
but as you seem to be desirous of a further account
I will give you the proceedings of a regular da}-.
I get up about eight, and from that time till eleven

1 Charlotte Laura Lady Wodehouse.

i845]

Daily Life at Weimar. 157

(with the exception of breakfast) I work for Weissen-
born. I have now read two plays of Kotzebue's,
besides some easier reading at first, and I have been
lately reading Schiller. I am soon to begin Goethe's
Faust. Besides this I write exercises from Ticck, and
learn by heart exercises from OUendorf. W'eissenborn
generally stays till after twelve, I then perhaps read
or write till one, when I dress (having previously been
in deshabille) and go to dinner. If I have any visits to
make, they must be done between twelve and one. In
the afternoon I generally read till four or five and then
go out, have tea or supj)er about eight, and go to bed
about ten or eleven. The weather during the last few
days has been so terrifically hot — quite unlike anything
I ever felt in England — the thermometer 40 of
Reaumur, equal I think to 120 Fahrenheit, that it has
been impossible to go out during the day, and I have
sat in with closed shutters till about seven o'clock.
We have had two tremendous thunder-storms, but the
weather is very little cooler. I have just got Gibbon's
Decline and rail. I have been unable to get any
books before, as during the month of June the books
are collected and cannot be taken out. The library
belongs to the Grand Duke, and upon Zwierlein
becoming security that I shall not steal the books, I
can get them gratis.

Mr. Horrocks has just returned to Weimar with
two brothers. Weimar is getting very dull, as the bean
mondc are all going, or gone, to the baths, which must
be very pleasant at this time. The Duke is at Carlsbad,
and the Duchess at Ems. On the 25th of June, the
day on which I wrote my last letter, I went at 2 p.m.
to a dejeuner dansant at the Prince's. It was very

158 New Arrivals. [1845

pleasant, and we had a capital dejeuner at five. They
tried the polka, but it was played much too slow. I
was introduced to a charming young lady, a Mdlle.
Ziegesar, who is one of the maids of honour. I danced
with her twice, and with a quantity of other people. I
have since been to a cafe, or party after dinner, at my
friend Madame de Wolfskael's. Yesterday I went with
Eden and a gunmaker to endeavour to shoot three
things, capercailzie, roebuck, and bustards. I was
unlucky, and saw nothing, but Eden and the other saw
the bird and several roe. They did not, however, get
any shots. As we had no beaters, and were only four,
the animals got between us. The bustards, which must
be shot in the morning or evening, had been disturbed,
but we are going to try on Wednesday. I find the
German gun rather an awkward implement. . . .

Weimar, July 18, Friday.
My dear Mother,

I should have written before, had I not
been for a long time in daily expectation of a letter
from you. Since m}' last letter we have had two
arrivals of countrymen ; one consisting of Mr. Horrocks,
with two brothers, and the other of a Mr. and
Mrs. Alexander, the son-in-law and daughter of
Mrs. Fane. The last is a gentlemanly young man, and
says he has ridden in the park with my father. He is
about twenty-seven, or twenty-eight. I find that I
have seen Horrocks before, with his twin-brother, at
Eton, playing at cricket. The two brothers are
remarkable for their extreme resemblance, which is so

iS45] Sport. 159

great that nobody here can distinguish one from the
other.

Since my last letter, we have been out shooting,
but were overtaken by a tremendous thunder-storm.
Eden, however, managed to shoot a black cock, and a
man with us shot a roebuck. We also went, on
another day, with the Horrockses to the same place,
taking pigeons and a trap with us, but were again
unfortunate in the weather. We had about sixty
pigeons among five of us, and only managed to kill
thirty-two of them. This was very bad, but the wind
was high, and it was difficult to shoot them. I killed
from the trap the same number as Eden and one
Horrocks, viz., five. The elder Horrocks killed seven,
and the other one. I lost several shots while standing
as an outpost, from the inefficiency of my loading
apparatus, which is still in a very primitive state in
this country. After the shooting, we feasted on the
roe which we had previously shot. Horrocks tells me
that the only good shooting here is the partridge-
shooting, which begins on the 12th. This is very good,
and he kills as many as twenty brace occasionally. I
have also, since last writing, dined at the Prince's.
They are to have, in a day or two, some private
theatricals there, which will be amusing.

During the last few days, the yearly fair has been
held, at which all the people lay in a stock of clothing.
It is not very amusing. . . . This place is now most
painfully dull, and all the respectable part of the
socict}', with few exceptions, arc gone. German pro-
gresses rapid!}', and I can now carry on a common
conversation. I had a visit to-day from a man whose
name I do not know, who spoke nothing but German.

i6o Weissenborn s Lettei^

[1845

The Grand Duchess returns from Ems on Monday,
and her arrival will, I hope, bring some life into the
town. I have now positively nothing in the way of
amusement to do. It either rains, or is too hot to go
out, and I am obliged to stay in nearly the whole day.
If George is not too deeply immersed in ancient
Rome, he will perhaps write me a letter. I have never
heard from Maynard. If he will write to me, I will
send him an answer. Give my love to my father,
brothers, sisters, &c., and believe me, my dear mother,
to be your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

In a letter dated Albyns, July 22, 1S45, Mrs. Raikes Currie
wrote : " We were very glad to receive j'our letter, in which you
tell us how you spend your da}'. . . . Dr. Weissenborn gives us
a satisfactory report of you, except that you do not ■work as hard
at German as you might. Probably you do not give time enough
to the study of it. I hope you will work at it in earnest. You will
be amply repaid for the trouble by-and-bye, if you ever succeed
in becoming a good German scholar, which is, I believe, a rare
accomplishment." On another page, she continues; "I have
just got Dr. Weissenborn's letter, and will quote to you what he
says of yourself: ' I should qualify his conduct as exemplary, if
he did study German with all the zeal that I ought to desire as
his teacher. He does, however, make visible progress in the
knowledge of our language, and there is no reason to fear that
he'll grow regularly lazy, because I have not found him very
eager in the beginning, whereas his diligence has been gradually
increasing ever since.' "

Mrs. Currie then gives a chronicle of the doings of various
members of the family, and mentions that " George remains at
home, doing daily a little, and but a little, Livy." George himself
takes a different view. Writing the same day, he says : " I am
reading lots of Livy, which I have got to do for the College ;
and have also loads of work to do for little-go, which comes on
at the end of the vacation in October,"

In his answer to the foregoing letter from his mother, Bertram
makes no comments on Weissenborn's remarks upon himself:

i84s] Da7tcwg. i6i

Weimar, Tuesday, July 29.
My dear Mother,

I received your letter this morning, and will
not let a day pass without answering it. . . . This
place grows daily more triste, and in addition to the
natural want of amusement, the weather has been
shocking. We have alternate cold and rain, with
thunder-storms. These last abound in this country in
an extraordinary degree, so that we never pass two
days without one. . . .

I have just written to Lachmann requesting him to
do something for a Baron Netsch, who lives near here,
and who is said to be the best rider in Germany. He
goes to England with Mr. Parry, principally with the
intention of seeing the racing studs of the English
noblemen. He is also very much interested in agri-
culture, and is going to the meeting of the Agricultural
Society. He wanted me to give him a letter to some-
body who would tell him about London, and the best
way of seeing it. This is rather necessary, as he does
not speak a word of English. . . .

My dancing gets on splendidly. I am told that this
is quite unlike that of an Englishman, which is, in the
estimation of the people here, great praise. Er sieJit
gar nicht axis ivie ein En^Uindcr. The King of Prussia
came here on Eriday, on his way to the chateau of
Stolzenfels, on the Rhine, where he is to meet the
Queen. They say that he imbibed so much of old
Weimar's Rhine wines that he was completely floored
after dinner, and astonished the company by his con-
versation. The Grand Duke has returned to Weimar,
L

/

1 62 The " Bi7'd-S/ioolino\' [1845

and I dined last Sunda}^ at Belvedere, the summer
residence.

During the last two days, there has been an annual
entertainment, given by a cross-bow shooting society
here, called the Vogel Schisse, or bird-shooting. In
the morning, the members of the society shoot with
ancient cross-bows at a wooden bird resembling the
Austrian eagle, and prizes are given to those who hit it
in certain parts, such as the crown, sceptre, &c. In
the afternoon, a band plays in the adjoining gardens,
and there are amusements, such as a theatre, &c. The
evening is finished by dancing. The crowd in the
gardens is enormous, and consists of the whole popu-
lation of Weimar. It is astonishing how well-dressed
and well-conducted they are. The Prince is also there,
and all the elite who are left in Weimar. There was an
amusement called Schatten Spiel, or Shadow Game
(which consisted in throvving the shadows of the actors
on a sheet, by means of a light placed behind), which
had a pretty effect. With love to my father, George,
Maynard, and all at home, believe me, your affectionate

son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

Weimar, August g, 1845.
My dear Father,

I received your letter of the 31st, on Wed-
nesday last, and am very much obliged to you for your
kind present of a gun. It is not yet arrived, but I
expect it now every day.

I am very sorry to hear that you have decided on
leaving Albyns, and also to hear that we have been

1845] New Religio2is Movement. 16

a

beaten by the Westminsters, which I can only attribute
to my absence. This is really disgraceful.

Pray tell Maynard to write, and tell me about the
cricket-matches with Harrow and Winchester.

Last Sunday we had English service, performed for
the first time in Weimar by the Hon. and Rev. A.
Perceval, Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager.
He seems to have a living near Mr. H. Currie, and is
an agreeable little man, and a Puseyite, very much
prejudiced against the philosophical religion of the
Germans. He has been to Erfurth to see Kirplus (or
some name like that), who is the leader of the new
German Catholic movement, which is making a great
noise here now; I suppose you hear of it in England.
He, Mr. P., after a long discussion in Latin with this
learned divine, told him he was no Catholic, and a

d d bad theologian. He was much scandalized on

account of the objection which the members of this
sect have to Episcopac}', without which it seems to be
impossible, according to Mr. P., for Catholicity to exist.

There is now another English family in Weimar, of
the name of Gough, or Goff (according to pronounci-
ation). They are friends of Weissenborn's — at least,
the man is an old pupil.

I had a dinner 01 fa}>iilic with >L and Madame de la
Rochefoucauld yesterday, who have the best cuisine in
Weimar, and afterwards drove out with them in their
carriage, which is the best turn-out in Weimar.

Your fears with regard to the fair Miss Zwierleins

may now be quieted, as I have a far more charming

haus-genossin, or dweller in the same house, in the

person of a Mdlle. de Ziegesar, who is a most beautiful

and charming young lady, possibly not without some

164 Necessary Expenses, j;,s45

feeling for your unworthy son. She is one of the
detnoiselles dlionneur to the Hereditary Grand Duchess,
and quite the ornament of the Court here. The
weather, during all the time that I have been here,
has, with few exceptions, been execrable, which has
rendered the place far less agreeable than it would
otherwise have been.

I have been reading Gibbon strenuously, and also
Kotzebue, of whose plays I have now floored a good
many.

With regard to money, I have now been here long
enough to form an estimate of the necessary expenses.
The board, lodging, and Weissenborn, can be done,
but not very liberally, at ^10 per month. This is only
allowing £2 lis. for dinner and wine. The washing,
particularly in summer, comes to about 6 thalers, or
i8s. a month, and clothing is little cheaper than in
England. I hope you will take into consideration that
I have been unfortunate in this last respect, having
just got a coat, when, upon going into mourning, I was
obliged to provide myself with another black coat,
waistcoat, and trousers. The subscriptions to societies
do not amount to less than £2, annually, and carriages,
which are necessary, particularly in shooting, are very
dear ; besides which there is a sort of expenditure
which is always expected of an Englishman here.
With regard to carriage, if I am asked to Ettersburgh,
or Belvedere, I cannot get there and back under 6s.
Gloves are also dear, and, in fact, all the necessaries of
life. It is always necessary to have money, as there
are things one wants to buy, such as a dog, which
each of us must have for the shooting season, rifles,
which are well made here, and not dear, &c. Besides^

1845] Arrival of Gun. 165

as one receives the civilities of the people, it is neces-
sary in some way to return them. Old Weissenborn,
who has studied the thing, says it cannot be done well
by an Englishman under ;^300 a year; and if you

proportion the sum which G spent to the time he

was here, I think you will find it was not less. He,

W , has written you a letter to this effect, but did

not send it, as he thought that you might, perhaps,
think he was interfering in what was not his business.

Weimar, Sunday, August 17, 1S45.

My dear Mother,

I received your letter to-day and hasten to
reply to it. I think that my punctuality in answering
your letters is highly commendable, as I rarely fail to
answer them on the same day that I receive them.

My gun arrived at the beginning of this week, and
I am happy to say that I had only about 7s. or 8s. to
pay for it. I feared that the duty would be much
more, as Eden found that he had a great deal to pay
in bringing his gun here. I am very much charmed
with it, and hope it will prove a long ranger. I had
a dozen pigeons the other day to tr}-, but only eight of
them would fly. Of these I killed seven, which is
good, as they are difficult to shoot from the trap.
Pray tell my father that the gun is very much to my
taste, and that I hope to do great execution with it.

The shooting here is open to every one, with the
exception of one beat near Ettensburgh, where the
Prince lives. The whole territory is divided into
beats, under different jiigers or keepers. They are
considered almost as gentlemen, and are generally

1 66 Riot at Leipzig. [ig^j

very obliging. Mr. Horrocks, who is a great sports-
man, resides here principally for the shooting, which
in some years is very good. Unfortunately this year
the partridges have been much destroyed by the winter
and wet spring. In a good year Horrocks has killed
repeatedly twenty brace in a day. The inhabitants
of Weimar, with few exceptions, do not shoot, as they
generally cannot. The Prince himself is a rascally
bad shot.

Is there any great attraction at Scarborough to
take you there ? I should think in the present state
of the weather it must be dismally cold. Here for
five weeks we have not seen the sun, and have a
continuation of rain and cold. I am obliged some-
times to have my stove lighted. . . .

... I see in the papers great accounts of the
festivities at Cologne and on the Rhine, but I suppose
that the exclusive correspondents of the Times, Chronicle,
&c., enlarge sufficiently about them. There has been
a great riot at Leipsic within the last few days on
account of the Prince Johann (brother of the King of
Saxony) having placed his son (who is the heir to the
throne) at a Jesuitical school. The populace attacked
the hotel in which the Prince was, and forced him to
fly. The military fired upon the people, and killed
fourteen. The National Guard joined with the people,
and the military, after firing several times, refused to
do so any more, notwithstanding the command of the
Prince. All is now quiet, as the Prince has left the
town precipitately. With love to my father, brothers,
sisters, &c.,

Believe me, your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

1845] Explanations. 167

Wcimav, Tuesday, August 26, 1845.

M}' dear Father,

I will now endeavour to answer your
amusing letter dated the 15th, and will at the same
time acknowledge the credit announced in it. I have
already (as you will see) drawn the amount, as I was
in small circumstances on account of my having dis-
bursed to Zwierlein, &.C., out of my previous month's
allowance, I have no wish to live like a magnifico in
Weimar, but as the sum I mentioned has usually been
the allowance of Englishmen, and as Mr. Eden has
also given it to his son, I thought 3-ou would not have
found it extravagant. Moreover, it must be taken
into consideration that I have to provide everything
for myself in Weimar, and that it is only the amuse-
ments, and not the necessaries of life, which are really
cheaper here than in England. I have no doubt that
if I was settled permanently here, I could live on
much less, but I am now on disadvantageous terms
with regard to lodging, as of course temporary fur-
nished lodgings must always be much dearer than a
permanent dwelling. In several instances the charges
for strangers are double ; for instance, in the sub-
scription to the reading-room and Erholung ; and in
the ahonnement at the theatre, the charge for a stranger
is nearly £1 a month, whereas for residents it is not
ten shillings.

I am now reading with Weissenborn the Wallcnstein
of Schiller. It is considered his masterpiece, and is
very fine.

On Monday of last week I made a very agreeable

1 68 SchwarzbiLrg, [ig^^

fishing expedition with the two younger Horrockses.
We had received a letter from the Chamberlain of a
neighbouring Prince (of Rudolstadt), informing us that
we might fish in a preserve of the King of Belgium,
which was near Coburg. On the strength of this,
and being previously acquainted with a good trout
stream in the neighbourhood, we started at four in the
morning of Monday and arrived at Rudolstadt about
nine for breakfast. Here, as is generally to be expected
from all Germans under similar circumstances, we
found a letter informing us that the aforesaid Cham-
berlain, although he had expressly told us that he had
already obtained the permission, had, upon writing for
it, failed in doing so. We were rather disgusted at
this, but not by any means surprised, as, from former
experience, we had rather expected it than otherwise.
We then drove on in the direction of Schwarzburg,
where there is a castle belonging to the Prince of
Rudolstadt. Near this place the Thuringian forest
begins, and this is the most beautiful part of it. The
scenery is extremely bold, and very superior to any
that I have ever seen. Here we began to fish the
river, which in some parts is quite a rocky torrent.
We then fished for about five miles up to Schwarzburg.
The castle here is most beautifully situated, overlooking
a park or Thier-garten (beasts' garden), which is full
of red deer and boars. The park is almost entirely
occupied by a huge hill which rises in the middle,
entirely covered with beautiful trees, and round this
there is a circle of grass, beautifully kept and looking
like a vast lawn.

We slept at Schwarzburg, and fished again the
next morning, and drove the same day to a place

1S45] Fishing Expedilions. 169

called Ilmenau, belonging to the Weimar territory,
but separated from it. Here we slept. The scenery
is very pretty, but looked tame after Schvvarzburg.
It is a small bathing-place, and much resorted to by
the Weimar people. Here we again fished, but in
another river, and returned to W^eimar the same night.
Our entire bag of fish was 86, of which I caught but
few, as I was not so experienced nor so eager as the
•others. However, the excursion was very agreeable,
as it made a diversion in the tedium of the life here,
and the scenery was most beautiful. The fishing here
with flies is very astonishing to the natives, and we
were looked upon by many charitable persons as non
compos.

FROM MAYNARD CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Crown Hotel, Scarborough,

Saturday, August 23, 1S45.
My dear Bertram,

You will be rather surprised to hear that
we arc in this place, if you have not been told of our
intended tour. We, i.e. pa, ma, Mary, and myself,
started from Albyns on Monday morning, slept that
night at Derby, and the next at York, and, after we
had been to the morning service in the Minster, came
on to this place. It poured incessantly with rain from
Monday evening till Thursday morning, when it
cleared up, and has since been very fine.

We all think this a delightful place. There are
v-ery good sands, on which I rode yesterday, and very
nice walks which have been made at a great expense

170 Letter frovi Maynard. [1S45

on the cliff. The only drawback to the place is the
crowds of people whom the railroad brings from Leeds,
Manchester, &c. A great many of them are at this
hotel, where there is a very nice public room. They
all dine together, and dance and play at cards in the
evening. I had a polka last night with the only
tolerably good-looking girl there. . . .

I should think you must have heard by this time
from John Mirehouse. He used to be "going to
write" every day at Eton. I am ver}' sorry he has
left ; he got forty leaving books.

Philip is not to go to Eton next half after all. ■ It
was rather a bore being beaten by Westminster, but
our crew was continually changed.

Black Swan, York,

Wednesday, Aiigusi 27.

My letter has been lying unfinished in the writing-
case since Saturday. We are just returned from the
Minster. The chapter-house, which we saw last year
in an unfinished state, is now nearly completely re-
stored. We posted yesterday from Scarborough, as
the railroad is not in a very safe state, and there was
a bad accident on it the day before. On our way we
saw Castle Howard, the seat of Lord Carlisle. It is
a splendid place. The house was built by Vanburgh.
We had luncheon there, and then walked and drove
about with Lord Morpeth and Mr. Charles Howard.

I return to Eton on the nth of September. I
really do not know the result of the cricket-matches
at Lord's this year. I know that we beat Harrow

1845] r-aririag

Partrido:e-Shootinor. 1 7 1

i3

very hollow, but as to Winchester I am ignorant. I
think, however, we must have beaten them, as we had
no end of a good eleven this year.

Pray remember me to Eden. I hope he is re-
covered.

Ever your very aflectionate brother,

Maynard W. Currie.

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS BROTHER MAYNARD.

Weimar, Wednesday, September 3, 1S45.

j\Iy dear Maynard,

I received your long-expected letter this
morning, and will immediately answer it. Will you
tell my father that I beg to acknowledge a letter on
Monday, in which the whole firm of Cornhill lay
themselves at my feet as " most obedient, humble
servants."

That wretched old humbug Mirehousc has never
written to me. I imagine that your minds must have
been much occupied during the last school-term at
Eton, as Eden wrote twice to Deacon without re-
ceiving an answer, I to Mirehouse, and you yourself
have been singularly dilatory in writing. You do not
tell me anything about your rule of conduct at Eton,
whether you had a lock-up, &c. With regard to the
matches, they have long since appeared in Galignani.

I went out on the ist of September to try the
partridge-shooting. It begins late this year, as the
crops are very backward. I am sorry to say that in
consequence of the tremendous hard winter the birds
are very rare. The two Horrockses and myself found

172 The Queen in Germany. [ig^^

on the ist only two coveys, after incessant hard
walking for six hours. We killed of these thirteen.
The shooting here is very unlike that in England, as
the country is entirely unenclosed, and when a covey
is found, the only way of getting any birds is to walk
them regularly down. This is of course very hard
work. I went out again on the 2nd in another place,
and we found one covey, of which we killed nine. I
killed a brace. This is dismal work, as the shooting
here is said to be in a good year almost the best in
Germany ; but the winter and wet spring have entirely
floored it.

To-day we are all to dine at the society called the
Erholung, it being the anniversary of its foundation,
and also the birthday of the late Grand Duke. There
will be a ball to-night lasting till about 4 a.m., also an
illumination in the garden.

In a few days the annual bird-shooting begins —
a festival which is held in every German town and
village — in which a wooden Prussian eagle is shot at
with rifles, and prizes are given for the different parts
which are hit.

What has become of Philip ? I quite forget whether
he was to go back to Roughton's, and I have never
heard of him in my letters.

The Queen has been very near to this place, and
the whole Grand Ducal family have been to see her.
On Sunday the King and Queen of the Belgians came
to dine at the Court. To-day the Prince entertains
the Queen at Eisenach to breakfast. The papers and
people are full of stories against our Sovereign, who,
they say, is uncivil and ill-dressed. She seems, if the
reports are true, to have behaved badly on the Rhine.

i84S] Newspaper Misstateynents. 173

I was much amused by seeing a buttery article from
the Chronicle quoted in Galignani, in which that paper
expresses its joy that nothing has been said or felt in
Germany against the Queen. This shows the absurd
lies which the papers are in the habit of retailing.
The Princess of Prussia, who is a daughter of old
Weimar's, has been here, and says that she was much
disgusted with the Queen at Stolzenfels.

The celebrated Piickler Muskaii is still here, and
turns out in an English carriage and horses, which
look very curious here.

The Horrockses were at Eton this year, and I
think you must have seen them. They are very good
fellows.

With love to all, believe me, your affectionate
brother,

B. W. C.

Weimar, Sunday, September 14.

My dear Mother,

Although I have not heard from you for
some time, I will continue my usual hebdomadal letter.
My last communication from England was from
Maynard, whom I immediately answered, hoping to
reach him before he returned to Eton. As he did not
tell me what your plans of action were, I directed to
Albyns, where I thought you would return after your
tour.

I have just drawn for the money which my father
sent me, as my monthly account is due on the 9th of
each month. The banker recommended me to draw

174 Proposed Visit to Dresden. [1845

the amount at once, as by so doing the expense of
several postages is saved, and I of course still keep
the balance in his hands, drawing upon him for what-
ever I want.

The usual routine of this place is much the same,
except that during the last week the annual fair has
been held. The amusements differ very little from
those of an English fair, except perhaps that the
spectators are not so drunk or noisy. The great
amusement of the Germans being to sit still and drink
beer, their equanimity is rather disturbed by this
unusual excitement.

We had rather an amusing day at the foundation
commemoration of the Erholung. There were some
capital songs. In the evening I walked in the gardens
with the la Rochefoucaulds and Prince Piickler. He
is very amusing and a regular old beau. He is about
sixty-five, and is painted and dyed to a tremendous
extent. . . .

The theatre has been opened again after a cessation
of three months. We have now one of the best comic
actors in Germany as a guest here. He is to play
about four times. As I now understand the language
so much better than before, I find the theatre a great
resource. There is the great advantage in it, that it
is not too long : it begins at half-past six and ends at
nine.

I think it w^ould be a very favourable time now to
go to Dresden, which may be reached in a day, and
make the tour of the Saxon Switzerland on foot. This
(according to Murray) occupies only three days. The
youngest of the Horrockses, who is here, is a very intel-
ligent man, and would like much to make this tour.

1845] -^ day's shooii7ig lost. 175

In a short time the autumn will be so far advanced
that the country will have lost its beauty. It already
is beginning to feel cold, and I deplore the exchange
of stoves for a good blazing fire.

Weimar, Friday, September 26, 1S45.

My dear Mother,

I have at length received a letter from 3'ou,
after an unusuall}^ long silence. Your tour must have
been very pleasant, but I had thought that you intended
to cross to Ireland this year, and make the long-
promised visit to the MacNaughtens.

I am really sorry that you arc to cjuit Albyns, and
think that the scene of the auction will be quite heart-
rending. With Sarling and Mollets in the background,
it would make a good accompaniment to W'ilkie's
picture (or whoever's it is) of the " Rent Da}-." . , .

George will probably get some good shooting in
Norfolk, as, according to Galignani, the game is this
year very plentiful. I think it is the first September
that he has been there. The shooting here continues
to be bad. The other day I was promised a good
day's shooting by myself, but, with my usual good
fortune, after driving about fifteen miles, found that
one of those agreeable headaches of mine had come
on, and although the birds were at my feet, I could
not fire off my gun. This was not agreeable, as I
shall not be able to go there again.

The theatre is an amusement of which I make
great use. It is open three nights in the week. . . .
We have hopes of getting the celebrated "Jenny

176 Progress itt German and Dancing. [,845

Lincl " to come here for two or three evenings. She
is said to be equal to Grisi, and is now on her way to
Berlin. I believe she has an engagement at Drury
Lane or Covent Garden in the winter.

There is at present going on the Michaelmas fair
at Leipsic, and I am thinking of just seeing it, as they
are the largest fairs in Europe, and are, I believe, very
curious.

I dined at Court the other day with the Queen
of the Netherlands. The King was to have come
to-day, but is detained on account of a revolution in
Holland. The Empress of Russia is also expected
here, so that we shall have an assemblage of " royal
and august personages." The season does not begin
at Weimar till December and January, and continues
with unabated gaiety till April.

With respect to my German, the people here say
that I have made astonishing progress, and will not
believe that I did not understand it before I came ;
but it is extremely difficult, of which fact I become
daily more aware, the idiom and construction being
entirely different from English. I now speak German
with all the natives. My dancing also is satisfactory;
at least the (perhaps ?) partial young ladies are wont
to admire it {vide, " my partial mother").

This railway mania of which I hear, must tell in
the shop, as it must put in circulation some of that
money concerning the accumulation of which I heard
so many complaints.

1845] Change of Lodgings. i -]-]

Sunday, September 28, 1845.
My dear Father,

I received your letter this morning, and
shall embrace with great pleasure your proposal for
visiting Dresden. I think of deferring it for a week,
as by that time my month will have expired, and the
time of my journey will form an interregnum between
Zwierlein's and my other lodgings. I have resolved
upon this change of residence after mature considera-
tion, and, as I think you will perceive, upon sufficient
grounds. I have been hitherto deterred from this
step from the difficulty of obtaining other lodgings
moderately, but have at length found an " eligible
opportunity." The disadvantages of my present abode
are (i) that the Zwierleins command the approach to
my rooms, so that I cannot enter except through the
enemy's territory ; (2) that the domestic concerns of
the aforesaid family take place daily under my nose,
so that the fumes of their cuisine fill my room, and the
noise and bustle of their movements disturb my repose;
(3) that it is impossible, according to the internal
economy of the house, for me to have a servant who
can be at all times in the house, an appendage which
is really indispensable : (4) that the rooms at best are
small and not comfortable, without carpets, &c. ;
(5) that the aforesaid Zwierlein family consisting of
four unoccupied females, my house becomes a kind
of head-quarters for retailing gossip and scandal, for
which this town is celebrated, and all my minute
actions are published and scrutinized, so that I am
M

178 Piickler Muskaii. [1845

often surprised by hearing of what I have done from
the most unexpected quarters.

I now propose to lodge on the second floor of a
jeweller's in the market-place. Here I have two
rooms in front, bed-room, ante-room, and closet for
servant, being an entire floor of a house, commanding
a fine view of the principal parts of the town, and in
a central situation. The place is rather larger than
I want, but is not large enough for myself and Eden,
as there is but one bed-room. For these apartments
I am to pay monthly 20 thalers. A servant I procure
for 10 thalers per month, and wood and light I have
also to find. This arrangement is certainly dearer
than my present one, but the amount of comfort gained
thereby is very great, and, as the winter is approaching,
it is a great object to be comfortably lodged. I have
parted with the Zwierleins on splendid terms. They
themselves acknowledge that their accommodation is
of necessity very deficient, as they have never calcu-
lated on receiving lodgers. Weissenborn has arranged
all minutiae, and I think of engaging my new apart-
ment on the 20th of October, by which time (if I start
on the 7th) I think to return. I could have had it
cheaper if I had been sure of making a long stay here,
but everything in Weimar is dear for the stranger. . . .

Piickler Muskau^ is no impostor, but a great gun.
He is a mediatized prince, and has sold his place of
Muskaii. He has very handsome equipages, &c. I
believe that in England he gave himself out as a young
unmarried man, whereas he is really an old fellow who
has been separated from his wife for many years.

I do not bore you about Miss Ziegesar, because
^ See p. 174.

,845] Letter from Drcsdcji. 179

her charms defy description. When, however, she
gives me a ring, I will write. She is not, however,

at all in the Miss B ^ line, but is extremely clever

and lively. She forms an animated oasis in the moral
dearth of Weimar.

You ask about m}' sayings and doings. As the
former are for the most part couched in a foreign
language, I fear that the point of them would be lost
on you ; and my doings are so monotonous that I
have nothing new to tell you of them. The German
gets on well, and I think it would really be worth
while to stay here some time longer, in order, if
possible, to master it. This, however, I declare in
the face of all opponents to be in six months utterly
impracticable. With love to all at home, and hoping
soon to hear,

I remain, your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

The next letter is dated Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1845.

Stadt Rom, Dresden.
My dear Father,

Being now somewhat settled, I begin a
letter to inform you of the events of my trip from
Weimar. I left Weimar in company with the younger
Horrocks on the loth. We reached Leipsic the same
evening, after passing through Nuremberg, where there
is a Cathedral, and nearer Leipsic through Liitzen,
immortalized by the two celebrated battles fought

' A lady who had bestowed the aforesaid gift on his brother George.

i8o Leipsic. [1845

there. At Leipsic we put up at the Hotel de Pologne,
where everything was in a great bustle on account
of the fair. The effect in the streets was quite
singular, from the enormous assemblage of persons
of all nations, and in different costumes.

In Leipsic we met with Herr Wallner, a comic
actor of great celebrity whose acquaintance we had
made at Weimar, and who acted as our cicerone. We
visited the monument erected to Poniatowski, which
is in a garden outside the town. The stream in which
he was drowned is hardly more than a brook or about
the size of the river at Albyns. We also went to the
theatre, which is very pretty, and of course crowded
to excess. We made the acquaintance of most of
the literary men of Leipsic, with all of whom Wallner
was intimate, among others of a Herr Mann, who is
celebrated in Germany as the actor of Mephistopheles.
There is a splendid reading-room where I read two
months oi Punch, not having seen him before since I
left England. He does not seem to degenerate at all.

On Sunday we sat down to dinner at the table
d'hote, at least three hundred persons, in a splendid
scdon with music. The town of Leipsic being very
rich, it is luxurious in these respects, far more so than
Dresden.

We parted from Leipsic on the 14th, and arrived
at Dresden after four hours' railroad. The town seems
to be very agreeable, but the weather has been
execrable. I have been constantly to the picture-
gallery, which is open only till one o'clock. The other
exhibitions, though interesting, become tedious, as
they are much too long. The theatre is beautiful both
externally and internal!}', but the pieces given are in

1845]

Dresden, 1 8 1

bad taste, being for the most part bad modern
comedies or farces. We have, however, had the
pleasure of seeing Clavig^s, a splendid tragedy of
Goethe's, in which Emil Devrient, the great tragedian
of Germany, performed. We had an introduction
from Wallner to this distinguished character, but
have not yet been able to meet him.

The tour of the Saxon Switzerland we were obliged
to give up, as the lateness of the season and the
continuance of bad weather had rendered it impossible.
I have met here my friend Hibbert, who has been
staying in Dresden for more than a year waiting for
his commission. The number of English here is very
large, several families being settled for the winter.
I received your letter, and also one from George
enclosing a letter to Count Thun. We think of going
back in a day or two to Weimar.

Weimar, Monday, Nov. 3, 1845.

My dear Mother,

I received your letter dated the 24th this
morning. It has been longer than usual on the road,
owing, I suppose, to the journey from Brighton to
London, which however, I should have thought, would
not have made such a difference.

I have now been here several days, but have not
been able to go out. The journey from Leipsic to
Weimar is performed in the eihvagcn and takes ten
hours. On this voyage I caught cold, and have been
very seedy ever since, having pains in the back, &c.
There is luckily here a capital doctor, who is now

1 82 Dresdeii Gallery. [,845

physicking me. He has told me what I am sure is
quite true, that I cannot stand strong medicines.
I still have that dizziness in the head, arising from
the tendency of blood to that point, although I have
been lately living on a single straw. I cannot help
thinking that the water cure might get rid of it. It is
highly recommended now in these cases. I have now
fulfilled your request of telling you all about myself.
There is not much to tell you about my trip, as it was
only to Leipsic and Dresden, two well-known places.
The picture-gallery at the latter I visited daily, and
studied all the famous pictures. The Madonna di
S. Sisto is the only Raphael in the gallery. The
painter whose productions there are most numerous
is Wouvermans, of whom there are at least fifty.
I discovered there a small Rubens exactly the same,
only of a far smaller size, as that in the National
Gallery lately bought at Mr. Penrice's sale. It is the
Judgment of Paris, I forgot if I told you this in my
last letter, but I will hope not.

The Court of Weimar have now come to town for
the winter. I was invited yesterday but could not go,
and to-day the Prince has a shooting-party which I
have also declined. Eden intends shortly to return
to England for a month or two ; but I think it is a bad
plan, as he will thus lose all that he has acquired by
the time he comes back to Weimar. . . .

Monro must be a first-rate whip to have coached
anything out of George.^ Probably the charms of

Miss B have rendered him quite sentimental.

The ring was evidentally a hint at the marriage state.^

* George had got through his " little-go " examination at Oxford.
- See p. 179.

1845] Hanoverian Posts. 183

From a young lady so skilled in the language of
flowers, every present must be significant. I fear I
am quite cut out, although she once did pin a flower
in my coat with her fair hands, and told me I was
quite a beau.

Pray tell my father that I have had great outlays
lately. I was obliged to provide winter clothing in
Dresden, in which I was previously deficient. Hoping
that this hint may not be thrown away, and with love
to my father and sisters, believe me, my dear mother.

Your affect, son,

B. W. C.

Weimar, Monday, Nov. lotli.
My dear Father,

I received your letter shortly after one
from my mother, which I answered a week ago, so
that the interval of a week only will have elapsed
between this and my last. Pray tell my mother that
in consequence of her not affixing the indispensible
** \'ia France " to her last, the letter was delayed two
or three days and an extra charge of lod. was made.
This is on account of its passing through old Cumber-
land's dominions, who is such an intractable old dog,
that he will not consent to join in the Post Confedera-
tion, which has been formed by most of the other
German States, but on the contrary, levies money on
every letter that comes into his premises.

With regard to your jobation about my journey to
Dresden, I beg to state that Dresden cannot be
reached from Weimar without passing through Leipsic,

184 German Politics. [1845

which town, on account of its commercial and biblio-
thecal celebrity, is worthy the attention of the intel-
hgent traveller, &c., and further, that the visit to the
Saxon Switzerland was only deferred on account of
the unfortunate tendency of the weather, which is
unusual at this season. My reasons for not leaving
Weimar sooner were that the term of Zwierlein's
lodging might expire, and that I might not have the
necessity of keeping up a lodging during my absence.
... I was sorry that through a mistake in Dresden
I did not see the sitting of the Saxon Chambers, which
are now going on. The debate is considered very
important, as the}- are to decide on the fate of the
military who fired on the mob at the Leipsic disturb-
ance. They will besides consider the great religious
movement. The people, whose political topics of
conversation are, from their form of government,
necessarily modified, are now (in proportion to the
novelty of the subject) bursting with politics. It
seems curious that a people whose opinions are far
more liberal than the English, should submit to such
an abominable despotism as they — more especially in
the larger States — live under.

I am very glad to hear that George has passed the
ordeal. Pray congratulate him from me if he is now
with you.

According to the papers the " Panic" has subsided.
Has there been a run upon the banks ? I should have
thought that the effect of these extraordinary specu-
lations would have been to make money scarce, or at
least to diffuse it through the country.

I think the plan of staying for some months at
Weimar would be beneficial, although Heaven knows

1845] Weivtarians. 185

it is not amusing. One gets so tired of seeing people
every day that one does not care about, that the sight
of a Weimarian is repulsive. The people here not being
engaged in commerce, or in anything but toadying the
old t5'rant, are so limited in their ideas as to be
anything but amusing. We have just had a row with
the officers in consequence of some of them not having
paid some small debts at cards, which was nearly
terminating in a hostile encounter ! It has been,
however, peaceably settled, notwithstanding the
strenuous efforts to the contrary of a pie-eatinj!;
Mexican (or some such snob) who has the consum-
mate impudence to call himself an Englishman.
I think I have before mentioned this person under
the name of Cathray. He appears to be flying from
justice, as he has actually entered the Weimar army
of two hundred men !

In the following; letter, addressed to Clarence Mansions,
Brighton, a description is given of tiie rehgions demonstration
at Weimar, which in the autobiographical sketch is referred
to a later visit.

Weimar, Tuesday, Nov. iS, 1845.

My dear Mother,

I hasten to reply to your long and amusing
letter from Brighton, My medical man here attributes
the headaches to a disordered state of stomach, which,
however, I can hardly understand, as I have lived,
ever since my return, in the quietest manner and on
the simplest food. The headaches nc\erthclcss
continue and give me much pain, especially in the
morning on rising. . . .

1 86 Reliciozis De'/nonstration.

v>

[1845

I heard from Maynard this morning. I am sorry
the Liberals had not a worthier representative at
Windsor. The late euphoniously-named Member was,
I think, a "Whig.

The great German anti-Catholic, Ronge, has been
here for a few days. I had rather a curious adventure
connected with him. He was to lodge at a house
close to mine, and on the evening of his arrival great
crowds of people were collected to meet him. On his
arrival he was greeted with loud cheers, and I, hearing
this noise and being ignorant of the cause, put my
head out of the window and blew a dog-whistle. This
was construed into a sign of displeasure, and as my
landlord happened unfortunately to be a Roman, the
mob thought that the opposition proceeded from him,
and advanced to the house with a tremendous row.
They broke the windows, and I was obliged to address
them in a neat and appropriate speech. I was thus
something in the position of an unpopular candidate
at an election. My landlord was in a dreadful state,
positively melting with fear, and thought the people
were going to pull down his house. It was a great
shame that the police did not attempt to protect us,
and we might have been sacrificed before they would
have taken any notice of it.

Has Philip undergone the inspection of Westmacot
previous to admission to Eton, or do you mean him to
go to the house at which Mr. Cockerell's son is ?

Eden is to go to England in a week, and means
to stay there about six or seven weeks, and then
return to Weimar. I shall charge him with a com-
mission or two. I wish you would procure me in
London some warm winter gloves, which cannot be

1845] Gu7idreda. 187

procured here, and which are very comfortable in the
winter. Also if my father would give me his hussar
dress, in which I appeared with so much success as
Prince Bambini, it would be of great use to me here,
as there are some masquerade or fancy balls given in
January and February, and I think I could get it
altered and done up moderately. However, as it will
be long before Eden returns, there will be plenty of
time to write about these articles.

I want to know if the Bank has not made a good
thing out of these speculating times. I suppose they
arc very particular in taking the accounts of new
companies.

I believe another Englishman is coming here who
was a pupil of Weissenborn's twenty-five years ago,
his name Lettsom. The place is dull beyond anything
you can imagine.

Have you been over from Brighton to Lewes to
see Gundreda,^ who, I see in the papers, has been dug
up there ? Do you ride at all ? The weather here is
fine but autumnal, or rather, wintry, frosts, &c. With
love to my father, sisters, &C.,

Your affecte. son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

' Workmen, who were excavating at the Priory, Lewis, for the
proposed extension of the railway from Brighton to Lewis and
Hastings, uncovered a leaden box, the inscription on which recorded
that it contained the bones of Gundreda, daughter of William the
Conqueror. — Eu.

1 88 Letter frovi George. [,84:

George wrote from Brighton :

Nov. 25, 1845.
My dear Bertie,

I must begin my letter by wishing you
many happy returns of to-day, being your birthday.
My mother is writing you a letter with the same
object.

You have, I believe, heard of my intended journey
to the East. At first it was all planned that I was to
go to Rome for the winter, but this has been altered
for Egypt, &c., which is much better. I have just
returned from London, where I have been for a couple
of days, taking my place, getting my outfit, &c. I
have taken a passage to Malta in the Tagiis, and from
Malta to Alexandria in the Iberia, Oriental steam-
vessels. The damage of the whole is /'40. We are
from fourteen to twenty-one days en route, touching at
Gibraltar for six hours, and at Malta for twenty-four.
I have also had to get an iron portable bedstead and
accompaniments, leather sheets, mosquito-net, calico
shirts, portable soup, Lemann's biscuits, a canteen
containing knives, forks, tea-pot, gridiron, tins and
bottles for tea, brandy, &c., rifle, holsters for pistols,
&c. I am going to take a saddle of the governor's,
which is gone to Wilkinson's to be repaired. The
saddle is necessary for riding in Syria and the desert,
unless you wish to be ruptured by riding on two pieces
of board, which form a sharp ridge at the top. When
I get to Alexandria, I expect to make a party with one
or two Englishmen ; from there, or from Cairo, to hire
a boat, and proceed up the Nile to Thebes, the Pyra-
mids, Nubia, &c. I suppose we shall spend about two

1S45] -^^^ projected Tour. 1 89

months on the Nile. During this time you Hve in your
boat — a very large affair — and land to explore the
temples, &c., or to shoot pelicans, crocodiles, ducks,
&c., as you go along. After this, I think of going
through Syria to Damascus and Sm}rna, Jerusalem,
Lebanon, &c. This is done on horseback, taking your
tent with you, and pitching it every night, with a
company of servants and camels (a la patriarch). After
this, I may perhaps go to Constantinople and Greece,
or my father thinks I may possibly go to India for a
few months. Is not this a joli voyage ? It is almost
the only tour left that has not become cockney, and
even this is getting commoner every year.

You give a rich account of your adventure with the
infuriated Rongists. Your German must have pro-
gressed wonderfully, if you could manage an address
to them. Who paid for M. Predari's broken windows?
I left Oxford rather suddenly, after passing my little-
go. I was sorry to leave, but think it was the best
thing on the whole. I had some grand entertainments
on getting through my smalls. I should like very viuch
to hear from you. If you will write soon, the letter
will meet me at Cairo. . . .

Ever, dearest B., your affectionate brother,

G. W. CURRIK.

Weimar, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1845.
My dear Mother,

I received your kind letter this morning,
and also one from my father on the 25th. George's
promised despatch is not arrived. I have had no
return of headache for the last week or ten days, and

190 Visit from the Burgomaster. [,845

am now feeling pretty well. ... I am much surprised
at George's intended tour to Egypt. Will he visit the
Pyramids and Cheops ? It is a pity that Lady H.
Stanhope is dead, or he might have visited her in Syria.
P. Muskaii, who has been here, was a friend and

correspondent of her's till her death. G will

probably fall a prey to some savage Druse, or Maronite,
who seem to be making a great disturbance in Syria.
How long will he be absent from England ?

Eden has already started, and must by this time be
in England. I told him to call upon you, if 3'ou were
in London.

I have been reading Lockhart's Life of Scott, in
English, which is certainly a most charming book. I
had before read parts of it. In German, I have begun
the Fatist within the last day or two, and am reading
besides some of Goethe's prose works by myself.

I do not go to the church here. The service is, I
believe, at nine in the morning, and consists principally
of a long discourse. It is not well attended, as the
preachers are great sticks.

The weather is fine and dry, though cold. This is,
I fancy, the general character of the winter in these
latitudes. We have had no rain for a long time, which
is very pleasant. The Prince has several shooting-
parties — roe, hares, &c., but no pheasants. I have not
taken part in them, on account of my having been
unwell.

I have had an absurd scene in consequence of the
disturbance at my house, when Ronge was here. About
a week ago, I was waited upon by the burgomaster
and head policeman of the town, who were instituting
an examination into the cause of the disturbance.

1845]

An unj list sentence. 191

These worthies were inclined to be insolent, and I
threatened to turn them out of the room, in revenge
for which they have sentenced me to three days' im-
prisonment in the police-office, and to pay the costs of
the affair. Of course I informed them that I would
see them in a very warm situation before I submitted
to this injustice, and have therefore appealed to the
superior court. If they do not reverse the judgment
(which, however, they will probably do), I shall appeal
to the Grand Duke. Justice is very indifferently admin-
istered here, the police-court having the right of
summary conviction, and being greatly under the fear
of the people ; so that they (the police) have sentenced
me to this penalty, because the burghers of Weimar
require a sacrifice for the disturbance in the market-
place. This is evidently against all justice, as I am
the party sinned against, not sinning, having sustained
damage from the populace. The people, and prin-
cipally the burghers, are so enthusiastic on the religious
question, that the least ostensible interference enrages
them, and hence they will not be appeased until they
have been satisfied for the insult (as they call it) to
their principles. I shall, however, of course not submit
to this, and have, with Weissenborn, drawn up a
spirited appeal to justice. This absurd sentence has
been dictated partly (I think) by the irritated feelings
of the burgomaster, and partly at the desire of the
citizens, who in fact overrule the police-court. This
beats Bow Street and Mr. Greenwood, and burgo-
master's justice should be as proverbial as justice's.

I am glad to hear that Edith flourishes like a green
bay-tree. I should have thought she must quite forget
me.

192 D odors opinion. [,845

In return for your description of yourself ecrivante,
I will describe my position. It is ten minutes to two
by the clock on the Rath Haus, which is opposite to
my windows. I am sitting in dressing-gown at a sort
of mahogany bureau, in the larger of my sitting-rooms.
I shall dine at two, and will think of, and envy your
" sand which is by the sea-shore." After dinner, I
shall perhaps go out a little and make a call.

I will direct to Rotherfield. Pray remember me to
Mr. and Mrs. Scott, and love to Mary, and all.

A letter which, it seems, was sent in the interval between the
preceding and the following, is not forthcoming. The opening
paragraph in the succeeding letter must refer to Sir Robert
Peel's resignation of office.

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1845.
My dear Father,

I was much surprised and interested at
your intelligence, which was quite unexpected. Has
Lord Melbourne nothing to do with the present
Government ?

You will have received my answer to your last, but
as I wrote somewhat hurriedly, I will give you some
further particulars of Vogel's opinion. He has said
from the beginning, and also stated in the writing
which I sent 3^ou, that my chest is weak. On the day
that I wrote, he tried it per perciissionem, i.e., by
tapping it in a peculiar manner all round, and then
making me draw a breath. He says that it is certainly
weak, although there is at present no disease, and that
as I am of course more susceptible of cold from having
been so long confined in the house, I must be doubly
careful. On this account, he disapproves of the plan
of going to England, as I stated in my last.

1845] Peer 5 Resigiiation. 193

My last credit arrived here on the 15th Nov., so
that it will be due Jan. 15.

It seems to be a very creditable thing of Sir R.
Peel going out, at least I suppose he does it to avoid
the imputation of having deceived the country gentle-
men. Sir J. Tyrrell and Co. must be on their last
legs. Do you expect that Peel will come in again, as
surely Lord John cannot command a majority in the
House ? Shall you, in case of a dissolution, again
appeal to the enlightened electors of Northampton ?

We have had frosts here, but of no long duration.
I am now writing just after breakfast, and before the
arrival of Weissenborn. I read the Faitst, and turn
English into German daily.

We are trying to get up some small theatricals
here, but I think they will not succeed, as the Grand
Duke has refused his small private theatre. He says
that he does not like tragedy, or the English language.
I believe he cannot go to sleep after a tragedy. The
refusal is, I think, in reality on account of some
absurd jealousy of the young Court, to whom Mr.
Horrocks applied first, and who are very anxious to
have it. I think that we shall probably have Bombastes
Ftirioso, which is not a great undertaking.

Pray write and send me some early news about the

new Government. Your letters arrive a day earlier

than Galignani. With love to my mother and sisters,

believe me.

Your affectionate son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

P.S. — This will arrive on Christmas Day, or eve — a
great festival, I think, in No. 29.
N

194 Advice on Reading. 1845

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

CornJiill, Tuesday, December 23, 1845.

My dear Bertram, —

I wrote a few lines yesterday, acknowledging
your letter of the i6th.^ I wish you (for many reasons)
to come home, and I differ from Vogel's opinion
respecting the two climates of England and Weimar.
At the same time I am disposed to think that, with the
very severe weather which seems coming, it would be
hazardous for one who has been so much confined to
travel at the present moment. From this consideration
I am willing to postpone your return till the prospect
of milder, or at least more settled weather. You will
of course consider the credit, which I remitted specially
for your journey and closing expenses, as not available
till the time when it becomes due in January.

I particularly wish you, in addition to your German
studies, to have in hand some good standard English
book in history, and some book in philosophy — by
which I mean the philosophy of the intellectual facul-
ties (metaphysics), and really to recollect that you are
given this interval to complete, as far as may be, a
very imperfect education, and not to fill up a certain
number of hours with light reading, &c.

When I was about a year younger than you are, I
read Locke On the Human Understanding attentively,
making an analysis, and I cannot overstate the benefit
I derived from it. It is stiff at first, but opens an

^ The missing letter referred to in p. 192.

1845] Philosophy. 195

entirely new train of thought to one who has never
read any work of the kind. Hartley, On Association of
Ideas, is an excellent book. Brown, on Cause and
Effect ; Reid's or Dugald Stewart's works. I mention
several, because the Library at Weimar may afford
one or other of them, and the real advantage of the
study is to exercise the mind, and open up new trains
of thought, rather than to teach any one man's system.
I assure you, from my own experience, there is no sort
of reading which I know of, that so much elevates the
mind.

By standard history I mean such works as Gibbon
(which you said you began) or Robertson, Watson, &c.
In French, Michelet and Thierry are charming books,
and all Guizot's works excellent.

Do, my dear B., aspire to profit hereafter by the
society which you Diay cultivate in England, by
acquiring a decent stock of information now.

The entire absence of ordinances at Weimar, and
the sceptical tone of German society, are most grave
objections to the place. The difficulties of Christianity
are patent, and on the surface, and any superficial
sneerer can lay a finger upon them. I have in my
time made myself acquainted with these views — a
course I would not recommend to any one — but depend
upon it, that human nature, and the life with which we
are conversant, is a dreary, cheerless thing without the
belief of immortality, and an entire trust in an all-
wise and all-beneficent Creator. In certain frames of
mind, the philosopher may think that he realizes both
these convictions, but religious faith alone can bring
them home to the heart and understanding, and make
them substantial principles of action and of comfort.

196 Evidence for Christianity. [,845

The evidences and facts of our religion are the
legitimate field for reason and inquiry. I believe that
the Resurrection of our Saviour is as well, or more
completely attested, than any other fact in the history
of mankind. When once the evidence of a revelation
has satisfied the candid and truth-seeking inquirer, the
province of faith begins ; and that faith is, I do
believe, vouchsafed only to humble prayer, and an
earnest endeavour to practise God's vi^ill.

I have been led on to say much more than I
intended, but I sometimes feel almost unhappy at
having, perhaps, exposed you, at a dangerous age, to
the contamination of opinions which I sincerely believe
to be as erroneous as they are destructive. May God
protect you ! We all unite in kindest remembrances
of, and best wishes for you, dear B.

Your mother returned in great force from Kimberley
yesterday. We have heard from George from Gibraltar,
Dec. 10. He had been dreadfully sick for two days,
having had very rough weather, but was then in
a delightful climate. Mr. J. Lefevre is staying
with us.

Sir R. Peel's modified Cabinet is not yet known,
but it is said that Lords Dalhousie, Ellenborough, and
Mr. Gladstone, are to be in it. The precise scope of
his Corn Law propositions is quite unknown. Par-
liament will probably meet about 21st January. He
has now, more than ever, the game in his own hands.
The whole resignation affair was probably the result of
sagacious foresight working to bring things to their
present phase — the chef d'ccuvre of "the Astute!"
Pray mention your health particularly, and in detail,
when you write. Of course, e.xercise if the weather

1846] The President' s Message. 197

is tolerable — good walking exercise is essential to

health.

Ever yours, dear B., affectionately,

R.C.

I have written in the midst of serious interruptions,
in Cornhill.

Weimar, January i, 1846.
My dear Father,

This being the first day of 1846, I write to
wish you many happy returns of the same, though it
does not seem to be favourably ushered in, judging, I
mean, from the President's message,^ which I have
seen for the first time this morning. Although warlike
enough, it seems to have no effect in the City. How is
this ? I have just been to congratulate our Sovereign
Prince here on the auspicious state of affairs throughout
his dominions. This was at twelve o'clock, and at
three I dine at the Court, and at seven go to a
the dansante. This is rather strong for one day. I
cannot say that I find it —

The sweetest of all earthly things,
To speak with Princes, and to talk with Kings, &c.

It is tremendously dull, not even being redeemed by
the goodness of the vivcrs, for although he (the Grand

' " The ship S^a arrived at Liverpool on Monday, with New York
papers to the 4th inst., and also brought the President's message, which
was delivered to Congress on the 2nd inst. This document, as usual, is
a very long one, but the portion of it which chiefly interests this
country is that relating to the Oregon Territory. The tone adopted
upon this important subject is, we regret to say, a bellicose one."
(Illustrated London News, Dec. 27, 1845.)

198 New Year Festivities.

[1846

Duke) eats like an alderman, he has a shocking bad
dinner, and we dine off cold plate.

Last night there was a grand ball in the public
rooms, and we danced in the New Year with a
polonaise. When the clock struck twelve, the music
made a tremendous crash, and all the men fell to
kissing and congratulating one another. I had some
difficulty in escaping from the embrace of one or two
hairy ruffians. Formerly, I believe, it was allowable
for the gentleman to salute his partner on the St.
Sylvester eve, but unfortunately the extreme refinement
of the age has swept away this valuable and much-to-
be-lamented custom. These New Year congratulations
are rather painful. As I write this last sentence I
have been waited upon by a youth whom I never saw
in my life, with a congratulatory address ; and in
order to escape hearing it read aloud, had to stump up
6d. I have just heard that the Court, to whom I
appealed against the sentence of the police,^ have
reversed the sentence, costs and all, so that I get off
without anything to pay.

I don't know what to do about writing to George,
as I suppose he will have left Alexandria before a letter
from me can get there, or is Alexandria to be his head-
quarters ?

Pray make Maynard write to me, and tell me how
many pheasants he has shot. I heard from Eden the
other day. He has been shooting at Mr. Scrope's, and
is now gone to Mr. Shafto's, in the New Forest.

We had some charades a few nights ago at the
Horrockses', which went off with great eclat; I, taking
the part of a lady, and bearing a great resemblance in
1 See page 191.

1846J Theatricals. 199

that costume — as all the people said — to George's
somewhat aged friend, " Miss Schwendler," whose
years Mr. James so carefully specified in his letter.
We are now getting up a representation of some scenes
from the Merchant of Venice. Miss Fane takes the part
of Portia ; the youngest Mr. Horrocks of Shylock, in
which he thinks he makes a great many hits ; and
myself the humble part of " my Lord Bassanio." We
are to have the casket-scene, and the trial-scene, and a
few other short ones. We thought of acting Bombastes
F., but it would not have been appreciated by the
audience, as indeed I fear our Shakespeare will not.
However, H. is so earnest about it that I was obliged
to give in ; my own opinion being that it is a great
bore, and not half so amusing as our French comedy.

On Christmas eve there are great festivities here ;
all fathers of families stuffing their children with cakes,
&c., with which they adorn a small fir-tree, which is
planted in the room. This is lit up with wax-tapers,
and the effect is very pretty. My Christmas Day was
passed alone, with the exception of a dreadful evening
at Court, where the ladies sported trains, and we had
to stand without intermission for three hours. When
you add to this that all the women stand or sit in a
circle where it is impossible to speak to them, you will
see how lively our Court evenings are here ! Now, I
believe, they will begin to dance. Yesterday was the
first ball.

The weather is quite tempestuous, tremendous
gales of wind. I have not been very well lately,
having had a sort of oppression on the chest, which
Vogel attributes to rheumatism, but it is better to-day,
and seems to be benefited by dancing. He still declares

200 Hoffman's Tales. [1846

that he is strongly against my returning to England
yet. With kindest love to my mother, and all at home,
I remain your affectionate son,

B. W. C.

P.S. — I received a letter from you on the 27th, and
also on the 28th Dec.

Weimar, January 7, 1846.
My dear Mother,

I write to thank you for a very amusing
letter, enclosing a caricature from Punch, I think the
idea is capital, and lament much that I do not see
him (Punch) at all, except in short extracts in Galignani
from our " pungent contemporary."

We are now in the midst of very strenuous re-
hearsing for the Merchant of Venice, which is, I believe,
to be performed in about a week, but I do not expect
much amusement from it, as our audience will not
appreciate the beauties of our acting. We have had
very cold weather for the last few days, 13 degrees of
frost Reaumar, but to-day it is thawing.

I am now translating into German a book called
Schinderhannes, the Robber of the Rhine, by Leigh Ritchie.
It is very hard, which is indeed its principal recom-
mendation. By this I make more sensible progress
than by any other means, and lately I have, I think,
advanced some way in German. I have been reading
by myself the tales of Hoffman, who was considered
a genius, and like most of that description died
young. His stories are extraordinarily imaginative
and mysterious, quite unlike anything that I have

1846] Second Part of Fatist. 201

read in English, dealing in the most unaccountable
wonders.

With Weissenborn I read the second part of Faust,
which is held by everybody but Weissenborn to be
very inferior to the first. It was written thirty years
after the first part and is extremely difficult to under-
stand, being entirely allegorical. It is in this part
that Lord Byron is introduced under the name of
Euphorion ; and also many other personages, such as
the late Grand Duke, the patron of Goethe and
Schiller.

I have not yet seen the Quavterly Review of which
you speak, as they are terribly unpunctual in the
reading-room here. The Weimar savants were very
angry about the article on Lessing and the German
poets in the last Edinburgh Review.

How is Punch's Pocket-Book this year, and also
Dickens' new work ? I see them advertised in the
papers, but they are not yet to be had. There is a
bookseller at Leipsic who pirates all the new English
works, and sells them at is. 6d. a volume. In this
way all the novels of Buhver and James come out,
but as they are not admitted into England, they are
only valuable to those who live abroad.

I see an article from the Globe commendatory of
Mr. S. J. Loyd's liberality in giving £"1,000 to the
Clerks' Christmas Fund. Are the lucky recipients the
clerks in his own office or a society of clerks in the
City ? I also see, though I fear not on good authority,
that the receipts of bankers this year have been
enormous !

The season here seems to be unaccountably deferred.
We have had only two balls yet. I suppose the polka

202 The Polka.

[1846

has ceased in England by this time. Before I went
away, I remember the Po%t had announced that Her
Majesty disapproved of it. Here it is in full vigour,
but they will play it too slow. Eden will come and
call on you when he comes to London, where he has
not yet been.

I hope the Northampton dinner went off well.
I see that Mr. "Varmin" has just declared in favour of
the Repeal of the Corn Laws. What a seedy politician !
He must be furious at being kept out of place.

That lazy fellow Maynard will not write. When
does he go to his private tutor's ? We are now, I fear,
unrepresented at Eton, till Philip makes his appearance
to support the honour of the family.

The great events in prospedu here are the birth-
days of the Grand Duke and Duchess, which are both
in February. There are then two grand balls in the
Palace, which is not used on other occasions. On
Saturday, we are to have a German version of the
Merry Wives of Windsor in the theatre. I fear that
the representation of Falstaff will be but seedy. I am
pretty well in health and hope you are all the same.
What is J. Wodehouse doing? Has he left Oxford,
or when does he take his degree ?

With love to all at home,

Believe me, your affect, son,

Bertram Wodehouse Currie.

1846] Private Theatricals. 203

Weimar, Saturday, Jan. 17, 1846.

My dear Mother,

I received The Times newspaper, containing
my father's speech, together with a long expected
letter from you yesterday. I have read the speech
over several times, and think it extremely eloquent,
though I should think too elevated for the North-
ampton cobblers, I hope it may move the obdurate
hearts of Sir J. Tyrrell and the "gentlemen of
England." Mr. V. Smith's seems to me proportion-
ably seedy, particularly in his peroration, where he
hopes that he has not acted without consistency. This,
considering his very well-timed adoption of Repeal, is
rather strong.

Our representation of the Merchant of Venice went
off, after numerous rehearsals, on Tuesday the 13th,
with great eclat; which day is, I think, your birthday,
and was extremely appropriate to such a festival.
The people were, or pretended to be, very much
pleased. The theatre was very ingeniously arranged
with coulisses, curtains, drapery, &c., by the machinist
of the Weimar Theatre, and the dresses were capital.
Miss Fane, who is a fine-looking girl, looked splendid
as the lawyer with a moustache and charley. The
scenes chosen were in the First Act, that between
Shylock, Bassanio, and Antonio, and also between
Shylock, Gratiano, and Tubal ; in the Second Act,
between Portia and Bassanio with Nerissa and
Gratiano ; and in the Fourth Act, the famous trial
scene. The people admired Shylock very much, who
certainly has some idea of the part, but is, I think,

204 ^^'^ Merchant of Venice. [1846

much too boisterous. I make a long speech of about
half an hour in the trial scene, when I choose between
the caskets. We altered it rather ingeniously, taking
part of the speech of the Prince of Aragon (namely,
that relating to the gold and silver casket), and
afterwards the speech of Bassanio on the leaden
casket, beginning : " So may the outward shows."
You will see this on referring to your Shakespeare.
This speech is very difficult, as it is entirely contem-
plative and not addressed to any one. I also composed
an epilogue, which, however, was not recited, as
Antonio (Mr. Marshall), for whom I wrote it, had not
time to learn it, it being written only on the last day.
As it is rather long (fifty-six lines), I will only send you
the last eight lines, which are detached from the others.

Enough — once more I claim your kind support

Again defendant, but in beauty's court,

At your tribunal suppliant I appear,

Hoping no second Shylock may be here.

Judge not our efforts with a critic eye,

Let our endeavours our defects supply

And think, that if you are but entertained

Our wish accomplished and our purpose gained.

And also one or two lines referring to Shylock :

'Tis true, he's rather noisy — only look at

The speech in which he says, " If every ducat

Were in six parts and every part a. ducat

I'd have," et cetera; but I have left my book at

Home, and forget the rest : 'Tis in the trial

When all our efforts met with a denial. —

Yet could you see him in his fallen state.

His daughter fled, his moneys confiscate.

The scene behind the scenes might move a tear,

Where Shylock seeks oblivion in small beer ;

And now, turned Christian, plays his knife and fork

Sadly cliopiallen on a chop of pork.

1846] Epilogue. 205

You will remember that Antonio in the trial makes it
a condition that the Jew should become a Christian.
I must give you another line about the Duke.

And last, not least, but greatest on the scene, is

The Duke, or rather 't should be said, the Doge of Venice.

Like other Dukes, he meets with much applause.

Though sadly ignorant of his country's laws.

A passive, harmless fellow, and no Nero

Wanting the vovs of famous Faliero.

For were not Portia specially retained

I fear the Jew his vile intent had gained ;

And the poor gentleman who stands before ye

Had had no further business for his lawyer.

As this was done in a couple of hours, I have no
doubt there are plenty of mistakes in it.

On Thursday night we had the Milanollos here,
who are making a great sensation in the musical world.
They are two Italian girls, about fourteen or fifteen
years old, who play the violin in the most wonderful
manner, and as all connoisseurs say, bring out better
tones than Ernst or Sivori. They gave a concert in
the theatre, and were tumultuously applauded, and at
night serenaded by the military band. We expect
Jenny Lind here in a few days. She is engaged at
Berlin, but has had a week's leave on purpose to come
to Weimar.

Last night the Russian Ambassador threw open
his salon to the haute voice of Weimar ; that is, we had
a ball in a room considerably smaller than mine ;
indeed, most of the balls here are given in much smaller
rooms than mine, and I think it would be a good plan
for me to give one, if I could get the ladies to come.
The dancing is now set in, but the only good balls are
in the public rooms. The Court balls are stiff and in
small rooms, and besides the society is limited to

2o6 Cast of the Performance. [1845

about twenty girls, and at the private houses where
the Court is invited, the same people only are present.
Now, besides that the girls in the second society are
much prettier, it is a great thing to have a more
extended choice of partners than is possible at the
Court.

I send you the cast of our performance :

Portia, Miss Fane.

Nerissa, Mrs. C. Horrocks (a very gauche creature).

Bassanio, Mr. B. Currie.

Antonio, Mr. Marshall (Secretary to the Princess and

a little turn-up-nosed Scotchman, but agreeable).
Gratiano, Mr. C. Horrocks.
Shylock, Mr. T. Horrocks.
Tubal, Mr. Horrocks.
Duke, Do.

There has been a conspiracy discovered at Posen
and at Erfurt, which is a Prussian military deput near
Weimar. The soldiers have all received ball cartridge,
and are to be marched out. I see that the Militia are
to be called out in England. Are the Yeomanry also ?
If so, let the privates in the East Norfolk beware, for
I shall be a martinet.

I am pretty well now and have got rid of the chest
oppression. The weather is fine and mild. With love
to all and a pinch to Maynard for his laziness, believe
me, your affecte. son,

B. W. C.

P.S. — I think my grandfather might make me a
Captain of Militia. One gets £zoo a year. One of the
Horrockses, who has been a captain in the 15th Foot,
is very anxious to get such an appointment. Perhaps
in the E. Norfolk they want army men.

1846] Mr. Ra ikes Currte's Speech. 207

Weimar, Tuesday, January 27, 1846.

My dear Father,

Though a considerable time has elapsed
since I heard from you, I will continue my regular
communications in the hope of soon receiving a reply.
Your speech, which I have read a good many times,
is, I think, splendid. I showed it to an Englishman,
who is living here, a Mr. Marshall, a man of a good
deal of talent. He is delighted therewith, and says it
resembles the style of Carlyle. But as he compares
everything he is pleased with to this favourite author,
I think the resemblance may be imaginary. I trust
that you are bottling up a tremendous anathema to
be hurled at Sir R. Peel if he does not declare for
total Repeal. By this time, however, the Queen's
Speech has declared the intentions of Government on
this point.

Weimar has within the last few days been the
great centre of attraction for all the neighbouring
States, on account of the visit of the celebrated Jenny
Lind, who arrived here for a week on last Thursday.
On Friday, she sang at a concert at Court, and the
Swedish national songs were beautiful. Since that
we have had Norma and La Sonnambula, and her
acting, especially in the latter, is perfectly astonishing.
I never was so pleased with any exhibition in my life.
She is not pretty, but has a very interesting expression,
and acts in the most refined and touching manner.
The people here were tremendously enthusiastic. Her
voice is extremely fine and melodious. In Norma her
acting was also most delightful, but she is too young

2o8 Jenny Lind. [,846

for the character. I think if she comes to England
that she will make a tremendous sensation. She is
entirely different from any singer I have ever seen,
being wonderfully natural and captivating. The
stories about her are very romantic. They say that
she is engaged to a Swedish pastor, and only acts for
a short time in order to obtain money enough to
marry, and that she will then leave the stage. She
gives a concert to-morrow, and after that goes back
to Berlin. The Duke of Gotha and all the neighbour-
ing Princes came in to Weimar, to be present at the
representation of Norma.

We had a capital ball at the Prince's about a week
ago, on the occasion of the birthday of the Queen of
Holland, and on Tuesday next is the birthday of the
Grand Duke, when there is a splendid ball in the hall
of the Palace, which is only used on the birthdays
of the Grand Duke and Duchess. The second birthday
takes place on the i6th February, and these are the
principal annual events in Weimar.

I have not heard from Eden for some time, but he
spoke about coming back in the beginning of February,
in which case he will, I suppose, soon be here. And
I wish you would ask my mother to entrust to his
care the things I wrote to her about. She also speaks
of a great-coat of mine which perhaps might be put
together with the other things into a box and confided
to the care of our friend. It is so long since I have
received any intelligence from home, that I don't know
whether Ma3mard is at home, or gone to his tutor's.
Pray, if there is anything very good in Punch, send me
a stamped copy. It only costs me about 2d. or 3d. if
sent by Rotterdam.

1846] ■ Protection Meetings. 209

The American Senate seem turbulent. What is
the opinion about the probabihty of war in London?
Galignani is filled with the accounts of Protection
meetings and dinners.

They roared, they dined, they drank, they swore they meant
To die for England, why then Hve ? — for rent.

This morning some snow has fallen, but I fear it will
not lie. Pray write soon and tell me something new.
I saw a little time ago a flaming account of Mr. J. G.
Rebow's marriage. Who is Lord Norbury ? Was
not the late Peer of that name murdered in Ireland ?

When my mother sends me these before-mentioned
things, perhaps she would enclose a few of the newest
polkas, as they have very bad ones here, and it would
be a great coup if we could get some new ones — the
Annan particularly, which is so very pretty.

Your affect, son,

B. W. C.

Weimar, Monday, February 2, 1S4G.

My dear Mother,

As I have got an hour to spare to-day,
between the congratulating of, and the feeding with,
the Grand Duke, I will devote the time to answering
your last letter. This is one of the grand festivals at
Weimar, being the first of the two birthdays. At two
o'clock we are to have a splendid banquet in the hall
of the Castle, and the whole town is swarming with
hungry Prussian officers, who have come in from all
quarters to enjoy old Weimar's feed. There is also a
O

2IO Plans for returning Home. [,846

grand representation in the theatre to-night, where we
must all appear in full dress.

I admired Sir R. Peel's speech on the first night
very much. It must have been listened to with
intense interest.

I see there is a new morning paper^ come out, of
which Galignani tells us Boz is the editor.

I was much interested in the extracts from George's
letter. I cannot make out whether his companion is
Lord Langford or Longford. If the former, I was in
the same remove with him at Eton ; the latter,
Horrocks informs me, is an extremely stupid fellow,
but a swell and keeps a drag.

I heard the other day from Eden, but as he neither
sends direction nor date of his letter, I cannot answer
it. He talks of starting on the loth. If you should
S3e or hear of him, pray tell him that I would recom-
mend his being here on the i6th of this month, as
that is the birthday of the Grand Duchess, and the
only good ball there will be here. I wrote a letter
to m}^ father a few days ago, in which I begged him
to ask you to entrust some things to Eden's care.
I also mentioned how delighted I had been with
Jenny Lind, who left us after staying here for a week.

You ask me in your letter if I should like to stay
here longer. I think the best plan would be for me to
stay till the 20th of March, at which time my term
of lodging will be over, and the w^eather will be more
propitious than at this time, for travelling. Or, if 3'ou
prefer it, I should be very happy to stay till the
20th April, by which time I should have been away
exactly a year from England. Although there are no

' The Daily Nen's.

1S46] Pleasures of Weimar. 211

great charms or amusements in the Hfe here, yet I
like my situation very much, as I am independent and
a great deal alone, which suits me very well. At the
same time, it will of course give me great pleasure to
see you in Hyde Park Terrace again. I hope my
equestrian prowess is sufficient for the E. Norfolk
Yeomanry Cavalry.

I am reading Locke On the Human Understanding,
and have found out some new arguments against the
existence of innate ideas !

I hear of a new arrival in prospeciii, a Mr. Grant,
a Scotchman I believe, who is to come here in a few
days. There is an agreeable Frenchman at present
staying in the inn.

I had a recurrence, for the second time only since
I left England, of my headaches the other day, and
as usual at a very inconvenient time, having just sat
down to a very recherche dinner at Mr. Parry's. It
seemed to come on without any reason, except that
of disappointing me of my dinner (the only good one
in Weimar, not excepting the Grand Duke's, which
are execrable), as I had not been riding or taking any
violent exercise and live extremely moderately. In
fact my diet is that of a hermit. I take a cup of
coffee in the morning, dine very badly about half-past
two, and have sometimes a cup of tea at seven, but
often take none. I have got some splendid tea from
Frankfort, and could give you as good a cup as even
the boasted brew of H. P. T. could produce,

I have read the Cricket on the Hearth, and have
been obliged to buy up a quantity of copies to give
to the young ladies here, who are very anxious to read
it, and pretend they can understand it. It is published

2 1 2 Birthday of the Grand Duchess. [1846

by a man at Leipsic for a shilling, and I suppose
costs five in England.

With love to all at home,

Believe me, your affect, son,

B. W. C.

Weimar, Sunday, Fchruary 15. 5 p.m.

My dear Father,

I have this moment finished your very
interesting letter, which, through a mistake of the
postman, has been but just delivered. I am lying
up at present with an extremely unpleasant eruption
in the face, which is the more unfortunate, as to-
morrow is the birthday of the Grand Duchess, which
is celebrated by a banquet, and a ball on the following
day ; I hope, however, by dint of cream, senna, and
fasting, to get rid of it before to-morrow : if not, I fear
I shall be unable to appear, as it is very disfiguring.
The ball on the 3rd was splendid. The hall is an
immense room, square and with a gallery all round,
supported by pillars on two sides. It was beautifully
lighted with a fine chandelier in the middle, and wax
lights placed singly and close to each other on the
ledge of the gallery. The effect is capital, as the glare
of light is avoided, while at the same time the room
is very brilliant. On the night of the birthday there is
a show-piece in the theatre, where the Grand Duchess
scintillates in diamonds. She has the most splendid
jewels I have ever seen, having, with the Queen of
Holland, inherited the whole of the diamonds of the
Empress Paul of Russia. We had several royal and

1846] Mr. Grant. 2 1 3

august personages and some very handsome uniforms
present. I am afraid the introduction from Maltitz
will not be attainable, as I fancy that, though a
relation, he is quite a humble friend of such a great
officer as M. Brunow. I am not very intimate with
him, though he has been extremely kind to me. He
is rather a heavy talker, and his parties are very dull.
I will, however, cultivate him more, in order to get a
letter out of him if possible.

We have now a Scotchman staying here of the
indefinite name of Grant. He is a very good fellow,
about twenty-four, and has improved his mind by
foreign travel, having been in South America, Australia,
Van Dieman's Land, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.
He was at Weimar six years ago, and since that time
has been constantly travelling for pleasure or improve-
ment. He will appear at Court in the Highland dress,
which will be something new, and will create a sensa-
tion.

The kissing scene in the play was manipular.
Portia would not have objected to the facial, but the
young ladies here, who are very invidious, would
probably have been much scandalized at it. There
is a great deal of prudery in Weimar. One may not
speak to a young lady in the street ; and after dancing
with a girl, she does not take your arm, but offers you
the tips of her fingers to hold. At Court they all
stand in a formidable semi-circle, and if you are
talking to a young lady in the corner of a room, she
will all at once make a bolt to the main body.

Pray give Mary my congratulations on her late
birthday. I had meant to write to her, but confess I
was unable to fill a large sheet with sufficiently inter-

2 1 4 Hyperion. [1846

esting matter. I heard shortly from Maynard the
other day. I am glad he has received so many
" tokens of esteem " from his Eton friends. Are there
any nice books among them ?

I am reading a book which is very prettily written
by an American (Longfellow), with the ambitious title
of Hyperion. I have finished the second part of Faust.
It is very long — comprising alone a thick volume.

We have had a good deal of snow, but it does not
last. Last night, in coming home from the theatre,
my hat was covered an inch deep in five minutes, but
it all thawed in the night. I asked my mother to
send by Eden, if you would (as you, I think, offered)
let me have it, the dress which I wore as Prince
Bambini. There is to be a fancy ball at Gotha, and
I could have it altered here at a small expense. I
hope you will write again soon. My letters lately
have been " few and far between." With love to my
mother and all at home,

I remain, your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

Whether the Prince Bambini dress ever arrived, whether the
ball at Gotha was attended, or even whether it were possible to
take part in the festivities of the morrow, does not appear, as
there are no further letters preserved of this year's residence in
Weimar. The letters afford abundant proofs that the future
man of business had at eighteen as great an enjoyment of
dancing and festivities as any of his contemporaries ; and that
he was not then wholly indifferent to a good day's shooting,
which to those who only knew him later in life comes as some-
what of a surprise.

WEIMAR TWO YEARS LATER.

Two letters remain, written during the visit to Germany in
1848, recorded in the autobiography (p. 22), which may find a
place here. Unfortunately those from Aix-la-Chapelle and
Homburg have not been preserved.

Weiinar, Tuesday, September 12, 1848.

My dear Father,

I am still at this place, having found it —
as is usually the case with me — more agreeable after
a week's residence than at first, and I have half made
up my mind, if the weather be fine, to make the tour
of the Thuringian forest on foot, which will be a great
sacrifice to Hygieia. If the above comes off I should
leave this in about a week, and at any rate be in
London by the end of the month. Before leaving
Germany I should like to take a week more of
Homburg, the effects of which I now feel were to a
small extent certainly beneficial. If you will write to
me soon after the reception of this, to the care of
Weissenborn, I will take care to have the letter for-
warded.

I saw my old flame Marie yesterday for the lirst
time. She has got a baby, and looks very happy,
though in small circumstances. I continue in the
belief that she is prettier than any girl or woman in
London of my acquaintance.

I have, since my last, dined with the Dukes old
and hereditary, where things are much the same as

2 1 6 Shooting. [1848

before, except perhaps that the champagne is dealt
out with a more sparing hand, and the gaieties are
strictly confined to dull dinners, balls being considered
likely, in the present state of public opinion, to irritate
the people.

Old Weissenborn, as formerly, is my grand resource.
Time seems to have very little effect on him, and he
is the same quaint old fellow as before. I have now
(5 o'clock p.m.) just come in from a long walk with
him, to and from a village where we eat fish and
potatoes. The shooting has been given up entirely
to the peasants, who are killing everything with four
legs that they can find. The partridges are safe, as
they are entirely unable to hit them — Horrocks being
the only man in the Weimar territory who has any
idea of shooting in our acceptation of the word. I
have nothing more particular to tell you of: the life
here is very monotonous.

Weimar, September 25, 1848.

. . . Your letter found me this morning still here,
retained by the various attractions of Weimar, of
which the principal has been a chasse de cerf at Ilmenau,
a neighbouring dependency of our Crown, where the
Prince entertained us for two days. The sport is very
fine, the game being red deer, of which we saw a very
fair quantity, and the country very beautiful, hills
covered with pine forests in which the animals reside.
I had one shot at a stag simultaneously with another
man, and we each put a bullet into him. To-day I
was invited to shoot pheasants with the Grand Duke,

1848] Riot at Frankfort. 217

but the weather being bad, the shooting was commuted
into a breakfast at one of his chateaux, from which I
have just returned.

In a few days more I shall be ready to start, but
first there is a ball to be given to the heroes who have
returned from Schleswig Holstein (without ever having
seen a Dane), at which I must be present. And
secondly, the Prince has invited me to partake of the
above-named stag at an entertainment which he is
preparing.

You have heard, I suppose, of the repetition of the
days of June at Frankfort. The riot appears to have
originated in a plot on the part of the ultra minority
on the Schleswig question to upset the Parliament.
The greatest disaster that occurred was the barbarous
murder of Prince Licknowsky, who was one of the
most remarkable of the deputies, and whom I saw
several times at Frankfort. He had distinguished
himself by extraordinary gallantry in the Carlist wars
in Spain, was apparently quite a young man, very
handsome, and renowned for his bonnes fortunes. He
was the leader of the extreme right, or aristocratic
party, and as such made some remarkable speeches.
He was about to marry Comtesse Hpr<^en, the widow
of the Elector of Hesse, with an immense jointure,
and was altogether perhaps the most talked-about
member of the Frankfort Assembly. During the row,
one of the Horrockses, who lives at Frankfort, had
three bullets fired into his house.

At Berlin they are expecting a crisis. A measure
has been carried by the Parliament, requiring all
officers in the army who do not accept the present
state of things, to resign their commissions. The

2i8 Crisis at Berlin.

[1848

late Ministry have retired rather than enforce this
measure, and the King has commissioned General
Pfuel to form a Government, which is also opposed
to it. Meanwhile the Chamber insists, and the ques-
tion must soon be referred to force if neither side
yield. This measure is of the greatest importance to
the Constitutional or Progressive party, as the officers
of the army are composed entirely of the aristocracy,
and are notoriously reactionnaires, and the object is to
deprive them of their influence over the soldiers, which
would be used against the Liberals in case of dis-
turbance,

I read of the death of my uncle ^ in Galignani,.
extracted from a Norfolk paper, and was very sorry
to hear of it.

Your most affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

^ The Hon. and Rev. Alfred Wodehouse.

LETTERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
1849. 1850.

II.

LETTERS.

1849. 1S50.

Off Devonport, March 5, 1849.
H.M.S. Driver, Monday morning, g\.

My dear Mother,

I have just arrived after a very successful
journey in the railroad, and having washed, am now
writing in the Captain's cabin. The Driver came into-
the Hamoaze at 11 a.m. yesterday, and would have
been off but for me, and we now expect to start in
about an hour. The weather is beautiful, and this
place very picturesque. I have not yet exactly made
out where I am to sleep. Captain J.'s sister occupies
one of the cabins. There seem to be several officers.
I have just breakfasted with them in the gun-room.

Pray don't forget my things to Rio Janeiro. You-
shall hear from me by the next opportunity.

With kindest love to all,

Your most affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

H.M.S. Driver, Saturday, March 10th.

My dear Father,

As I hear there is some chance of our not
being able to stay at Madeira, in case the weather is
unfavourable, I think it better to have a few lines

22 2 Departure from Plymouth. [1849

ready to put into the post there, to which I can add if
opportunity offers. We are now sailing along with a
strong N.E. wind, and are about opposite to Lisbon,
having left off steaming on Wednesday in obedience to
the orders of the Admiralty, who, to reduce the con-
sumption of fuel, desire that the steam power is only
to be used when sailing is impossible. For some days
we have had very little wind, and have progressed
slowly, expecting to arrive at Madeira on Monday or
Tuesday.

We got out of Plymouth Sound about noon on the
5th inst., and during that and the following day I was
Very bilious, but now feel pretty well, and with the
exception of sleep, which I can't get, am comfortable.
The sister of the Captain occupies the best cabin.
She is a middle-aged person, and up to this time has
hardly appeared on account of continued sea-sickness,
but I imagine she will not be a very dangerous com-
Pagnon. I occupy a cabin in the middle of the ship,
which was vacated by the assistant-surgeon, who has
no right to a separate cabin. The Captain is a very
pleasant little man, and, I daresay, a capital sailor.
He has been at sea for twenty-one years, almost
without intermission, and in all parts of the world.
His cuisine, however, is very moderate. He tells me he
never knows what he eats, nor when, and that when
alone he sometimes forgets to dine at all. You may
imagine that upon this point there is considerable
difference of opinion between us. Nothing good is to
be got, and many necessaries not at all. Butter, milk,
tea, coffee either do not exist or are execrable.

The other officers I know little of; those belonging
to the ship are four in number, but we have a quantity

1849] Voyage in the '' Driver y 223

of supernumerary young sawboneses going out to join
their ships. I understand Mrs. Anderson's son was to
have sailed with us in this manner, and that we have
got his luggage on board, but that he did not appear
in time. We have two hundred and five souls in the
ship, and six guns of the largest sizes, and are altogether
rather formidable ; but our pace is not very consider-
able, and we roll dreadfully, so much so that I have
great difficulty in making this present writing legible.
I find that I ought to have provided bedding, and
towels, and basins, &c., but the Captain has very
kindly managed to get together most of these indis-
pensables for me. Washing is difficult, but I hope
when the weather is milder to get on better. Up to
this time I have worn my great coat and perceive no
difference in the temperature, but we have had con-
tinual north winds, which may account for the cold.

Sunday, March nth. — I go on working away at the
Spanish translations with a dictionary, and learning
dialogues. Last night we had a considerable gale,
which has rather subsided this morning, and we are
travelling along very comfortably. I suppose when we
are in the tropics the voyage will be more agreeable ;
at present it is terribly tedious, and from the rolling of
the ship and the odours of bilge water decidedly
unpleasant. How any sane person can choose such
a profession as that of a sailor I cannot make out !

Tuesday morning, 8 o'clock. — We are anchored off
Madeira, and the health officer has just arrived with
the pleasing intelligence that we are not to land, a
quarantine of five days having been ordered on account
of cholera ! So we shall be off again in about an hour,
as we want no coals or water, and have only to deliver

224 ^ff Madeira. [1849

the mails. This is rather disquieting, after eight days
at sea, to have to leave the only green place one has
seen since England. The view of the Bay of Funchal
is very pretty and the air soft and agreeable. Poor
Johnson must do without his wine and I without
towels and a variety of things which I want. We
expect to make Rio in twenty-five days or thereabouts.
If by any chance my things should not have started,
I should like a couple of wide-awakes of a largish size.
I have lost mine overboard. This letter will start
for Lisbon to-morrow, and, I suppose, will reach you
in ten days, by which time I hope to be on the Line.

. . . Tell Mary that I am sorry that I can make no
inquiries about the "dorg," but he would not be
allowed to come on board. We have hoisted our
yellow flag, and no boats are allowed to come within
speaking distance, and this when we have not a single
case of illness of any kind since leaving England. I
should like to bombard the town.

Rio de JanierOy April 11, 1849.
My dear Father,

My letter from Madeira, which I hope you
received in due time, informed you of my arrival at
that place and disappointment at not being able to
land on account of the absurd quarantine laws. After
I had despatched my letter, it was found necessary to
delay a few hours longer in order to pick up an anchor
which had been left by another ship, and I took the
opportunity of putting myself in communication with
Mr. Stoddart through the officer of health, and re-

1849] Arrival at Rio. 225

questing him to send me a quarter cask of the choice
old London Particular, £11 los., which he did,
accompanying the same with a letter eulogizing his
vineyards, and regretting profoundly the impossibility
of our meeting. I am glad that I had the chance of
showing this small civility to Johnson, though I am
afraid the gift is rather inappropriate, as he is the
most temperate of men. After it has been round the
Horn and back it will be in splendid condition, if there
is any truth in common report, and will do for an
Admiral if one should chance to come on board.

The remainder of our voyage to this place, com-
prising twenty-seven days, was like most sea voyages,
I believe, entirely devoid of incident. We got the
N.E. trade wind about the Tropic of Cancer, and ran
near the Cape Verd Islands, but without seeing them,
crossed the line with the usual ceremonies on the
27th of March, and losing, or rather not finding, the
S.E. trade wind, were obliged to burn a few of our
coals, greatly to our skipper's grief, who parted with
his coals wuth much more difficulty than with his
money. Finally, we made Cape Frio on the evening
of Easter Day, and at five in the morning of Monday
steamed into Rio Harbour by moonlight. It is certainly
very beautiful — on each side a succession of mountains
of the most fantastic shapes, and indented everywhere
with little bays surrounded by villages. Behind all
the Organ mountains tower. To these I intend to
betake myself to-morrow for several reasons, and
firstly because I am not at all well, which I hear is
the case with most people arriving here from England,
and is attributable to the great heat. My symptoms,
however, are not very alarming and are such as I am
P

2 26 First Impressions of Rio. [1849

used to — a horrid bad tongue, loss of appetite and
sleep, and general languor. My second reason is that
this town is without exception the dirtiest, dearest,
hottest, and most stinking place I have ever seen
or heard of. The population consists of nude and
odoriferous negroes, numerous in proportion to the
Brazilians, who are almost as bad ; and the inn where
I am now staying, at the moderate rent of 8s. 6d. a
day for a room, is full of the most cut-throat looking
Yankees bound for California. Not less than a thousand
have arrived within a few days and are refitting.

Mr. Hudson is very unwell, but I sent to him this
morning Mr. Mellish's letter, and offered to call and
see him, and am going to do so this evening, and shall
then get further information about the village in the
mountains, which I am told is delightfully cool and
cheap. I think that if Captain Johnson had stayed a
few days longer here, I should have been tempted to
go on to Buenos Ayres with him, but he was off
yesterday evening (Tuesday, April loth), having only
arrived on Monday. I took leave of him with many
regrets, for he is a very nice, amiable little fellow, and
understands his business capitally. I cannot trace my
bilious attack to his cuisine, which was that of an
obscure hermit, combining extreme frugality with
great filth ; but not through his fault, for he is a most
liberal fellow, but in the hands of an unjust steward as
far as regards his diet. In fact, any one who places
the suinnmm honum in comfort, rightly understood,
might as well seek it in Nova Zembla as on board
a ship, or at least on board H.M.S. Driver, for one
can neither sleep nor wash, nor eat any manner of
clean thing.

1849] Acqtiahitances. 227

I went this morning with an Englishman, who has
some connection with our Embassy, to a sort of
private hotel in the suburbs, very superior to the one
in which I am, but even dearer : a cab with two mules
there and back for one and a half hours cost ten
shillings. My companion is a friend of Elwes, the
second son of old E., whom I remember to have heard
of as being in South America, whither he exiled
himself because his father would not let him marry.
I heard of him last at Valparaiso, and going to the
South Sea Islands. I saw some drawings which he
had left of this place, which are excellent. He made
the journey across the Pampas. Mr. Hamilton, whom
I also saw, is attache, and is, I think, a child of the sun
as represented by old Cameo, your chairman ; at least
they told me that his father had been an ambassador,
and that his brother was a sea-captain. He does not
appear to inherit his father's tastes, for I found him
mending his canoe and nets outside of a little cottage
close to the water.

Since writing this I have been to see Mr. Hudson,
who has recommended me to go to Petropolis, which is
the name of the place I spoke of. He also showed me
a letter from Elwes, who was thirty-seven days going
from Buenos Ayres to Valparaiso, including stoppages,
but only seventeen across the plains to Mendoza.

I find that the packet starts for England on Sunday
next, the 15th, so you may get this in the beginning of
June, and I think you had better write to Valparaiso
and Lima — to the Consuls, but the letters will go by
Panama, so you must not write at the time of the Rio
packet ; at least, I am told that this is the case, but
you will, of course, be able to find out in London.

228 Maxwell, Wright, and Co. [1849

I am afraid correspondence will be difficult and rare
after I cross to the westward.

Tell the Count that I have read three volumes of
Gil Bias, and can now understand them quite easily.
I worked away at Spanish exercises on board ship,
and, till the tremendous heat came, very assiduously.
When we were steaming across the line the heat was
prodigious — no wind, and the addition of the fires to
roast us.

Friday morning, April 13th. — I find myself rather
better, and have no doubt that as soon as I can get
into the country my recovery will be rapid. Yesterday
I dined with my bankers, Messrs. Maxwell, Wright,
and Co. — regular Yankees, and the richest merchants
in the place. They dined at half-past two, with all
their clerks and a few merchant captains, and had,
what appeared to me, after so long an abstinence,
a very decent feed. Their conversation was exactly
such as I had imagined from descriptions of Yankee
boarding-houses. My worthy friends formerly corres-
ponded with Reid Irving, of whom they told me they
were the largest creditors. Mr. Wright informed me
that I should find the same table at that hour every
day I liked to come, and made a general offer of his
services. I have not yet been to Naylor and Co., the
other merchants to whom I have a letter, but shall go
when I return. An U.S. sloop has just arrived from
California with a large freight of gold.

I am preyed upon by mosquitoes to an awful extent,
and my hands look like the paws of a leopard. To-day
I am going to dine with the Captain of H.M.S. Hydra,
a small steamer looking out for slaves, in the harbour ;
and to-morrow I shall certainly be off, having been

1849] Currency of Brazil. 229

delayed by washing clothes, and the general laziness
of everybody here.

The currency of Brazil seems to be in a most
curious state. The only issue and legal tender is paper.
Silver and gold are perpetually Huctuating, and always
below the nominal value ; and for small change, every
banker and innkeeper and other shopkeeper issues his
notes from is. to 2d. or thereabouts, which circulate
in the town. When one of these gentlemen smash,
there must be a general loss, one would think, unless
the creditors take it out in labour.

I am afraid I shall have to stay here six weeks, but
I suppose that, like all other places, it will improve.
You will hear whether this is so in a month or there-
abouts.

With my love to all, and hoping they may be
breathing a purer atmosphere than I am, and under a
more temperate sun, I remain,

Your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Hyde Park Terrace, April 3, 1849.
My dear Bertram,

We have not yet heard of you from Madeira,
but are hoping to do so daily, as we think you possibly
got there by the 14th ult. You will receive by this
mail accounts of a complete victory over the Sikhs.
We have no details, but, in spite of old Gongh's
magniloquence, there seems every reason to believe
that it was a settler. The old Irishman, however, was
completely outmanoeuvred by the Sikh general, and

2 ^o Political Surmises.

[1849

the unexpected rencontre with Whish, who happened
to be moving up from Mooltan in the Hne Shere Singh
had taken, appears to have been the proximate cause
of our success. The Times of to-day has a good article
on the subject.

H. G. Ward is to be High Commissioner of the
Ionian Isles, and pays Messrs. Currie and Co. " that
'ere trifle."

Lord Panmure is dying, so Fox Maule will vacate
the Secretary of Warship. On dit Tufnell to be
Secretary to the Admiralty, and John A. Smith Parlia-
mentary Secretary to the Treasury ; but the Whigs
pretend to say that, if beaten on the Navigation Law
repeal in the Lords (of which there is no doubt), they
will resign. Stanley avers that he is quite ready to
take the Government, He would dissolve, and go to
the country with a supposed reactionary cry against
Free Trade, but his party in the Commons is too
absurd to think of as an Administration. I cannot
believe it possible, though many well-informed persons
certainly expect it. The theory seems to be, that the
required junction of Whigs and Peelites can only take
place in Opposition, and that the above is a phase
through which we must pass before we get a Govern-
ment. Meanwhile Johnny has got a hornet's nest
about him by his Rate-in-aid, taxing Ulster for the
South and West of Ireland. The debates have been
even duller and more Irish than usual.

Miss Mills marries John Micklethwaite, a former
crony of poor Alfred's, a nominal parson, said to be
heir to his uncle. Sir Peckham M., to some contingent
;^5,ooo per annum — but impecunious now. He will
probably stick to Camelford House for his cutlet.

1849] Home News. 231

Maynard is at home and in force ; they are going
to-night to hear Jenny Lind at Exeter Hall. George
goes to Kimberley Easter week.

Rush's trial is protracted by his rambling and
endless examinations of the witnesses, which lead to
nothing. He is his own counsel. His conviction is
considered quite certain and may be in to-morrow's
paper.

Poor, dear old Morier died after a short illness,
congestion of liver and apoplexy. Edith Musgrave
complained of head-ache, and died (a few mornings
since) without any illness, in the most sudden
manner imaginable. I think I told you this, and
that Dr. Hall marries Lady Hood, a widow in deli-
cate health, with a large family. She was a Miss
Tibbets, with a large fortune, and is said to have
;^i2,ooo a year.

I wrote a few lines by the Comet, and sent Crow-
den's box with many additional letters by the Tonch-
mc-not. I now send a letter from Mandeville to
de Guido at Rio. I have letters from Captain Eden
for the Inconstant and the ^hia, and also for Lima,
which I will forward to Buenos Ayres.

We have now mild, showery weather, after most
horrible easterly winds and darkness. Crowds are
gone to Paris. The utter defeat of the Italians, and
Charles Albert's flight and abdication seem to promise
settlement, and Austrian supremacy.

Ponsford, after all, has determined to coffer-dam.
I have not seen him. He has laid the first brick in
March, on the land side.

We depend on very long and full accounts from
you as often as opportunity occurs : all will interest ms.

232 Move to the Mountains. [1849

and if you will keep a sort of journal by you, you can
send off a good bit thereof when a ship offers.

Ever yours affectionately,

R. C.

FROM B. \V. C. TO HIS MOTHER.

Moss' Hotel, Petropolis,

Sunday, April 22, 1849.
My dear Mother,

I wrote a letter to my father, which was
despatched by the packet exactly a week ago,
announcing my arrival at Rio Janeiro on the gth
(Easter Monday), and I shall send this by H.M.S.
Alecto, which has arrived from the River Plate with
despatches, and sails in a few days, and will very
probably arrive in England before the packet. I am
now staying in the mountains, about eight hours'
journey from Rio, at a private hotel lately established
in this place, which is ■ a colony, formed by the
Emperor, of peasants from the Rhine provinces, and
which has become in the last few years a retreat for
the Rio people in hot weather. The situation is very
beautiful, and the temperature almost European, and
I shall probably stay here for some weeks, for Rio
Janeiro is most detestable, and in fact uninhabitable,
from the heat and stench. It is situated in a marsh :
there are no drains, and the pavement is so bad as to
be almost impassable, and, being shut in on all sides,
the heat is intense. I was very glad to leave it a week
ago, after having got my thin;js washed, and am quite

!849] Petropolis. 233

re-established in health by the pure air of this place,
which would be charming but for the want of some-
thing to do. The people with whom I associate are
the wives of three English merchants (of Hebrew
extraction) who have cottages here. The brother of
one is the landlord of this hotel, of which I am at
present the only inmate. The house is comfortable,
and the charges (for this country) moderate. I pay
about 9s. a day for board and lodging. But my
principal associate is a certain Dr. Manico, ex-lieu-
tenant in H.M. Navy, and now practising medicine.
He is an old fellow, having been lieutenant to Lord
Collingwood, and a very good companion. We gener-
ally repair in the evening to the house of one of the
ladies above-mentioned, and have tea and lose our
money.

To-day I have been making an expedition to a
waterfall about five miles distant, with a large party
of Brazilians, Swiss, Germans, &c. — the inmates of
another hotel, where we breakfasted and rode about
the woods. The roads are practicable for horses or
mules only, and all communication is carried on by
the assistance of one or the other. Long troops of
mules convey the imports into the country, and return
with the productions of the mines. I suppose I shall
make an expedition into the interior, but I hear there
is nothing extraordinary to see, and I have no great
curiosity about mines. The Emperor is now here ;
his palace is a most seedy edifice, and his turn-out
like that of a tenth-rate German prince. The German
colonists are employed in making the roads and build-
ing, as the Brazilians are too lazy to work at all, and
the blacks do not know how. The last are very

2 34 ^^ uncomfortable Journey. [1849

numerous, and seem to be well treated. By a clause
in our absurd anti-slavery law, no English subject is
allowed to possess slaves, so the English are obliged
to hire them from a slave-owner, by which they get the
refuse of the population as domestic servants, and have
to pay exorbitantly for them.

I shall have to stay here or in Rio till about the
middle of next month, when I hope the packet will
arrive from England with letters from you. Forty-
eight hours after, a packet starts for Buenos Ayres, in
which I shall embark, and arrive there in eight or nine
days.

My journey to this place was rather unpropitious.
I started at 11 a.m. in a steamer which should have
arrived at its destination at two o'clock. Instead of
which, the intelligent Captain ran us on to the mud,
where we remained for six hours, and I had an
opportunity of studying the Portuguese character,
which developed itself in utter indifference to our
situation and to all remonstrances. Having arrived at
the port in a pouring rain and half-starved, we found
an omnibus, but the mules, frightened at the lightning,
would not stir. Eventually, at 8 p.m., we arrived at a
village about half-way to this place, and as it was too
late to proceed, had to sleep there. I shared my
room with a very dirty French fellow-passenger and
his monkey, and my bed was a platted straw mattress,
half an inch thick, covered with a sheet. However,
the next day was beautiful, and I started at six on a
mule, and rode up the mountain by a zig-zag road,
surrounded by the most profuse vegetation — palm-
trees and cocoa and cedars covered with parasites,
and cacti and aloes and rhododendrons, and com-

1849] Food and Lodging at Petropolis.

•jD

manding a most splendid view of the surrounding
mountains and valleys.

Monday moYning. — I am obliged to finish this letter
in a hurry, for the post to Rio is uncertain, and I have
an opportunity of sending to-day by a private hand.
If you should get this before the 4th or 5th June,
about which time the packet sails from Falmouth, I
think you had better write to Buenos Ayres (care of
Mr. Southern), and I will get the letter forwarded if I
am at Valparaiso, but after that time Valparaiso and
Lima will be the best places.

I think I shall return to Rio in a week, and
establish myself in a private hotel out of the town, as
I have several things to get, and I am anxious to have
a Spanish master, which I cannot here. The house
where I am now living is built of lath and plaster, and
is one storey high, with a quantity of small rooms very
bare of furniture, and a verandah cased with glass in
front. Behind, there is a small garden, on the slope
of the mountain, which has been cleared from the
forest. The feeding is copious, and pretty good when
one is used to it. Beef, mutton, and chickens are
in great abundance, but tasteless and stringy ; milk,
butter, and cream do not exist. Fruits, at this time of
year, are out of season, and they do not grow up here.
For wine, the people drink nothing but port, which is
singularly inappropriate to the climate. There seems
to be no agriculture in the country. Wheat will not
grow, and the flour, which is imported in immense
quantities from the States, feeds the white population
almost entirely, the blacks being contented with Indian
corn. I am afraid I have nothing more to tell you —
things on the whole being much the same as I have

o

6 Return to Rio. [1849

found them elsewhere, with the exception of a few

externals. With love to all at home, wherever that

may be when this reaches you, believe me, my dear

mother,

Your most affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

Rio Janeiro, Sunday, May 6, 1849.

My dear Father,

This is the third letter you will receive
from this place, and I fear I have exhausted all my
memoranda, and can remember nothing very worthy
of remark either in the manners and customs of the
people or in the way of personal adventure.

I am once more domesticated in this city, or rather
in its suburbs, which together, it is said, contain
350,000 inhabitants. I find no reason to recall my
first impressions of it. Situated in a marsh, undrained,
and ill-paved, and at present flooded from a four-days'
deluge, it is the only unpleasant spot I have seen in
Brazil, and seems, with the usual discernment of the
natives, to have been chosen for its demerits. All
around the country is beautiful, and many of the
merchants have charming villas and gardens. The
Exchange, where they "most do congregate," is filled
with English and Americans in a large proportion to
other nations. Very few of the Brazilians engage in
commerce ; indeed their lives are mostly devoted to
jobbing and intrigue.

I left Petropolis (as I told you I intended doing in
my letter per H.M.S. Aledo), where I had, strangely

1849] Heb7'ew Society. 237

enough, fallen entirely among the Caucasian race. My
landlord's name of Moss I found to be merely an
abbreviation of the respectable Moses, while his wife
and her sister were nees de Levi and of the strictest
sect of the Pharisees. There seems to be no prejudice
in this country against the oppressed race, and I have
no doubt they might obtain a seat in the legislature if
it were a more desirable concern.

Johnston's Hotel, from which I write, is situate
about a mile and a half from the centre of the city,
and connected with it by an hourly omnibus. It is
clean, well furnished, and comfortable, but vastly
expensive. My meals (as Mrs. S. would say) are
enjoyed in private, and the only fellow-lodger with
whom I am acquainted is my prime counsellor,
Mr. Wright, of the United States and the firm of
Maxwell, Wright, and Co., a regular Yankee, and,
though not very young, a star in the fashionable
hemisphere. He is kind enough to introduce me into
the most inaccessible salons, and one evening I was
much bored at the house of a lady of the ancient
family of Benjamin ! but compensated the next by a
tea en /aniille chez Mr. Jones, also of the firm, and
possessed of a comfortable villa and a daughter con-
fessed the Rose of Rio. Isabel, for such is the dear
creature's name, has lately emerged from a boarding-
school at New York, where, from seven to seventeen,
she has been educated with every care, and has
imbibed that charm of manner and that peculiar
refinement characteristic of her countrywomen. She
has a very pretty face. On Monday I hope to have a
chance of renewing our acquaintance, for then the
season opens with a grand ball at the casino. Hitherto

238 Engagejuent of a Servant. [1849

the rain has been so incessant that I have not been
able to call on my friend Jones.

Mr. Baring's letters have procured me in both
instances one or two feeds, but General Guido, to
whom I have sent Mr. Mandeville's note, and my own
card, holds out. Proud Spaniard ! I can only suppose
that he has no feed worthy of my acceptance.

It will, I hope, be agreeable to my mother, who
was anxious that I should have an attendant across
the Pampas, to hear that I am in treaty for a flunk,
a young man of Scotch descent, born in Buenos
Ayres, possessor of the English, French, Spanish, and
Portuguese languages. He is anxious to leave his
present place, that of waiter to the club, and to travel,
pour ctcndrc scs connaissances, and if he can content
himself with a comfortable home and small salary,
I am inclined to take him. He has been servant
to a French diplomate and his brother lives with
Mr. Mandeville. Here is sufficient information for my
aunt herself, and from such data she may work out
the problem of his name, age, and appearance, with a
conjecture at his ideas of moral responsibility.

I am again obliged to write some days before the
sailing of the packet, for I mean, on Tuesday the 8th,
to prosecute my researches further into the interior,
going first to Petropolis to pick up my friend the
doctor, and then to the estate of an Englishman, a
large breeding farmer, who keeps a sort of hostelry,
much visited by the resident English. It is a journey
of two days from Petropolis, and I purpose being
absent about a w^eek, by which time, if my letters from
England arrive in due course, it will be time for me
to ship m3'self for the River Plate. Unfortunately, of

1 849] I Alports. 239

the two packets that make the voyage, I shall have to
sail in the worst, an old tub of a schooner and dread-
fully slow. The other is a beautiful little yacht bought
by the Government from Lord Yarborough and has a
capital commander, a most important item, as upon
his liberality depends entirely the style and manner of
living. The packets in this direction, and those to
and from England, are the property of H.B.M. The
passage-money in the first is /"20, in the latter /"50,
and, having paid his shot, the passenger is handed
over to the mercies of the captain, of whom some have
the reputation of enforcing a very moderate diet.

There is a club of some thirty members, of which I
am an honorary one, but the only purpose of it seems
to be gambling, which the merchants carry on to an
extent not very favourable I should think to the credit
of their respective paper.

By-the-bye, pray keep me informed in re White,
Ponsford, and Co. We ought to do a fine stroke of
business in this country if the people were civilized
enough to appreciate a superior article. The import
of American flour is enormous, and all paid for by bills
on London, the only place on which bills can be sold.
So much for our credit even after the disaster of 1847.
The merchants are said to be very speculatively
inclined, but there must be a capital business doing.
The States take annually coffee to the amount of two
millions sterling. The largest amount of imports are
English, being half the entire consumption of the
country, but our vessels are in very bad repute. One
of the principal merchants told me they had orders
not to ship in English bottoms, as they deliver their
cargoes in worse order and at a longer date than those
of any other nation.

240 Lette}' f7'ont George. [,849

A letter from George, which reached Rio on June 21st,
gives a short and summary account of events public and private.

Lojidon, May 4, 1849.
My dear Bertram,

My mother has been writing you a long
letter for to-day's mail, but I will add a few words.

We heard from you at Madeira, and I suppose you
are at Rio long before this. Numerous inquiries have
been made after you by deserted damsels in the
salons which I frequent. The other day I went to
Almack's, where a maiden desired to be introduced to
me (having heard my relationship to you) and who I
found to be none other than your ally Miss Keats
(of Homburg). She poured her tender regrets into my
bosom.

I heard the other day that Ned Baring was at
Vera Cruz, and that he was going to Lima, where
Mrs. Adams, the wife of the Consul, is a relation of
his; possibly you may fall in with him.

There is nothing particular going on here. I will
send you some newspapers. The Whigs will carry on
some time longer. They declared they would go out
if beaten in the Lords on the Navigation Laws. So
the Lords will let them pass, by a small majority, next
Monday, to avoid such a catastrophe as Lord Stanley
attempting to form a Government.

German unity is all gone to smash. The King of
Prussia declines the imperial dignity, and with great
difficulty keeps his own kingdom together. The
Austrian army has been routed by the Hungarians,

1 849] News from E7igland. 2\\

but is quite victorious in Italy. Denmark appears to
be getting worsted by the Holsteiners and their German
allies. The Indian war, after some disasters, has been
brought to a conclusion, and Napier, who was sent out
by Government in spite of the East Indian Directors,
who had quarrelled with him, will have nothing to do
when he arrives.

Here in the City there has been very little doing —
money much too abundant. White and Ponsford are
working away at the mill, and Bovill is enamoured of
a scheme by which he is to supply all England and
London with gas manufactured in Wales on the coal-
fields. Mortimer, of Streatfield and Co., asked us the
other day if you would like to undertake a commission
in hides and tallow, and my father told him "of course,
if you were well paid for it."

London is beginning to be gay again — balls, lSic,
as usual. Strauss has come over with his band from
Vienna ; Jenny Lind has re-appeared on the stage, and
both operas are in full force.

Hudson has been blown out of water by a succes-
sion of exposes of jobbing and rascally mismanagement
on all his lines, and there is a great cry for Railway
Commissioners and governmental audit of accounts.

The Colonel B. W has been obliged to lly the

country, pursued by creditors, for his railway debt ;
but having become thereby qualified for a colonial
appointment, he will shortly receive one. Ward,
another insolvent and our debtor, has got the governor-
ship of the Ionian Islands.

Write and tell us about Rio. I fancy the climate
delicious, the tobacco ditto, and the women splendid.
Is this bosh or reality ? Here the climate is beastly
Q

242 Letter /ro?n Cambridge. [jg^^

and the tobacco generally filthy. I shall have to take
refuge in matrimony soon on nothing a year. Can
you get anything good to eat at Rio ? With this
all-important question I will conclude and remain,

Your very affectionate,

G. W. CURRIE.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Cambridge, Thursday night, May 3, 1849.

My dear Bertram,

As to-morrow is post-day I shall write a
few lines here, at the Bull, Cambridge, and take them
up with me for the mail.

I came down in accordance with a promise to
Maynard and Fisher, and have had a fine day and
rather a fatiguing one. If I were a few years younger,
I might be tempted to take the Chateau Fisher and
cultivate the Dons, but, if there were no other objec-
tions, the climate (which I am sure must be damp,
cold, and relaxing) would be a sufficient one. The
house is comfortable and respectable, and the place
in perfect order. You will hear all about our plans
from j^our mother.

Sykes is absent for his mama's grand ball, to
which, he tells Maynard, fourteen duchesses were
invited.

I saw Ponsford and White a few days since. P.
assures me that he is getting on satisfactorily with the
building. White has got Butcher (Kidd's salesman)
in his service, and is quite surprised by some trials on

1849] Pons ford and White s Patent. 243

the %amc wheats between his own manufacture at
Burghfield, and Waters, a Norwich man, who has the
patent. This makes them more anxious than ever to
get to work, and they are going, I beheve, to fit up the
Shadwell mill, with as little delay as possible, with
the patent. The valuations came out higher than
they expected, amounting to 4,200 and odd pounds.
Ponsford, who likes a bargain, was in great dismay,
and as I wished to deal handsomely and keep them in
good humour, I (after the\- confessed they were
entirely in my hands and appealed to my forbearance)
consented to take that which I had originally askod,
viz., /"3,8oo. They will finish it with the patent for
£1,800, and have a very cheap mill.

The Blackwall engines are to be sold next week.
If they do not get them there are several very good on
the South Devon.

Your mother saw Mrs. H. Baring a few days since,
she said that Edward Baring was in Mexico, so I hope
you may meet at Lima. Letters for the West Coast
and the ships in the Pacific, of which I have several,
I shall forward direct to Valparaiso.

Wodehouse, I believe, comes up Monday to vote
for the repeal of the Navigation Laws, when Ministers
feel sure of a majority.

Grant writes me word that you had a cask of very
superior wine, in spite of the quarantine, from his
friend the Consul. I shall, in the absence of letters
to the contrary, direct my next to Buenos Ayrcs. I
fear we cannot hear from you till the end of this month
(May), which is a great bore, but I am sure you will
comply with our earnest wishes and write regularly and
by every opportunity. You have so much before you

244 Home Gossip. [1849

to accomplish that I hope you will not stay at Rio
longer than you find absolutely necessary for the
Spanish.

You have escaped the coldest and most disagreeable
spring I ever remember. George met your friends
the Keatses at Almack's, very anxious to hear of you.

Old Bates is gone to America, but you doubtless
hear from Baring.

They say Cliefden will be sold, as old Sir J.
Warrender left very little behind him. Hudson is
completely blown out of the water by the reports of
the Eastern Counties Committee. Money is a drug;
the brokers will not take it at \\. We hold fifty
thousand Consols at 92^. The funds are only kept to
that by the unsettled state of Europe, which, so far as
Germany and Italy are concerned, gets worse and
worse. The successes of the Hungarians surprise
people, and Austria looks shaky.

I sat by Lady Morgan at dinner yesterday, who is
still very lively and amusing. D'Orsay is gone to
Paris, and Lady Blessington sold up. Adieu, dear B.

Ever your affectionate father,

Raikes Currie.

1849] Prices in Rio. 245

FROM B. w. c.

Rio Janeiro, May 12, 1S49.
My dear Mother,

If you should open this letter before that
which I have addressed to my father, you had better
delay reading it till the other is finished, as the date of
the latter is six days prior. The packet has been for
some reason delayed, and I have made use of the
opportunity to send you a few words with the latest
accounts of my progress,

I have made several acquaintances in this place,
among whom are Mr. Hudson, and Captain Skipwith,
of W.^l.S. Hydra, and Mr. Reeves, who has a place in
the packet, or post-office here, in the gift of the
English Government. We dine a good deal together,
and amuse ourselves as well as the nature of the place
admits. Society there is none, Brazilian or diplo-
matic. The former are exceedingly jealous of strangers,
and seldom admit them into their houses, and the only
reunions are those of the English and American mer-
chants, who stay here long enough to make a fortune,
and then retire ; so that in most of the houses there
are junior partners only, and those not particularly
remarkable for education or refinement. The prices of
all commodities seem to me immoderately dear. The
smallest coin, or rather paper, in use is 1,000, or a mil,
reis, equal in value to 2s., and it certainly does not go
further than is., or, in many cases, 6d. in England.
The custom duties are enormous, on manufactured
articles often 80 per cent. Washing clothes cost 4s. for
a dozen articles of whatever sort, whether shirts or

246 Ruxtons ^'Adventures in Mexico^ [1849

socks, and I hear that round the Horn it is much
dearer, from the scarcity of water.

I have to-day taken the servant mentioned in my
other letter, and have bargained with him for 40 mil
reis, or -^4 a month, out of which he is to keep himself,
and I do not undertake to send him back to this place
if dissatisfied with him. On the whole, the terms are
moderate, and in Rio Janeiro would be too low, but I
hope, in Buenos Ayres, to find a cheaper market.

I have been reading to-day a book which, so far as
I have gone, is amusing, and which (as I may perhaps
visit the country) you would like to see, called Ruxton's
Adventures in Mexico, and published by Murray in the
Home and Colonial Library. Like Head's, and other
books of the same kind, it is, I think, rather exagge-
rated and highly coloured, which may add to its
interest as a readable book, though not to its value as
a guide.

I heard from Johnson from the River Plate. The
small-pox has broken out again on board — we lost one
boy on the voyage — and they had been put in quaran-
tine in consequence. He, however, was about to start
again for the Straits of Magellan. We have had very
stormy weather lately, and the heat is not oppressive.
The mosquitoes fasten upon me voraciously, but are
beginning to slacken, as they soon get tired, being
lovers of novelty. A fresh arrival from England is
always victimized, while the old inhabitants laugh at
them.

The nights are very beautiful, and the stars of the
southern hemisphere certainly excel the others both in
number and magnitude, although the Southern Cross,
about which one hears so much, disappointed me.

1849] Shops and Custom Duties. 247

Humming-birds and snakes are not very plentiful in
this neighbourhood, as they arc so much pursued by
naturalists, and I have seen but few alive. From the
feathers of the humming-birds artificial flowers are
made, and they are very pretty, and proportionately
expensive. I would send you some as a curiosity of
this place, but am deterred by the idea that they would
be utterly useless. In fact, there are no productions
here except those of nature. The ornamental shops
are filled with bijouterie and bronzes from Paris,
increased in price by an enormous duty, and still larger
profit ; and the more substantial, with English calicoes
and cottons, equally taxed. Upon my unfortunate
boots and shoes, if they should land, I should have to
pay eighty per cent, on an appraisement by the custom-
house, which would be above the intrinsic value, but I
have taken measures to tranship them into the River
Plate packet, by doing which I am liable to lose them
entirely.

My movements are principally performed on horse-
back, and I have a very decent animal, hired from a
large English stable, upon which I ride up to town,
and hear the news on the Exchange, which occasionally
arrives in merchant-vessels, and once a month in the
packets. The California fever rages in this place,
which is a sort of first station for the Yankees bound
thither. They are distinguished by their peculiar dress,
and more particularly by their hats. I was obliged to
drop a favourite wideawake in consequence, as the
boys in the streets cried out. La California, and in the
shops I was regularly asked if I was not going to the
gold regions. The mining people in this countr}- imagine
that when the gold which has been collecting on the

248 Mutes in Brazil. [1849

surface undisturbed has been sacked, it will only be
obtained by great expense, which rarely repays the
speculator. The mines in Brazil are carried on by
English companies, and worked by Cornish miners and
negroes, and at this moment there is only one com-
pany which pays its expenses, and, I believe, not one
which has done so throughout its existence, although
at first the gains were enormous. I have written this
scrawl in a great hurry, but I thought you would like
to have the latest news of me. I hope, in another
week, to be off for the River, from whence I will
write.

Adieu, my dear mother. From your affectionate

son,

Bertram W. Currie.

Rio Janeiro, May 23, 1849.

Johnstone s Hotel.
My dear Father,

As in your letter of the 3rd and 4th April,
which I have this day received per packet Linnet, 3^ou
charge me to miss no opportunity of writing, I will
not allow Her Majesty's Tidinspovt A dvejtturer to sail
without a few lines from me, although by this time you
must have a considerable accumulation of correspond-
ence from Rio Janeiro. I am in great tribulation about
the Touch-me-not, which has shown no sign, and the
consequence to me will be the delay of a month at the
least in the possession of my dry goods ; besides, I fear
inconvenience at the custom-house about my letters. I
leave this house to go on board the Spider to-morrow,
the 24th (Her Majesty's birthday), and she sails at

1849] Departure from Rio. 249

daybreak in the morning following. She is a small and
ancient schooner, and the passage in her will much
resemble premature interment. Happily there are few
or no other passengers, as the accommodation is of
the most limited nature, and for a gentleman of my
height, peculiarly disagreeable. I shall think myself
fortunate if I escape with a passage of fourteen days,
as the weather is very rough, and the prevailing wind
south-west.

Since I wrote to you and my mother by the packet
Crane, on the 13th inst., nothing of consequence has
happened to me. I have been with Captain Skipwith
to Petropolis for a few days, and made various excur-
sions in search of appetite and scenery. I have also
been upset in a canoe in Botafogo Bay, but not very
far from shore, and a few strokes brought me on
standing-ground.

Hearing that a gentleman had arrived here from
Buenos Ayres who had crossed the Pampas, I called
upon him, and got some information. He is a lieu-
tenant in the United States navy, and crossed in
March, from Mendoza, travelling with the postman in
twelve days. The hardships he represents as not very
great, and the danger from Indians nil ; but he tells me
that at present the Cordilleras are impassable, and that
October will be the earliest month in which I can cross
them, so that supposing I arrive in Buenos Ayres in
the middle of June, I should have to stay three months.
However, I must at any rate be some time there in
order to learn Spanish, which is absolutely necessary,
and which as yet I have had no chance of speaking, or
hearing spoken. Mr. Southern I hear a good deal of;
he stayed six weeks with Mr. Hudson on his way out.

250 Condition of Monte Video. [1S49

He appears to have risen from a very low position in
society, having been, I believe, a bagman. They all
allov^ that he is very clever, and he seems to be
on good terms with Rosas, though he has failed in
getting any concessions from that wary old gentleman.
The state of the ifleet in the river must be miserable.
They are not allowed any communication with Buenos
Ayres, and are anchored four miles from Monte Video,
which is blockaded by land, and in a state of utter
destitution. I shall probably stay there (at Monte
Video) only two days, the time which the packet
remains, before going to Buenos Ayres. Mr. Gore is
the only resident, and I hear he is a very good fellow.
Hudson I like very much ; he is only locum tenens till
Lord Howden returns, or some one else is appointed.
I suppose if the Whigs resign, the Foreign Office will
be committed to Dizzy ? I believe they will prefer him
to Lord P. Skipwith is also my excellent friend ; he
is commanding officer here, and has a very nice
steamer, and authority over some six smaller craft ; but
we have no very imposing force in the harbour, and no
ship of sufficient size to salute to-morrow, which
ceremony will devolve upon the United States frigate
Brandywine, " a regular clipper, I presume, sar." The
Yankees here are very thick, and their conversation
delightful, but impossible to reproduce. There are a
few capital stories of them in Ruxton's book, which I
mentioned in one of my letters.

You will probably not receive this letter for fifty days
after its date, unless the old ship make a very good
passage. My next opportunity of writing will be from
Buenos Aj^res, in about five weeks' time. If there
should happen to be a packet starting soon after this

1849] Voyage to Bticnos Ay res. 251

arrives, I think 3011 might fly a letter to Buenos Ayrcs,
as I can have it forwarded. My idea at present is,
after Santiago, Valparaiso, and Lima, to go to San
Bias, and through Mexico to Vera Cruz ; from thence
to Havanna and New Orleans, but I will write to you
of this from the river. You must not expect to hear
so often of me in future, as the chances of men-of-war
going home are very remote, and any other conveyance
besides the packet is uncertain, but 3'ou may be sure
that I will lose no chance of writing. I have seen no
papers, and shall see none till I get to Buenos Ayres,
which is a source of great distress. I should be grateful
for some, and by the packets, or man-of-war, they cost
nothing. . . .

Buenos Ayres, Jimc g, 1849.

My dear Mother,

My last letter was from Rio, dated the 23rd
May, and sent by Her Majesty's Transport Adventure.
A fast merchant-vessel, the Commodore, is on the point
of sailing for Liverpool direct, and will probably anti-
cipate the packet of this month, so that I will send
you the account of my progress by this opportunity.

I left Rio on the 25th ultimo, in the Spider, a
schooner of 180 tons, commanded by a lieutenant in
the navy, and arrived at Monte \'ideo eight days after-
wards. We had some very rough weather, and the
vessel, which is the smallest in Her Majesty's service,
pitched about like a cock-boat, meeting with two
pamperos, the celebrated south-west gales of these lati-
tudes, which, coming from the cold regions, arc

252 Two days at Mo7ite Video, [1S49

tremendously wintry and disagreeable. At Monte
Video we stayed two days, during which I was hos-
pitably entertained by Captain Gore, charge d'affaires,
and Consul General. He is an ex-stag and man about
town, and a very good-natured person, living as
comfortably as is possible in the most uncomfortable
place in the world. The town has been now besieged
for six years by land, and is in a state of great misery
and want. We called upon one or two Spanish ladies,
who gave us matte, and presented us with their houses,
but otherwise I saw nothing remarkable, except
perhaps in the great contrast between Spaniards and
the Portuguese whom I had left at Rio. Having
arrived on a Saturday morning, we left for this place
on the Monday, communicating en passant with Com-
modore Sir T. Herbert, whose frigate, the Raleigh, lies
about six miles off the town. She is a splendid ship,
and the only English man-of-war in the river. The
next morning, Tuesday, we came in sight of Buenos
Ayres, which, as every traveller has remarked, is situ-
ated on a dead flat, so much so that from a distance
the churches and the houses are the only objects which
break the level of the sea, which otherwise one might
suppose to extend indefinitely. The river, being muddy
and shallow in all parts, is especially so at Buenos
Ayres, and landing from the ships is a very tedious
operation. The vessels cannot come within six miles
of the town, and even the boats are not able to come
within one hundred yards of the shore, which part of
the voyage is performed in a cart. As all merchandise
must go through the same process, and boat-hire is
ridiculously dear (the passage to the ships in a small
boat being an ounce, or £^ 5s.), the commerce of

1849] -^^''- SoiUheru. 2:^3

Buenos Ayres labours under considerable disadvantages
as compared with Alontc \'ideo, if the latter were in a
flourishing state.

Having, through these various perils at length
arrived, I went to Mr. Southern, who received mc
very kindly, offering me everything except a bed,
which he had not. The difiiculty of getting lodging
in this place is hardly credible. I went into four or
five inns before I could get the room I now occupy
— a very small one in a second or third-rate inn —
and I have been engaged ever since, assisted by
Mr. Southern and a most influential native, in trying
to procure lodgings, but as yet unsuccessfully. The
place is immensely full of Monte Videans and others ;
and the Spaniards do not understand the law which
makes the demand regulate the supply. Mr. Southern
has, after waiting several months, obtained, through
the influence of Rosas, a house (the property of
some exiled individual), but he is obliged to build
rooms to accommodate his establishment. He seems
to have made considerable progress already, and
perhaps will succeed in his mission. I suppose part
of his policy consists in maintaining a \ery grand
exterior. His house is beautifully furnished from
Paris, and he has a host of English servants, and very
good carriages. His cook is also unexceptionable, and
he is decidedly, next to Rosas, the greatest man in
the town. The despotism here is the most delight-
fully absolute, extending even to the dress of the
natives. A red ribbon round the hat, a bright red
waistcoat, and a ribbon in the button-hole with the
motto, "Long live the Federals! Death to the
Unitarians ! " is a unc qua non, and any Uucnos

254 Despotism and Democracy. [1849

Ayresian found without these three appendages is
imprisoned, and has a very remote chance of getting
out again. Blue and green are absolutely forbidden,
and even foreigners would be committing rather an
outrage in wearing them, which is unfortunate for me,
as my limited supply of neckcloths lies chiefly in the
proscribed colours. As to interference in politics, or
freedom in speech or the Press, the people have long
ago given up anything of that sort. They rebel in
secret against these incarnadine waistcoats, but dare
not complain. The motto about the Unitarians (which
is a regular humbug as there are no such people) is
repeated ai nauseam. Every public paper and letter
must be headed with it. Even the paper dollars
(worth 2jd.) bear it on their face, and the watchmen
bellow it about the streets at night.

I went yesterday with Southern to call on Dona
Manuelita and present my letter, and found her most
gracious, offering me not only the house, which is the
regular compliment to a visitor, but the services of
the Governor and herself. The old tyrant is never
seen, and few of the inhabitants have had a view of
him for several years. He himself carries on all the
business of the State, and is shut up all day and night
with his papers and decrees. Manuelita is about
thirty, average looking, and, like all Spanish women,
very good-natured and extremely well-mannered.

To show that social democracy is not incompatible
with political despotism, as some revolutionists do
vainly assert ; in this place, where there is an autocrat
entirely absolute, social equality is more developed
than I have ever seen it. Butchers, tailors, and
Ministers of State are all equal, and Manuelita, for

1849] Spanish Sttidies. 255

instance, is accessible to any snob who likes to call
on her, and would be just as familiar with him as with
Southern or the Prime Minister.

The climate here differs exceedingly from that of
Rio, resembling the temperature of a cold October in
England, and requiring all one's warm vestments, of
which I am unhappily destitute. Horses are very
plentiful, and I have taken to ride with Henderson,
private secretary to S., and native swells. I have
engaged a master, who comes to me at 7 a.m. and
stays till g, to the astonishment of the natives who
cry out : " How mad these Englishmen are to begin
work at such an hour." This virtuous resolution, you
will think, is not much in my way, but it was formed
in a rash moment, and because I could not get my
master at any other time. Last night I went to
persecute two unoffending young women witli the
result of my studies, by carrying on a conversation
in Spanish. I hope in six weeks to be able to get on.
Without Spanish this place is very poor fun.

I told you in m}- last that I shall have to stay here
some time. At present it is impossible to cross the
Andes, and even in October it seems to be very
difficult, but then, I must and will do it. I am much
bored by this disappointment, as there is no particular
attraction to detain me here so long.

I am still anxiously expecting my shoes and boots,
which have had time to circumnavigate the globe.
In another month I hope to have them, and shall try
to make one shoe do till that time. The weather here,
though not so luxurious, is much more propitious to
the sons of the north than that of Rio, and I feel its
effects favourably on my health and spirits. If I have

256 A Trip to Paris.

[1849

another chance of writing I will do so. In the mean-
time, with love to all, believe me,

Your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

I have written in a great hurry, but have told you
all I think that is new or instructive.

from MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. \V. C.

June 16, 1849.
My dearest B.

We have this morning received your letter
from Petropolis, dated 21st April, and it has given
us great delight to hear that you were better. I fear
that you must be a long time without hearing, as this
letter must now be addressed to Valparaiso.

We, i.e., your mother, Mary, and I, have accom-
plished our long-talked-of trip to Paris, and spent
three weeks very pleasantly, from nth of May to
2nd of June. The Demidoff was very kind, asking
us to a family (Bonaparte) dinner, only eight in all,
and introducing us to other houses. She is very good-
looking, very lively and clever, and understands
English perfectly. A ukase confines M. U Mari to
Russia. . . . We became acquainted with Prince
Murat, a jolly fellow, and his wife, an American ;
he was returned at the head of the poll by 134,000
votes for the department of the Seine. We went to
the Elysee reception. The President's manner is pose
and quiet ; he waltzed and flirted with a pretty little

1849] Socialist Demonstrations.

-D/

Mrs. John Stanley, who was a Mdlle. Talleyrand.
Normanby stands by, looking patronizing.

Since we returned, the cholera has been fearfully
fatal at Paris, and at this moment the city is in a
state of siege in consequence of the socialist demon-
strations, though with 80,000 regular troops under
arms, I cannot think that Ledru-Rollin and his
adherents will attempt, or at least maintain, any
serious fighting. What the army, the only real power,
may do hereafter, is another and more serious question.

Home politics are much as you left them. A
majority in the Lords on the Navigation Laws Repeal,
has rather given the Ministers a lift, and they will rub
on at present. Business is slack ; money worth from
2 to 3 per cent. ; ours tolerably well employed and
things very quiet. Ponsford has settled to coffer-dam
and is getting on steadily, to be roofed in against the
winter. They have bought the Blackwall engine,
275-horse, boiler and gear, all for about ^^4,000 — said
to be very well bought. Shadwell was finally valued
at ;^4,200, much to old Pon's dismay, but I generously
knocked off ;^400 and took /'3,8oo, which was the sum
originally offered by Bovill. They are reinstating and
fitting up the mill for four pairs of stones, and hope to
get to work by harvest. This will pay well, and give
Butcher something to do (Kidd's man whom they have
now got). Dives is doing wonders, selling his own
patent Hour, and buying from other millers to meet
the demand. I hear from all quarters that the trade
are dreadfully alarmed. So much for business.

We have really got Taplow Court ! at present only
for twelve months, but with the refusal afterwards.
The Duke of Sutherland has bought Cliefden (which
R

258 Sale of Cliefde7i. [1849

is in fact in our grounds) for -^40,000. Lord Stafford
is to be married to Miss M. in a week. She is staying
at Cliefden with his father ; they come to our church.
We hope to move at midsummer. I have about forty
acres of land and shall keep a few cows.

I hope you will, perhaps ere you receive this, fall
in with Baring, who is going to Lima, and, I believe,
Valparaiso. I trust you will return with him to the
States. I do not like to dwell on the prospect of your
long absence, but we must hope that we may be all
permitted to meet again. Do, dearest B., take care
of yourself in all ways.

Wodehouse and Florence are just arrived in
London for a month. They dine with us next week.
The drawing-rooms are finished and certainly success-
ful : they light well.

We saw poor old J. Cockerell and family at
Boulogne. The Berkeleys are there — the gallant
Colonel waiting for an appointment in the Ionian
Islands, which H. G. Ward promised him at my
request. In Paris were Mrs. Grote and Jenny, of
whom we saw a great deal. Harris seeing J. L.
depressed and distraite, told Mrs. Stanley to say to
her, that if she repented he released her though the
settlements were drawn. She walked up and down
the room for two hours, and finally determined to give
it up, and then came off at once to Mrs. Grote at
Paris. We dined at Hawtreys for the 4th June — a
very good 4th, fine, with the Queen and Prince of
Wales. Boys to have an extra week. God bless you,

dear B.

Ever your affectionate,

R. C.

1S49] Uneasiness in Paris. 259

Mrs. Raikes Currie wrote by the same mail, June 15, 1S49.

My dearest Bertram,

Your father's letter contains all the news
we have to communicate, but }'0u will like a few lines
from me.

Our Paris trip amused me very much. We used
to drive about the town, which is quite free from
smoke and blacks, and the public buildings and
fountains give an air of beauty and even grandeur to
the city. We saw the Prophetc, Meyerbeer's last opera
— a fine spectacle — not pleasing music. Two days we
passed at Versailles. We were fortunate in coming
away before this new outbreak, and the increase of
cholera. People seemed very uneasy when we were
at Paris. No subject was talked of, even by the
women whom we saw in society, but the political state
of their unhappy country, and no one seemed to have
any confidence in the stability of anything.

Since we returned we have been busy with dinner
engagements at home and abroad. One day in next
week we are to have at dinner: Mr. and Lady Caroline
Lascellcs, Parkes, Hcnleys, Lord Carlisle, Mr. Vincent,
D. Fortescuc, Sir D. Dundas. The drawing-rooms
are very successful.

I must tell you a couplet on Jenny Lind's retreat
to Paris after throwing off her suitor.

Sweet Jenny Lind has changed her mind

And run away to Paris ;
So Betsy Prig was right, we find ;

There is no Mrs. Harris !

26o Taplow Court. [1849

We are all pleased at the prospect of spending the
summer at Taplow Court. We hope to move there
the end of the month.

I have been writing to a Miss Stewart, who did live
as governess to Miss Sophy Copley, to try to get her
in the place of Mdlle. Bidault.

While we were at Paris there was a Mayor's dinner
at Northampton, which your father should have
attended. George went down and appears to have
made two very good and appropriate speeches. Lord
Henley seemed to have been quite astonished at his
flow of words.

You seem to be very badly off for society, but the
extreme beauty and luxuriance of the country must be
a great delight. You will, I suppose, train yourself
before you begin your long ride across the Pampas.

FROM GEORGE W. CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Cornhill, June 15, 1849.

The mail for Valparaiso goes to-morrow. \\^e
got your second letter (from Petropolis) this morning,
having received one about a week ago written on your
arrival at Rio. . . . The climate and scenery of
Petropolis must have been charming, and no doubt
you found the Hebrew ladies kindly disposed towards
a foreigner. I hope you will meet Ned Baring at
Valparaiso. I heard from him from Mexico and he
was going south, and said he had written to you and
hoped to meet you.

There is nothing very new here to tell you of.

1849] JVars in Eziropc. 261

W. and Ponsford's works are progressing. I pass the
spot frequently going out of the City by water. The
coffer-dam is fixed and a good deal of the side walls
built.

My father and mother with Mary made an expe-
dition for three weeks to Paris, and were entertained
by the Princess Demidoff, the President, Mrs. Grote,
&c. Since that the cholera has been raging there,
and killing five or six hundred per diem. The
socialists have made this week a great demonstration,
but have been put down by the immense military
force, without fighting. The French Government
have got into a great dilemma by the absurd expedition
to Rome, which they are now taking by storm, having
been once or twice repulsed. In Hungary, the War
of Independence goes on furiously, and Russia has
now marched an army there to help Austria, but even
so, it seems doubtful whether the Hungarians will not
have the best of it. All Germany is more disorganized
than ever. It seems that this year the whole Continent
will be almost closed against tourists.

Balls, &c., are now at their height, but there are
not very many. I go to a few. You will hear from
my father of his having taken Taplow Court : they
are going there directly, so that there will not be
many entertainments in the newlj'-decorated drawing-
rooms at Hyde Park Terrace.

Business continues very dull, money 2 to 3 per
cent., and the funds (for want of other secure invest-
ments) keeping up at 92, in spite of all the continental
rows.

Jones Loyd and Baring, cSic, have been getting up
another subscription for the Irish, who arc starving

262 Arrival of Box from Rio. [1849

by hundreds, and are going to send over Count
Strzlecki again.

Your friend, Miss Keats, having desired to be intro-
duced to me, asked me to dinner. She was very anxious
to know your direction and I have no doubt is writing
to you by this mail, so that I need not repeat all her
messages : I am afraid you have been trifling with her
affections. Write and tell us about the Pampas.

FROM B. W. C. TO MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Buenos Ayres, July 14, 1849.
My dear Father,

My last letter, per Commodore, was dated
the 9th June, and informed you of my arrival at
Buenos Ayres. I purpose to send this by the packet
which arrived from Rio a week ago, without, however,
bringing me any letters, with the exception of a few
lines from George, in which he says that my mother
was engaged in writing a long letter to be sent by
the same opportunity, and which has not arrived, so
that I imagine it was too late for the post. To console
me for this loss, my box of books and letters was
forwarded from Rio, having suffered considerably
from the curiosity and awkwardness of the custom-
house authorities there, who charged me duty and
postages although I was absent. In this place, the
Chief Commissioner of Customs being my friend, I
had no trouble of the sort, and my box was sent up to
me immediately without having been opened.

You v/ill see by my last letters that my travels have
for the present come to a fuU stop, very much to my

1849] Diffiadties of fiwthcr Travel. 263

annoyance, as I have no inducement to stay here for
more than a few weeks. Unfortunately, I arrived in
the very worst season, when the country is almost
impassable, when all communication between the town
and interior is frequently stopped, and when the
passage of the Cordilleras is absolutely impossible,
and the worst of all is that this place is completely
isolated. There is no opportunity of going round the
Cape except in small merchant vessels, which perform
the voyage to Valparaiso in four or five months, no
towns in the interior to visit (the nearest being several
hundred miles distant, and possessing no separate
interest or difference from Buenos Ayres), and no
communication with any seaport except Rio Janeiro.
However, the absurdity of having made a tremendous
voyage to come from London to Buenos Ayres (which
is nothing more than a fifth-rate European town) is
so great, that I have half formed a plan, which I shall
very likely not be able to carry into execution, of going
up the River Parana to Corrientes, and possibly to
Paraguay. Besides considerable hardships and diffi-
culties by the way, I believe there is nothing to be
seen different from this country, except that the dead
level is broken by some small hills and trees, and that
the climate is more propitious. There are two books
written by a Mr. Robertson, published by Murray,
which will give you information about the country,
which is in a very primitive state of civilization.
Paraguay is a sort of terra inco^niia, and ever since
the death of the famous Dr. Francia (who kept it
entirely shut out from the rest of the world for twenty-
eight years) has been very little explored, and here
there is not much information to be got respecting it.

264 Impressions of Buenos Ay res. [,849

My chief difficulties are the bad state of the roads and
the want of a companion, for the race of travellers is
unknown, and every one is occupied with business of
some sort. At any rate, I shall leave this place in
October and make for Chili, though whether I shall
then be able to cross the Andes or not is very question-
able. Once on the other side of the continent, there
is no difficulty in proceeding northwards, as, besides
H. M. ships, there is a monthly steamer from Valparaiso
to Panama.

However, as it seems that I am condemned to be
a resident here against my will, I will endeavour to
give you some description of the place, which has been
already done in various books, the authors of which
seem to have omitted nothing worthy of remark. The
houses are not bad, though rather seedily furnished,
and are generally one storey high and run back a
considerable way, v/ith a succession of paved courts.
The roofs are flat and railed in, so as to form a pro-
menade. There are a few large churches towering
above the rest of the town, but all built of brick and
mostly unfinished. The other public buildings are
not remarkable except for the vividness of their white-
wash. The streets are badly paved and full of great
holes, and in wet weather very unpleasant to walk in.
We have an opera house, which is crowded every night
of performance, with an Italian company, of whom
one, a soprano, is very good.

Of society there is not much. Mr. Southern, who,
I believe, intends to entertain, is papering and deco-
rating his house. Manuelita receives (in one rather
uncomfortable room of the Governor's unfinished
palace) every evening, when there is no opera ; but

1849] A quaint Invitation. 265

few people go there, and mostly those who have got
places and are obliged to toady. Visiting in other
houses, with a fciv exceptions, is rather a formidable
affair. It takes place either in the afternoon at two,
or in the evening from eight till bedtime, and is con-
ducted with great formalities — all the family ranged
in a semi-circle, and the stranger placed in the middle
and assailed with a battery of questions and compli-
ments. One advantage there certainly is in the society
— that it is ornamented by a very large proportion of
pretty girls, who, though not very learned, are for the
most part agreeable and have a good deal of tact.
The only complaint I have to make is the difficulty
of seeing them, for the theatre is comparatively small,
and the boxes are all let, so that there is no variety in
its visitors, and there are very few balls. I am going
if well enough (for I have a horrid cold) to my first
to-night (I send you the invitation as an Argentine
curiosity^), so that the only resource is to visit them
in their houses, which, as I have before said, is a great
bore, and admits of very little private conversation.
Moreover, at this time of year they do not ride or

^ The translation of the quaint invitation is as follows :

Long live the Argentine Confederation.
Death to the savage Unitarians.

Se.nor Don Henriquo Beltran.

Gregoria Rosas and her family do themselves an honour in inviting
you to a dancing party which will take place on Saturday, 14th July,
at nine in the evening.

At your house,

34, Maypu Street

266 Society in Buenos Ay res. [1849

walk out, except perhaps to a shop, though I have
persuaded one of them, Eduardita, the niece of the
Governor, and daughter of the nicest woman here, to
accompany me ?,ola in my rides occasionally. This,
though not often done, is not, I believe, considered
irregular. All the women, married and single, are
known only by their Christian names, and those
generally abbreviated or endeared. I am popularly
styled Beltran or Beltrancito (a diminutive), and
sometimes el viagero Ingles — "the English traveller."
Although I fancy they are not remarkable for strict
morality, there is not the slightest sign of any such
deficiency on the surface ; in fact, there is a great
propriety of manner among all classes.

Manuelita Rosas I think I mentioned in my last
letter. She is not young or pretty, though, according
to the gossipers of Buenos Ayres, Mr. Southern is
desperately in love with her (?), but apparently very
frank and good-natured, though rather exigeantc in the
matter of visits and attentions.

About three weeks ago, a party of four, including
Mr. Southern's secretary and myself, went about thirty
miles into the Campo or country to one of the
Governor's estates, and having mentioned to Manuelita
that we were going there to see the mysteries of
Gauchos and the amusements of the Pampas, found
on arriving that great preparations had been made
for our reception. Cooks, beds, food, and soldiers
had all been sent from the town, together with the
special commands of the Governor that everything
should be placed at our disposal. Finding ourselves
in such good quarters, we stayed a week, and saw to
great advantage all that was to be seen — the unbroken

1849] Expedition into tJie Coimtry. 267

colts caught by a lasso, and then mounted by a
Gaucho ; ostriches caught with the holas and bulls
with the lasso ; but all these things are written in the
book of Head, and an account of them would be too
much for my paper.

We passed the days in galloping about after bulls
and ostriches, and came home at night to a very
copious dinner, prepared after the manner of the
country — lambs roasted whole, beef cooked in the
hide, and other delicacies. My companions on that
and most other occasions were (i) Mr. Henderson,
Southern's secretary, and a good ordinary sort of
young man ; (2) a native of these parts, and the
smartest ma-; in Buenos Ayres ; and (3) a young
Chilian who has passed all his life in Paris, London,
and Madrid, and who has come here lately to try and
reclaim from the Government a large amount of shares
in the bank, which are unpaid, belonging to his father,
who is said to be a man of great fortune.

Since the raising of the blockade, Buenos Avres
has been in a most flourishing state, and at this
moment people are flocking from Monte Video and
the Banda Oriental. Lodging, labour, and goods are
all got with difficulty and paid for exorbitantly. A raw
Irishman on arriving gets instant employment in a
slaughtering establishment at five or six shillings a day
and his food, and all labour of a superior kind is paid
proportionately high. The difficulty of getting lodgings
is hardly credible. For a whole month I was living
in the worst inn in the place, paying six shillings a
day for one bad room, and at last I have induced a
man to turn out with all his family in order to let me
the rooms which I now occupy, and for which I am

268 Governor Rosas.

[1849

paying ^^15 15s. a month, although they arc furnished
in the most trumpery way, and by no means parti-
cularly good in any respect. The prices of manu-
factured goods — coats, boots, and shoes — are in the
same ratio. The only thing cheap is the raw material
of heef, and the labour of cooking that is so highly
paid that it ceases to be so. The interest of money is
i^ and 2 per cent, per month. My friend Arcos (the
young Chilian above mentioned), who has set up a
sort of discount business, lends paper money upon
ounces or dobloons (a gold coin worth about £^ 3s.)
at 16 per cent, per annum ! The currency is paper
dollars depreciated from 4s. to about 2hd., but now
rather on the rise. The exchange on England is
quoted in ounces, the exportation of which is pro-
hibited.

Business, though it cannot be safe from the fluctua-
tion of the paper money and the dangers of political
changes, must be tremendously profitable.

But the most remarkable thing in this place — at
least, that which has struck me most — is the extra-
ordinary power which has been assumed by the
Governor Rosas, and which is more absolute, I should
think, over his subjects than that of any King or
Kaiser. One part of his policy seems to consist in
secluding himself entirely from public view, partly on
the plea of ill-health, and partly on that of the laborious
business of the State which he carries on alone. I
have seen him but once, and then by accident, walking
on the roof of his house.

He has so completely subjected all the people, by
fear and a regular system of espionage, that no opposi-
tion is dreamt of; the mere fact of his having spoken

1849] Despotic Edicts. 269

well or ill of any person is enough to change the
conduct of the whole population towards that person.
To be in favour with him is to be toadied by every
inhabitant, and the contrary is to have a very good
chance of having your throat cut. Among other edicts,
he has issued one compelling every native to wear
a red waistcoat, red ribbon round the hat, and badge
in the button-hole, and every woman a red bow in her
hair, proscribing at the same time the colours of blue
and green. These rules extend to the actors, and we
nightly see the Druid priests in Norma, and the Roman
Proconsul, with two long red ribbons called devices
hanging from their side, proclaiming " Death to the
Unitarians." The other day, Norma appeared with
a wreath of very dark-green oak-leaves, which the chief
of police ordered to be immediately removed. But
a more difficult case arose on another occasion in a
piece in which the Devil was to appear, and the lessee
being in doubt whether he should decorate that indi-
vidual with the device or not, referred the question to
the police, who decided that the devil was not exempt
from the Governor's orders. However, to form an
idea of what absolute power is in Buenos Ayres, it
must be seen and felt. Wc individually have nothing
to complain of, and if the people like being bullied by
Rosas, so much the better; at least we have peace
and security of life. Mr. Southern is in high favour,
and has certainly played his cards well. In his atten-
tions to Manuelita, who represents the Governor
socially and has some inlluence over him, he is un-
remitting, and generally comports himself so as to
be popular with all classes. To me personally he has
been very kind, feeding me always while he had a

2/0 Dijfictilties of the British Minister. [jg^f,

house in order, and giving me a scat in his box.
However, his time is so taken up with visits and
formahties which are necessary in his position, that
I do not see a great deal of him at present. He is, I
think, intelhgent and well calculated for his place,
which involves a great sacrifice of comfort and a con-
siderable expenditure of humbug for a given object —
the more difficult for him as he is not gifted with a
very good manner or captivating address.

This long letter I have written under the influence
of a bad cold, and must now conclude. I will write
by the next packet. If I should not, you must con-
clude that I have gone up the Parana, in which case
I shall not be able to write, but I will at any rate
inform you of that before I start. I hope that you
will be able to form some idea of what I am doing,
and what sort of a place this is. It cannot be said
to be very amusing, and its peculiarities seem much
better on paper than in reality, but I shall at least
derive one advantage — that of learning a new language.
I find my master worth very little, and all the progress
I have made is owdng to the Sefioritas, who are very
willing to talk and instruct.

Seven o'clock p.m. — I have just had my dinner, con-
sisting of some cold bouillon and bad cutlets, and my
cold is so bad that I shall not honour the Dona
Gregoria Rosas to-night. This climate is most pro-
ductive of colds in the head, the throat, and jaws. I
have had a sore throat, swelled jaw, and all the
varieties of that class of maladies. It is owing, I
suppose, to the dampness of the air ; otherwise I think
the place very healthy, and the climate agreeable and
invigorating. I am keeping, in remembrance of your

1849] Amusements. 271

wish, a daily account of my adventures, which at
present are not very full of interest. My principal
amusement, if it can be so called, is in riding, but this
can only be done agreeably on one road, which leads
to the Governor's qitinia or villa, about four or five
miles out of the town, and thither I repair regularly
every day about 3 p.m. and return by 5, after which
there is the opera. For the last day or two we have
been celebrating the anniversary of Argentine Inde-
pendence, with parades and fireworks and grand
representations at the theatre, but now all is quiet
again. My movements are so uncertain that I hardly
know where to tell you to write, but I think Valparaiso
and Lima the best places. ... As your letter in answer
to this will reach me in December or January, pray
tell me what you think advisable as to the extent of
my travels. If I come home direct, it must be by
Panama and Chagres, but I shall then miss Mexico
and the United States, which are much more worth
visiting than anything in this continent.

The West India mails leave Southampton twice
a month. Do Mary and the babe get on with their
German ? I find on trying to talk it that the Spanish
has driven it out of my head.

Your most affectionate son,

B. W. C.

272 Btienos Ayres. [1849

FROM B. W. C, TO GEORGE W. CURRIE.

Buenos Ayres, July 14, 1849.

I have written this evening a long letter to my
father, comprising all that I have to say about this
place, but will add a line to you to thank you for your
letter of May 4, the only one I received by that mail.
My mother's letter, of which you speak, never made
its way here ; whether it was not sent or stopped at
Rio I know not.

Buenos Ayres is not a place which I should choose
for a residence, though on the whole superior to
Rio Janeiro. The advantages of the latter consist
solely in its beautiful scenery and climate. The town
is filthy beyond imagination, the inhabitants unsocial
and brutal, the shops bad and dear. There are no
amusements and no society, and the few Christians
who live there in the shape of merchants are in the
steady pursuit of means to enable them to leave it.
This place, on the contrary, owes nothing to nature.
It is situated on the banks of a muddy and shallow
river, and cannot be approached nearer than six miles
by ordinary-sized vessels, and is surrounded by flat,
marshy plains, without trees or shrubs, except an
occasional ombus or American aloe. The air, though
damp, is clear and agreeable. There is no public
promenade, and very little amusement, but though
spoiled by frequent revolutions and by the present
despotic and depressing Government, the difference
between the Spanish and Portuguese origin is visible
in the society, habits, and faces of the people. The

1S49] Dcfccths House Acconnnodation.

/ o

women of Brazil are for the most part hideous (I never
saw a good-looking one in Rio), and entirely secluded
by the jealousy of their husbands. Here, on the
contrar}', they are remarkably pretty, and very sociably
disposed. In fact, they redeem this place from positive
barbarism. Superior in every way to the men, who
are crouching, civil rascals, who would cut your throat
without any compunction if you stood in their way,
they form the society and only amusement of the town,
and were it not for the policy of the Governor, which
discourages coteries and reunions of any sort, would
make it much more agreeable than it is. The
great difference which I remark between this and a
European town of similar size is in the want of
population and competition, and consequently of
commodities. Furnished lodgings, for instance, are
not to be met with, and a traveller wishing to spend
some time here must choose between an enormously
dear and bad inn, and hiring an empty house, for
which he has to buy furniture exported from Europe
at a prolit of about 200 per cent. After looking about
for a month, assisted by the most powerful interest,
I have at last got the front of a small house which
calls itself furnished, consisting of a sala or sitting-
room, a bed-room, and small room for a servant.
They are all paved with brick, and very damp, with no
furniture but a few Yankee chairs and rotten tables,
and a matting on the floor; but I am considered
rather fortunate than otherwise, and owe my success
to great patience and perseverance.

Money is so plentiful and so easily earned that it
possesses by no means so omnipotent an influence as
in more civilized countries.
s

2 74 Manuelitds '^ tertulias." [ig^g

The people with whom I am most intimate here
are a small clique who associate with Manuelita, and
form the members of her nightly tertidias. They are
either nearly related to the Governor, or else are high
in office, in which case they are entirely dependent
upon and obliged to toady him, as the profits of their
places are derived from cheating and robbing the
public, in consideration of which privilege they consent
to be the abject slaves and creatures of his will. As
long as the present state of things lasts (which it is
likely to do until the Governor's death), they are, of
course, at the top of the political and social tree, but
I doubt if they are the most honest or respectable.
Among them are a few very nice girls, from Vv'hom
I have learnt to speak Spanish pretty fluently. They
are very independent, and allowed a great deal of
liberty. They are also very precocious. My principal
friend is only fourteen, but looks and talks like twenty-
five. We have very few balls, and these not worth
much, as they dance the valse of the early Britons,
and the floors of the houses are of brick, covered with
a rough carpet.

July i6ih. — The packet has been detained till the
iSth instant, so that I will leave my letter open in
order to tell you anything which may occur to me.
I have been this morning to a great slaughtering-
house outside the city, to see the animals killed, and
to breakfast with the proprietor. The rate at which
they kill is a head per minute, or sixty in an hour ;
but this includes flaying, cutting up, salting, and every
other process. The animals, to the number of one
thousand (a day's work) are brought up from the
interior, and divided in smaller numbers through several

1849] Method of Slaughtering Animals. 275

pens. At the end of the last is a platform running on
rails, on to which one or sometimes two oxen are
dragged by the lasso and killed with one stroke of the
knife in the vertebras of the neck. The platform is
pulled out, they are dragged by another lasso on to a
paved court, and there cut up to the number of twenty
at once in the time I have mentioned. Men with
wheelbarrows are waiting to carry off the different
parts, which all have their places. The heads are
ranged in rows — at the time we were there, 11 a.m. —
amounting to four hundred, the number already killed
in the day. Although the machinery is somewhat
primitive, the immense profusion of animals and the
skill of the workmen (who are all Irish) makes it a
very curious, though somewhat disgusting sight. The
average price of an ox is 6s., which is the value of the
hide, the beef counting for nothing. Much of it is
boiled down into tallow, a small part jerked or dried,
and the rest left about for the dogs or birds, which
congregate in millions round the place. The smallest
wages paid to any man are 7s. 6d. a day with food,
and many receive as much as £\. The stench is not
so bad as one would suppose, particularly when there
is, as was the case to-day, a south wind. Old Morti-
more would have been delighted at the profusion of
Jiorns, though he would find it difficult to raise money
upon them. They are so plentiful that fences 8 feet
high and 4 broad are made of them.

I mentioned to my father that I have some idea of
going into the interior. The hardships of travelling,
particularly at this season, are by no means imaginary,
and, to a person who has no peculiar object in view,
either business or science, hardly repaid by any advan-

276 Hardships of Travelling.

[1849

tages ; but I am so bored at being kept a prisoner in
this place that if I find it practicable I shall probably
make a strike inwards. The best accommodation at
night is a mud hovel of one room, not generally air-
tight, without a chimney, full of smoke and Gauchos,
and then, having swallowed some beef burnt over a
fire, without bread or plate, the traveller wraps himself
up in his cloak and tries to sleep. I have seen one or
two of this class of hotels, and they are not very
tempting. However, the exercise and beef diet ought
to cure one of dyspepsia for life.

There are no English people in the society here,
though I believe they form one among themselves.
Mr. Southern is, next to the Governor, the most
important person in the town, and travellers, being
rarely met with, are rather lions. As is always the case
in a small society, one half of the population (more
particularly among the females) is engaged in warring
and intriguing against the other : the grand object for
which they contend being to attach everybody whom
they fancy of importance to their family and circle, and,
by abusing their rivals, to seduce as many as possible
of their adherents. The difficulty, therefore, is, not
to make acquaintances, but to escape from being over-
powered by their attentions and offers of services.

To any person who likes being made much of, I
would recommend a visit to Buenos Ayres, though,
I suppose, after a time the lion gets stale and ceases
to roar. In the meantime, I am very tired of it and
want to get on. Pray write to me to the Consul at
Lima, and believe me,

Your affectionate brother,

Bertram W. Currie.

1849] Proposed Expedition to Corrientcs.

-n

Buenos Ayres, August ii, 1849.

My dear Mother,

My last letter (a long one) dated the
14th July, told you of an idea I had formed of making
an excursion into the interior. That idea I am now
on the point of carrying into execution, and in fact
have delayed only until the arrival of the packet should
bring me news of you, after a silence of three months.

I am, however, again disappointed, having received
only letters dated 3rd and 4th of May, which should
have been here with the last mail. The letters are
addressed to Rio — to Messrs. Finnic Brothers (who,
as far as I am aware, have no existence) instead of
Maxwell and Co., and to this is attributable, I suppose,
their delay. My father, in his letter of the 3rd May
from Cambridge, says that he will write to Buenos
Ayres by the next mail, but I have received nothing.
I hope you are more fortunate. This is the eighth
letter I have written from Rio or Buenos Ayres to you
or my father (four to each) and, including the above,
which came a month after their time, I have received
but four.

To return to my expedition. My furthest point
will be Corrientes, in S. lat. 27.30, and if you follow
on the map the course of the Parana from Buenos
Ayres by San Nicolas, Santa Fe, and La Bajada, you
will see my direction. I shall probably ride the whole
way and perhaps return b}- water. The distance is
261 leagues — perhaps 700 miles — and I think that
thirteen days will allow of stopping a day or two
at the few intermediate towns. The posts are distant

278 Preparations for the Journey. [1849

from one another from two to ten leagues, and arc
generally but a mud hovel with a few Gauchos and
horses, so that some preparations for sleeping are
necessary. I take, besides my saddle, a recado or
saddle of the country, composed of a hide and several
cloths, and used by the Gauchos as a bed. One cargo
horse will be enough to carry the two leathern bags,
degraded from camel to horseback, and a gun.

My dress is a camisette of blue cloth, turned up
with red, trousers, a black wideawake, and a leathern
pouch round the waist to carry money and cigars, with
a knife stuck in behind, and if cold, I can add a
poncho. The Governor gives me his passport — a great
favour, and a perfect bank-note in this country, letters
to all the commandants, and, I am afraid, an escort,
which will be a great bore, but which, of course, I
cannot decline, so that the hardships of travelling will
be lessened. In about six weeks, or towards the end
of September, I hope to be back in Buenos Ayres, and
I shall then, after one or two weeks, start for Mendoza
and Chili. For one month I am afraid I must forego
the pleasure of writing to you, as there are no internal
posts in this country, and I shall be far from Buenos
Ayres when the September packet sails, so you must
imagine me careering away upon seedy-looking horses
with coats three inches long, or arriving after a ride of
one hundred miles to a piece of burnt beef, or making
the most elaborate compliments to a governor of a
province, with spurs a foot long, and linen drawers a
yard wide.

Of Beunos Ayres I have nothing new to say. It is
a dreary place to live in, particularly when your house
is damp, as mine is. I have a succession of colds and

1849] South America. 279

a touch of rheumatism. Mr. Southern's dinners are
good, and the opera /"assai/c, and beyond these two I
have not much amusement. I am afraid that ChiH is
exactly the same thing, and I shall probably not
trouble that interesting country with a long stay. In
fact, I am inclined to agree with Darwin that a man
who has neither business nor scientific resources to
occupy and encourage him, should weigh well the
question before he embarks for South America. There
are no fine buildings or pictures, no antiquities, no
venerable traditions or associations in these new
countries (for before their independence they hardly
existed except as a source of jobbery and monopoly
for the Spaniards), and, though interesting to the
political philosopher, they are rather wanting in attrac-
tions to a commonplace tourist. In comfort they are
a hundred years behind Europe, and in most of the
qualities which make life agreeable.

In Mexico and Peru there are at least the remains
of former magnificence, but in this country, whose
wealth consists in the patriarchal article of herds of
oxen, and whose resources, such as they are, have
never been developed, there is a want of " ancient
riches," and consequently art and civilization have not
reached a high pitch. Reasoning in this manner, I
suppose the race of tourists have avoided these regions,
and the only predecessor I hear of is Robert Elwes
(companion of Ralpho of Damascus), who, I remember
to have heard in England, was unhappy in love, and
wished for a total change of scene to efface the remem-
brance of the false one.

On the other hand, if I were an American, the first
dollars I could scrape together should be spent in

28o The Governor s Passport. [ig^^j

payinj^ my passage to Europe ; for a man can scarcely
be said to have lived in the nineteenth century who
has never left the shores of La Plata. However, I am
convinced that something is to be gained in knowledge
or experience from all places, barbarian or civilized,
and at any rate one is making a large investment of
recollections from which to draw upon one's memory
afterwards.

Monday night, August 12th. — I had written last night,
when to-day I saw the Governor, who has given me
his passport describing me as an " apreciable traveller,
recommended by H. E. Don Henrique Southern
and other Englishmen worthy of the friendship of the
Argentine Confederation," placing everything in the
province of Buenos Ayres at my disposal, and requesting
all other Governors to entertain and assist me in every
way at the charge of this Government. I am to be
accompanied by a police officer !

The Governor told Mr. Southern for my instruction,
and afterwards sent a written message to the effect,
that disturbances having arisen in the provinces of
Corrientes and Entre Ries, it was possible, though not
likely, that I might meet with some inconvenience from
the enemies of the English alliance, or from those of
his own Government, and that though he did not wish
to dissuade me from taking the journey, he thought it
his duty to acquaint me of this fact. In consequence
of this, my travels may perhaps be limited to Santa Fe,
after which I shall make use of a large discretion
as to proceeding or not. I believe the truth of the
matter is that the Governor imagines that some of
the disaffected provinces might mistake me for an
English agent sent to encourage insurrection, for they

1849] Uncertainty of P/ans. 281

do not contemplate the idea of a person travelling
merely from curiosity; and during the quarrel with
Rosas, the English Government have once or twice
tried to incite the provinces against the central power
of Buenos Ayres. Perhaps he suspects himself that
this is my object, but I think this is not probable.
The effect of all this will be to render my movements
still more uncertain. All I know is, that on Tuesday
morning, the day after to-morrow, at 8 a.m., I shall
start on horseback in a northward direction, and shall
be absent perhaps a month, perhaps six weeks ; and
that in the month of October, if still in existence, I
shall set off for Chili. Write to Lima, where I hope
to be in January at the latest. After that there are four
courses open to me. I must either return by Panama
and the West Indies to England, or go to St. Bias, and
Mexico, or up the Mississippi to the United States, or
both. According as you recommend I will follow, and
if you write to any of the principal towns in any of
these routes, such as Mexico, New Orleans, or Kingston,
I shall get the letters. This letter you will, I suppose,
receive in October ; in November you will probably
not hear from me, but will, I hope, in December.
After that I will write from Chili, and then I shall be
drawing nearer to England every time I move. It is
necessary to mention all this long beforehand, for an
interval of five months must elapse before an answer
can arrive from England either here or in Chili.

It is now two o'clock in the morning, and I can
think of nothing to tell you about this place which may
not be found in any book which treats of the subject.
I am afraid I have written you a very dull letter, but
my last, if I remember rightly, was full of jaw about

282 Irregularity of Letters, [1849

the society, manners, and that sort of thing, so that I
have exhausted my stock. You must remember that
if you get stupid letters I get none at all, and com-
passionate me accordingly.

I was very sorry to hear that my dear babe had
been unwell. She has such a capital temperament
that I have no doubt she soon recovered, and before
this will have forgotten she ever was poorly. With
love to her and all, believe me, my dear mother,

Your most affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Taploia Court, July 16, 1849.

My dear Bertram,

I am vexed beyond measure to have missed
the mail at the beginning of this month, owing to a
mistake in Cornhill. I greatly fear you will have been
disappointed in not receiving letters at Valparaiso a
second time, and scarcely know whether I do right in
directing this to Lima, but think you must arrive there
before September.

We were very much pleased to receive, 5th July,
two agreeable letters, 6th and 13th May, in which you
spoke of leaving Rio in a few days.

We have now been three weeks settled at Taplow
Court, and enjoy the place extremely. The air is
delicious, and the woods, and walks, and views
beautiful. Mr. Hay Mackenzie died at Cliefden last
week, and all the Sutherland party are gone into

i849] News from Taplow Court. 283

Scotland for the season. They called on us, but we
did not see them.

John and Florence and the infant Wodehouse have
just left us after spending a few days. They go to
Kimberley to-morrow, and George goes down to them
on Wednesday for the agricultural meeting. He has
lately made an expedition to Falmouth with John.

You would, perhaps, see by the Timez of the 3rd or
4th that I proposed Rothschild at Guildhall, and
gained some /cOSo? at least from the Hebrew race.
Old Pattison is dead, so we shall have another election,
and, I suppose (after Lord J. Manners' defeat) some
Liberal will walk over the course.

The Grotes are at Burnham Beeches, only just
come there from London. She breakfasted with
Milnes the other morning to meet Metternich. Grote
declined, saying gravely to Milnes, " I have something
better to do with my time than to spend it on the
oppressor of mankind ! "

Young Selwyn marries Miss Copley (the elder one)
after a very short acquaintance. Poor old Coltman is
dead. Mr. H. Currie and daughters are just starting
for a three weeks' tour in Scotland. Money is more
and more a drug. Stocks are steadily rising.

Before leaving London we had two or three parties,
and one soiree with some fifty people, in our drawing-
rooms, which are extremely pretty and light beautifully.
They have two very handsome glass chandeliers and
eight plated Queen Anne sconces, with six candles
each, on the walls. My letter has a strange Olla-
Podrida of events, like a schoolboy's in Punch, but I
am obliged to chronicle items as they occur to me.

I shall be truly glad to hear that you have met

284 British and Continental Politics. [1849

Baring ; it is more satisfactory to think of you with
the society of an old friend. Mandeville sent me a
letter a few days since which he had received from
Guido, professing a determination to pay you every
possible attention, so I hope the wretch's feed was forth-
coming.

Ponsford gets on slowly at Puddledock, and will
not, I believe, be covered in this winter ; they say
positively that they shall be at work at Shadwell by
September.

I have requested Charles Mellish to write to our
Consul at Valparaiso, but I fear too late to be of any
use to you. Your mother is writing to that place for the
chance of your being still there. We often see Philip
and Henry. To-morrow some dozen boys come by
land and water and have a picnic at our spring.
Maynard is at home and reads pretty steadily. Mary
and the babe are flourishing and enjoy the place.
I shall not have a regular keeper here, but a vermin-
killer, one Gedge from Witton, who will also be a
boatman, if wanted, and keep people off the grounds.

Strzlecki is administering relief again in Ireland.
Parliament will sit till first week in August. D'Israeh's
field-day, and the large majority against him, have
strengthened the Government, who seem likely to be
rather stronger, the Peel party drawing nearer and
nearer to them. How the French will get away from
Rome now they have possession of it, or how any
Government can be established there, no one can say.
There is at present a reaction in favour of the
moderate party in France. German politics are
beyond my comprehension ; every one must wish that
the Hungarians may successfully resist Russia and

iS49]

Return to Buenos Ayrcs. 285

Austria. There is a very intelligent envoy here from
Kossuth, whom I have seen.

You may suppose how anxiously we shall look for
letters from Buenos Ayres to know how you fare with
the Donna M.

Dear B., we often talk and oftener think of you.
God bless you.

Yours affectionately,

R. C.

Bertram's letter from Rio of May 23rd reached London on
July 2oth, four days after the precedint; letter from his father
had been despatched. Mr. Kaikes Currie at once wrote again,
addressing this time to Buenos Ayres, repeating what he had
said before ; enlarging on the charms of Taplow Court and on
the possibility of his acquiring it as a permanent residence ; yet
he considered the house "indifferent and inconvenient from
having only two sitting-rooms." It is to this letter that allusion
is made in the following.

Buenos Ayres, October 13, 1849.
My dear Father,

My last letter, dated August 12th, I wrote
on the eve of departure for a tour in the interior, and
prepared you for my silence of last month. On the
3rd inst., I received your letter of the 20th July by the
Douro, and a few lines by the August packet from my
mother, which explains to me the absence of all letters
for five months, my last previous news of you being
dated May 3rd. Happily I have not been so badly off
for public intelligence, as Mr. Southern is well supplied
with newspapers, and I read your speech in nomination
of Rothschild a little more than two months after its

286 Journey to Santa Fi.

[1849

delivery. I thought it capital, and the quotation/
which I remember well, most appropriate. It seems
to have been so considered by Lord John Manners, as
I see that in revenge he calls you a grey-headed man,
intimating that he prefers his own moustache to that
venerable ornament.

I am glad to hear that you have found a place
which you like, as I know you are rather critical about
air, soil, and other qualities not often united in one
spot. Of all your previous transactions, including the
visit to Paris, which you mention, I am entirely
ignorant, but hope to be enlightened at Valparaiso.

Of what I have done myself, a detailed account
would be long and rather uninteresting, but I will
try to give you an idea of the general effect of what I
saw.

Immediately after the date of my last letter, that is
on the 14th August, I left Buenos Ayres, and arrived
in eight days at Santa Fe, a distance of three hundred
and fifty miles. I was accompanied by my servant
and a vigilante or gendarme sent by the Governor at
my request, and was furnished with H. E. passport,
setting forth that, " Inasmuch as D. Beltran, &c., an
English traveller, sets forth solely with the desire
of becoming acquainted with the provinces of the
Argentine Confederation, and has been recommended
by H. E. Henry Southern from England, and by other
gentlemen worthy of the friendship of the Republic,
the undersigned Governor orders all authorities of
Buenos Ayres to assist him in every way and to
provide him with all he may require, and the post-
masters to furnish him with horses. And with respect

^ See p. ig.

1849] The " apreciabW traveller. 287

to Their Excellencies, the Governors of the provinces
through which he may pass, the undersigned Governor
recommends to them strongly the 'aprcciable' traveller
D. Beltran, &c., hoping that they will furnish him with
everything necessary for the safety and convenience of
his journey for account of this Government, and with
everything else which he may demand or require."

The country through which I rode is the same
which Head and others have described, an immense
grass plain occasionally intersected by rivers, which in
the summer are dried up ; so thinly populated that
one rarely sees a man or a house between one post
and another; covered in many parts with cattle, and
towards the north with low wood. The post-houses
are mud hovels, generally full of holes. Their owners
kept a number of horses which, on the arrival of a
traveller (a very rare event), are driven from their
pasture into the cornil, or pen, an operation which,
with saddling and loading, generally occupies an hour.
When the pasture is good, the horses are capable of
going a long distance. Their pace is a gallop of about
nine miles an hour, and is kept up from one post to
another, a distance from two to seven leagues. The
fatigue I did not find very great, and it was more
occasioned by want of sleep at night than by the
exercise of the day. Bs, fleas, cockroaches, rats, and
others varieties abound even in winter, and in summer
must be overpowering.

At the few small towns at which I stopped, I met
with great attentions from the authorities, passing the
night in the house of the mayor or military com-
mander ; but I generally preferred the discomforts of
the post-houses to the oppressive politeness of the

288 Politeness of the authorities. [184^

citizens. On arriving at a town at sunset, I ride up
to the house of the principal authority, present my
passport to him and am received with great civility,
and an immediate offer of the house. Three or four
hours (most painful periods of my existence) are then
spent, without having washed or unbooted, in conver-
sation with the senoras, aided by matte and native
cigars. After the few questions about Buenos Ayres,
which most of them have heard of only as a vast
metropolis, have been exhausted, one has to make an
effort to say something, of the difficulty of which you
have no conception, as there is no subject, political,
moral, or religious, about which they have formed
any ideas, and an attempt to be jocose would be badly
received. Perhaps at ten (p.m.), the salor comes in
and tells you that supper is ready, and, having eaten
nothing all day, you sit down with him to a series
of most indigestible and disgusting compounds in
which nothing is to be recognized but oil and spices.
After supper, the quantity of which is regulated in
proportion to your dignity and the compliment to
be shown to you, you are allowed to go to bed and
sleep, if you can after such a feed. The houses,
though entirely unfurnished, are air-tight, and the
beds, though instinct with animal life, are tolerable to
one who has been twelve hours on horseback.

If your fortune leads you at night to a post-
house, you find half a dozen Gauchos sitting on the
floor and a few women, generally half-Indian, with
long matted hair and excessively dirty. After a few
dexterous compliments, you propose something to eat,
and inquire anxiously after a lamb or chicken. If
these are not to be had, you can at any rate get beef,

,849] ^'^^^ Post-houses. 2S9

of which a broad slice two inches thick is put on an
iron skewer and roasted over a wood fire. Then the
skewer is stuck into the ground, and each person
cuts off as much as he wants. Forks and plates are
unknown, but nobody is without a great carving-knife
stuck in his belt. After this, as the water is generally
too bad to drink, one has a matte, of which I am
become a great admirer. My bed on these occasions
was a mattress placed either in the hut or "sub Jove,"
and my sheets two Scotch plaids. There is certainly,
as everybody has said and written, a feeling of satis-
faction and independence at being reduced so nearly
to the state of nature, for the mattress and plaids are
a mere superfluity, and in hot weather one would be
better without them.

At Santa Fe, I was treated magnificently. The
Governor gave me the best house in the town to live
in, a secretary of state, an orderly, and a black flunky
to attend on my person, and sent from his own kitchen
a most elaborate dinner every day. The town is one
of the oldest in these provinces, but has suffered much
in the thousand revolutions since the declaration of
independence, having been sacked, I believe, seven
times. It contains some tolerable churches, and about
eight thousand inhabitants, but its only pretension to
beauty consists in the number of orange-trees which
fill the court of every house. The inhabitants are
most polite, but ignorant and primitive beyond belief.
As the weather is hot, they sleep the greater part of
the day, going out only to Mass, and spending the
rest of their time absolutely in doing nothing. The
women dress in Manchester cotton, and wear a shaw.
or handkerchief over their heads. The Governor,
T

290 General Urguiza. ['^49

General Echagiie, considered a great statesman, is a
little less ignorant than the rest, and a very worthy
good sort of fellow, ruling his subjects with a more
merciful sceptre than his fellows, and drawing his
wisdom from treatises on government and law, pub-
lished some hundred years ago.

From Santa Fe, I crossed the River Parana, which
is full of low wooded islands, to the town of La
Bayada del Parana, the capital of the province of
Entre-Rios. The Governor of this province. General
Urguiza, is perhaps, next to Rosas, the most remark-
able man in the Argentine Republic. He is particularly
distinguished by his ferocity, having, at one sitting,
cut the throats of more than one thousand prisoners
of war. His Government is most frightfully despotic,
and his is a perpetual reign of terror. As every one
is obliged to serve in the army, any individual is liable
to be called away from his home, shut up in a
barracks or sent upon an expedition, is neither paid
nor clothed, and is liable on the slightest sign of
discontent or disobedience to have his throat cut.
It is quite lamentable to see the want of population
and progress in the country consequent upon the wars
and assassinations of this tyrant. He neither respects
person nor property, claiming absolute power over
both for the service of the State.

This worthy does not live in the capital, but at an
estancia about fifty leagues distant.

From La Bayada I crossed the province of Entre-
Rios to the town of Concepcion de la China, on the
Urugua}^ and called en passant on the Governor, whom,
much to my regret, I did not see. From Concepcion
I rode twent}' leagues to Gualequaychu, a small town

1S49] Retrospect of the Journey. 291

on the Uruguay, where I was kept some days by
contrary winds, and from whence I embarked in a
small schooner for Buenos Ayres, and arrived on the
19th of September, after a long voyage of five days.

The province of Entre-Rios is wooded and undu-
lating, and, in these flat regions, has some pretensions
to the picturesque.

Of the two great rivers which form the Rio de la
Plata, the Parana is the largest, but so full of islands
throughout its whole course that it never presents so
great an expanse of water as the Uruguay. The
latter, from Gualequaychu downwards, is five or six
miles in breadth, but shallow, and navigable only in
certain channels. The land on both sides is low and
wooded.

Thanks to the Governor's passport, I met with
great attention everywhere. Horses, vessels, and
accommodation were provided for me free of expense,
soldiers sent to accompany me, and everything done
to facilitate my object of becoming acquainted with
the provinces of the Confederation.

Though rather desillusiojic as to the pleasure of a
ride of a thousand miles, I am on the whole glad to
have undertaken this small expedition, as I have seen
a country, not particularly interesting certainly, either
from natural advantages or from its inhabitants, but
one rarely if ever visited in the way I have done,
and very much unlike anything I had seen or even
imagined.

It also improved my Spanish, and I have got some
experience which will be useful in the greater journey
to Chili. As to my health, it is not much benefited,
for the good produced by the exercise was fully

292 Deunos Ay res again. [,849

counterbalanced by the irregular hours and un-
accustomed quality of feeding.

Since my return to Buenos Ayres nothing particular
has happened. The Commodore, Sir T. Herbert,
arrived from Monte Video to take leave of the
Governor, as he is about to be relieved, and we
had a fete at the quinia to celebrate this event, and
a great deal of embracing between him and his
Excellency.

Mr. Southern is anxiously expecting the approval
of H.M. Government to his convention, and it seems
that we wait only for the co-operation of the French
Government to settle the question.

I have changed my house, and now live in some
rooms belonging to a Yankee comb-manufacturer ;
they are neither better nor worse than the previous
ones ; but by this time, as you may imagine, I have
ceased to be critical. After returning from the country,
Buenos Ayres seemed quite unnecessarily luxurious.

I heard from Ned Baring from Mexico, May 12th.
He was to proceed by Panama and Lima to Valparaiso
and cross to Buenos Ayres. I hope we may meet,
though of course he will not turn back, and I cannot.
It is unfortunate that we should have chosen routes
diametrically opposite.

My march to Chili takes place in a few days, and
I hope to arrive at Mendoza in the beginning of next
month, which is the earliest time for crossing the
Cordilleras, and even then I may be delayed if the
snow is melting.

As to writing, you must make use of a large dis-
cretion as to where you direct, but I think you might
still send a few lines to Lima, as the distance from

1849] Regret at leaving. 293

England is comparatively short, and I may be delayed
in Chili or elsewhere longer than I anticipate.

My idea is to stop a few days at Santiago (the
capital), go on to Valparaiso, and then perhaps make
an excursion by land northward, and wait for the
steamer which goes, I believe, every month up the
coast.

It is a pity that I have spent so much time in this
part of South America, which is probably the least
interesting, although, as far as towns are concerned,
Buenos Ayres is one of the most flourishing. I shall
leave it with some regret, as one does every place,
not that I have many male friends among the natives
(for they are a sad rascally lot), but because the climate
is pleasant and the women pretty, and I have spent
four months very tolerably.

With love to my mother, brothers, and sisters, and
hoping they may spend a pleasant Christmas (generally
the hottest day of the year where I shall be), believe
me, my dear father,

Your most affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Cornhill, September 14, 1S49.
My dear Bertram,

We heard from you last about a month
ago, date June 9th, a few days after your arrival at
Buenos Ayres per Spider. The packet — which arrived
ten days since (having made a quick passage), brought

294 Letter from England. [ig^g

letters to the 12th July, but I regret to sa}', no tidings
from you. I shall direct this to Lima, where I suppose
you will arrive by the end of November.

We are all well, and very stationary at Taplow
Court. Strzlecki has just arrived there from Ireland,
and will stay some time. George is at Kimberley with
the Henleys, &c. Ogilvie, who was to have been there,
has become Lord Airlie, and cannot leave home.
Maynard is staying at Horsley, where Mr. Henry
Currie is very busy returning Evelyn in Denison's
place, but there is a sharp contest.

The Pulzkys (the Hungarian Envoy and his wife)'
have been again staying with us. She is a very clever,
refined, and agreeable person, better acquainted with
English literature than all but one in a hundred of
educated females here, plays, draws, &c. The Grotes
dine with us occasionally. Tom Phillips has been with
us for a fortnight.

There are signs of reviving commerce. Money is
rather more in demand. The returns of exports and
imports for the quarter are a great justification of
Peel's policy.

The Bishop of Norwich died suddenly in Scotland,
a great loss.

I have got a sort of keeper at Taplow Court, one
Gedge, from Witton, who traps a large cat almost
nightly: he has caught fourteen. I have the Cliefden
Woods as well as my own.

European politics are too large a subject. The
President is playing in a trimming manner Louis
Philippe's old game of family, or rather, personal
aggrandizement, and supposed to be the humble
servant of Russia, who, by the prostration and depen-

,849] Shadwell Mill. 295

dency of the Austrian Empire, becomes more powerful
and dangerous. I send you the Examiner, with a letter
Weissenborn sent to me (being his third) on German
politics. Hungary is completely floored ; but can
Austria govern it ?

Shadwell Mill will be opened in November. The
coffer-dam is at length completed at P.D. White is
on the Rhine, to place his second son at a school to
learn German. The eldest is here, and doing well.
Old Dives is driving a devil of a trade. Some very
rich millers in Lincolnshire — Seeley and Co. — made
overtures to be taken into your partnership, which, of
course, I declined.

Things are excessively quiet with us. Pray do
write by every occasion. If you feel indisposed to
write at length, send a few lines to say how you are.
At these tremendous distances one feels uneasy at not
hearing.

The cholera continues fearfully prevalent, and in

Lambeth and some other districts most destructive

— deaths in London district 2,000 weekly. I am,

dear B.,

Ever yours affectionately,

R. C.

FROM B. W. C.

Santiago de Chile, Nov. 28, 1849.
My dear Mother,

My last letter was dated from Buenos
Ayres, October 13th, and I have to-day received from
Valparaiso a joint letter from you and my father of
June iGih, one from George of the same date, and a

296 Santiago de Chile.

[1849

line from my father of September i^th, telling me that
you were all well, and that he had written to Lima;
but none of July, nor any of introduction, which
my father, in a former letter, mentioned as having
sent.

You will see by the heading of my letter that I
have passed the dangers of the Pampas and Cordil-
lera, and arrived in the capital of Chili. On the
27th October I left Buenos Ayres, and arrived here on
the 25th November. At the Governor's recommenda-
tion, I accompanied the courier of the post (who is
despatched once a month to Mendoza), and was also
attended by the vigilante, who went with me to
Santa Fe and the Parana. General Rosas again gave
me his passport, and was exceedingly kind in ordering
that I should be particularly attended to and have
everything that I wanted. The postman proved of
great service from his knowledge of the road, of the
best places to sleep in, and the proper day's journey
to make.

I took, besides, my servant, an improvement upon
the former one, who has left me. He is an English-
man, born in Buenos Ayres, and brought by Mr.
Southern from England, from whose service I took
him. We formed a party of four, with generally two
or three postillions, and eight or nine horses.

The road is so entirely uninteresting that really I
hardly know what to tell you about it, except that we
galloped from sunrise to sunset, and generally had
roast beef for supper. I was not much tired, and
suffered more from the sun than the fatigue. The
weather was excessively hot, and a north wind drove
clouds of dust before it, and deprived me of the skin

1849] Journey across the Pampas. 297

of my face. My fat man, however, was knocked up,
and we were obliged to put him in a cart.

By sending on a copy of the passport, with which
the postman had been provided by the Governor's
orders, much delay was avoided in the post-houses.
Of the Indians we heard a great deal in the exposed
provinces, but I think the danger of falling into their
hands very remote. In one part they gave me an
escort without my asking for it, as I put very little
faith in their assistance. However, the Indians served
to lengthen our journey; as, to avoid the possibility of
being surprised at night, it is necessary to sleep in the
fortified posts, and the day's performance is thereby
lessened. For three days successively we galloped
thirty leagues and once thirty-four, which, with baggage
horses (and in some parts with a cart), is a consider-
able undertaking. In San Luis we were delayed twenty-
four hours for the letters, which delay reduced our
journey of 323 leagues to 12 days. I cannot say that
the voyage across the Pampas is amusing, but it is
better than that round Cape Horn, which lasts two or
three months.

At Mendoza I stayed ten days, preparing for the
passage of the Andes and recruiting my epidermis.
Like all the provincial towns, it is dull and sleepy ;
but the neighbourhood is rather pretty from the culti-
vation of fruit-trees and clover, which are artificially
watered by the streams descending from the Andes.
The Cordillera, or highest and middle range, is not
seen from the town, on account of its position imme-
diately under the mountains.

On the 19th of November I left Mendoza, and
arrived in Santiago in si.\ days. My company con-

298 The Cordillera.

[1849

sisted of the arnin, or master of the mules, his man,
and a boy to lead the madrina, or godmother (a mare
with a bell round her neck whom the mules follow),
a man whom I engaged for the journey to assist
generally and to cook, my man, and myself. We had
thirteen animals, including a horse and a mule for me,
mules for the rest, and three for the baggage. We
took with us food of all kinds, and dined and slept in
the open air. The scenery is very grand, the moun-
tains are entirely barren, and rise almost perpendi-
cularly to an immense height ; but I was much dis-
appointed in not obtaining from any point an extensive
view. Even on the summit of the Cordillera — 12,000
feet above the sea — we were surrounded by higher
mountains. The cold was very great, and one night
there was a slight fall of snow. On the Chilian side
of the Cordillera we had to pass between walls of
snow five feet high, but many of the higher mountains
were entirely covered.

After the gallop across the Pampas the journey did
not appear very arduous, for though we were on our
mules nearly the whole day, we could always stop and
eat where there was a sheltered spot, and we had a
plentiful supply of food ; beef, lamb, bread, biscuits,
ham, tongues, rice, onions, and other delicacies which
an old gentleman in Mendoza had supplied me with.

On this side of the mountains the valleys are
cultivated, and look green and pretty, but there is no
grandeur of vegetation, and the beauty of the Andes
consists in their immense size. The dangers are much
exaggerated. The ladcras, or narrow paths along the
side of a precipice, look rather alarming, but the mules
take them very coolly, and few accidents occur. Not-

1849] Santiago. 299

withstanding, a few minutes before we passed, a loaded
mule belonging to a troop had fallen, and we saw it
at the bottom with its thigh broken.

Santiago seems a dull town, not so large as Buenos
Ayres, but I have not explored it much. The father
of my friend Arcos, a reputed millionaire, has just
established a bank, and I went to dine with him last
night.

What my plans are I really cannot say, as I have
only just arrived, and not been to Valparaiso, or able
to get any information, but I suppose in about a month
I shall be in Lima. Before leaving Chili I should
like to see something of the country. This morning I
had a line from Ned Baring, dated Lima, November 11,
telling me of his arrival at that place, but nothing
about his future plans. I hope we may meet, but he
will of course wish to see Buenos Ayres and Rio, and
my road lies the other way. The post for Valparaiso
leaves to-day, from which place the steamer starts on
the 30th. I have only just found this out, and am
obliged to write in a great hurry. I hope to find at
Lima letters telling me what to do — whether Ponsford
requires my services or not, &c. I will write again
by the first opportunity, till which time, with love to
all, believe mc, my dear mother.

Your affectionate son,

Bertr.am W. Currie.

300 Mills and Millers. [jg^^

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Taplow Court, October 14, 1849.

We were delighted to receive your letters (one to
George and one to myself) of July i8th. The mail
being twelve days overdue, we only got them a week
ago.

As you will have made yourself an accomplished
Spanish conversationalist, it seems certainly worth
while to see Mexico if a favourable opportunity offers,
but I think that the United States tour should be kept
in view as your main object, and therefore you must
consider what you can accomplish so as to get to
New Orleans (if you go there) and leave it for the
north before the unhealthy season there. I am afraid
that the beginning of April is the latest moment at
which you should be there. I shall be truly glad to
have you in England again, but as far as Wright,
Ponsford, and Co., are concerned, I think you may
safely stay till Midsummer or July. If the weather
continues open they will make rapid progress with
their building ; the dam is completed and they are
filling in the foundations. Very great millers in
Lincolnshire, Keysworth and Seeley, who have mills at
Lincoln and Boston, have opened negotiations for the
patent in that district. They offered a cheque for
^£"5,000 for the right to use it in their Lincoln mill.
This of course could not be listened to, but is satis-
factory as showing their opinion. W. and P. are
going to meet them at Peterboro, on Tuesday. There
is a new mill there unlet, built by Lord FitzWilliam,

1 849]

Relatio7is with Russia. "501

and though I daresay nothing will come of it, it seemed
worth inquiring whether an arrangement could be
come to for working the patent there under a
temporary partnership with them. They are men of
undoubted wealth and respectability and eminently
successful.

Strzlecki is still staying here, and the Scotts are
now with us. J. Lefevre is coming for a few days.
Maynard returns this week to Cambridge.

The Emperor of Russia's insolent demand for the
delivery of Kossuth and Co., and Sir. S. Canning's
firmness have made some persons anticipate a break
with Russia, but the affair will, I think, be patched
up.

Our life is so very quiet and monotonous that I
really have nothing to tell you. We went to stay a
night at Mr. R. Hibbert's (Chalfont Park), a very pretty
place eleven miles from this. We see the Irbys
occasionally, but arc little troubled by neighbours.
Henry Currie and the Horsley girls seemed to enjoy
their visit. Things in Cornhill are flat and uninterest-
ing. We shall (if we can make the house warm) stay
on here for the present. . . . John^ has been addressing
the agriculturists and labourers and spoken admirably
— plain good sense. He is acting as J. P., Chairman of
the Guardians, &c. Stanley- is a sad loss to Norwich.
. . . The reaction in European affairs seems to be so
abused by all the Governments, Prussian, French, and
Austrian, that I think a terrible day of reckoning will
come. iMnancial ruin overhangs them all, and
popular opinion must in the long run upset the
Government by military force. As to the French

1 Lord Wodehouse. = The Bishop.

302 ''Hungarian Rebels." [1849

President, I believe he seeks his own personal
aggrandisement, and is the humble servant of the
Czar. Old Weissenborn has written to me frequently.
He has been engaged in a correspondence with Lord
Cardigan, Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington, and
latterly with Prince Albert, endeavouring by these
great instrumentalities to extract £2 5s. 6d. from one
Garland, formerly a pupil of W.'s, now a cornet in
Prince Albert's Own.

Your mother has, I find, written you what little
gossip we have, and therefore I will conclude.

In Mrs. Raikes Currie's letter, alluding to the visit of M. and
Madame Pulzky, the " Hungarian Rebels," to Taplow Court,
she says, " I remember you felt no sympathy for the poor
Hungarians at the commencement of their dispute with Austria,
but I think their position was not then understood in England."

George Carrie wrote from London, i5th Oct., 1849 :

I was very glad to receive a letter from you early
this month from Buenos Ayres. . . . We were amused
with your accounts of South American society, &c.,
though you do not paint what you see en coidettr dc
rose. One thing I do sincerely envy you — climate.
The detestable brumal season has set in again, and
for the next six months we shall have nothing but
N.E. winds, fogs, snow, rain, and smoke, with corre-
sponding catarrhs, &c. I am at this moment suffering
from these influences. My father and mother continue
at Taplow Court, where they have been receiving a
succession of distinguished visitors. The house,

,849] End of Revolution m Hiingary. ^o^

however, is very cold, and the journey from hence
long, so that I do not go up and down much, generally
sleeping in Hyde Park Terrace, and dining at the
Alfred Club. . . .

. . . The Hungarian war is all over: the revolution
crushed by the infamous intervention of Russia, and
the Austrian scoundrels are now doing the hanging
and butchering after the fray is over. The end of the
business has been the most exciting, Kossuth and the
other Hungarian leaders took refuge, when all was
lost, in Turkey, and the Czar immediately made a
demand on the Ottoman Porte for their extradition ;
to which the Sultan, encouraged by England and
France, refused. It was thought this would be a
casus belli between Russia and Austria versus Turkey
assisted by England, and it may possibly be still, if
the barbarian perseveres in his demand, but this he will
not do.

The talk of the papers just now is an insane outcry
of the Sabbatarians and bigots against an alteration
in the Post Office. Lord Winchilsea, in a long letter
to the Times, attributes the scourge of cholera to,
(i) a worldly speculation in railway scripts, (2) the
threatened opening of the Post Office on the Sabbath,
(3) the omission of the name of the Almighty from the
coin of the realm — i.e. a new two-shilling piece which
has not the words fid. dcf. after the Regina ! The
Count says, " I do believe this planet is the mad-house
of the Universe."

Talking of Lord Winchilsea, he is about to marry
thirdly a Miss Rice whom you know. Your quondam
master at Eton, Neville major, has married Miss
Florence Maude (Lord Hawardcn's daughter). One

304 Letter from Home. [,849

of Oswald Smith's sons has married a Miss Maberly
(Mrs. G. R. Smith's half-sister), a good deal his senior ;
but this was a long time ago, and you have probably
heard it.

The preceding letters were addressed to Lima, as also arc
the followinc; written in November and December.

TO B. W. C. FROM HIS MOTHER.

My dearest Bertram,

On Thursday, 25th October, we received a
letter from you written the day before you started on
an expedition along the Parana to Corrientes, and
giving an account of your equipment, &c., which
interested us much ; but I was extremely vexed to find
you had only received four letters. The truth is, not
having the least notion your stay at Buenos Ayres
would be so protracted, our letters were not directed
there. Some have been sent to Valparaiso which I
hope will reach you. You have been very good about
writing, and your letters are fully appreciated ; that
of July 14th was a long and entertaining one — indeed,
they have all been very interesting to us. Though
I fear you have been considerably disappointed
in your expectations of instruction and amusement,
up to the time of your last letter, I trust that before
your return to England 3'ou will have seen enough to
repay you for crossing the Atlantic, and for all subse-
quent desagreinens. . . .

1st November. — I shall make this letter a sort of
journal. Last Saturday we were asked to dine at

1849] Letter fro)n Hovic. 305

Danesfield, to meet Lord and Lady Portarlington.
It is eight or nine miles from hence and belongs to
Mr. Scott Murray. He became a Roman Catholic a
few years since, and married a daughter of Lord
Lovat's. We did not go ; it is too far and moreover
I had settled to go to London that morning.

Count Strzlecki has been with us for several
weeks, and we find him a most agreeable guest, always
cheerful and amusing. Last week he went into
Yorkshire to visit the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and this week he is at Bowood, but returns to-day.
Next v/eek I believe he goes to Wickham. . . .

George went out on Monday with Mr. Sartoris,
who lives close by with his aunts the Miss Tunnos,
and keeps harriers. They met near Amersham and
had good sport. George seldom comes down now,
except at the end of the week, and has been in constant
attendance in Cornhill.

The Queen was to have gone to the City yestertlay
to open the Coal Exchange, but had the chicken-pox
and could not go. Prince Albert and the two elder
children went in state.

We talk of going to Brighton, to the Bedford
Hotel for a fortnight, to avoid the worse part of the
fall of the leaf; but, up to this time (the beginning of
November), the weather has been so fine and bright,
we do not care to move. This is a very dry soil, and
the situation so high that the air never feels damp.
We all like the place extremely, though the house is
not all we could wish ; but the country is pretty and
cheerful, and the vicinity to the station its crowning
merit.

November ylh. — Mr. John Lcfcvrc came down on
U

3o6 Forthcoming Weddings. jg^g

Saturday. His family have been spending the summer
in Scotland near Jedburgh at a house they hired for
the season.

George went to Mr. Humphrey Mildmay's near
Sevenoaks on Saturday, with Mr. Bingham Mildmay.
I hope you and Ned Baring have met. Your uncle
Berkeley and his family are gone to Genoa. Aunt
Fanny is recovering from the serious illness she had at
Boulogne.

Mrs. Balfour and her family have been spending
the summer at Bembridge, a quiet village in the Isle
of Wight. She hears from Harrington, who has been
living in Mr. Bethune's house ever since he went out
to Calcutta, that the climate does not agree with him,
but she hopes he will tr}^ a change of residence, by
going up the country, before he returns on sick leave.

Mr. John Drummond's second son, the stockbroker,
is to marry one of your little " Brigstocks." I don't
know which. Lord William Fitzroy's son espouses
Miss Duncombe, daughter to Lord I'cversham. Your
cousin Mary Ward is to be married on Wednesday to
a Captain Kennedy, late of the Indian Army. I hear
he is neither pleasing in manner, nor in personal
appearance. We will hope he is worthy ! The}* will
have about £^,00 a year to live upon.

Walter Raikes has decided on returning to Canada
I fancy that he was not likely to succeed in this
country. He spent some weeks in Ireland, with the
idea of taking a farm there, but it ended in no result.

I2f/z November. — Mr. and Lady Sophia Tower, who
live in this country near Ivor, called here yesterday.
We are engaged to dine and sleep at their house a
short time hence.

1849] Family News. 307

Mary has not been very strong through the summer
but is better now, though she looks thin and pale.
Edith is as fat as ever, and as lively and intelligent.
She has just been writing, under the superintendence
of Miss Thun (a German who has been with us three
months), a German letter to Count Strzlecki to thank
him for a very pretty illustrated German book he sent
her. . . . Maynard seems to be going on steadily at
Cambridge : he has got the brown pony (Montrescr)
this term. The Eton holidays begin on the 3rd
December, unusually early. Henry is to move into
"tails" this Christmas. Philip grows very tall, and
is thin and lankv. ...

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Taplow Court. Xov, 14th, 1849.

Your last long and interesting letter to your
mother (date Aug. nth, just previous to starting on
your excursion to Corrientes) is receiving a rejoinder
of ample size from her pen, which must make a clean
sweep of the little gossip and small news our quiet
life affords. Much do I regret that you have received
letters so seldom and so irregularly. . . .

I shall set about procuring letters for the United
States from Lord Carlisle and others. Bulwer is at
last starting for his Embassy.

This mail takes you a credit from Baring's for £200
on various places. I am told that you should take
special care to avoid the unhealthy season at New
Orleans.

3o8 George at CornJiill. [,849

John Lawford has been seriously ill with an attack
of rheumatic fever ; he has been entirely confined to
his bed for ten days. . . . He is I hope getting better.
George has had the whole responsibility of Cornhill
thrown upon his shoulders; a capital thing for him,
and when driven into a corner he does his work very
well. Of course we see very little of him at Taplow.
Bullion at the Bank is i6m. higher than it has been
since 1846. Brokers refuse money at 2 per cent.
Consols 93:|-. I believe there is a very good trade
doing quietly — wheat about 40s. or 42s. the qr. Revenue
very good and improving. . . . Louis Napoleon seems
determined to play the forward game, and to be
independent of his Ministers.

Holmes and his wife go to Demerara by the packet
which takes out this. Our colonies seem in fermenta-
tion from the Cape to Canada.

Thursday, i^th. — I wrote thus far last night. With
regard to your future direction, I must leave it to
your own judgment and discretion. Times and
seasons weeks hence are so uncertain. I shall be
truly glad to have you home again, but, being across
the Atlantic, I think you should see the United States
and the best men in them. If, as I greatly hope, you
have met Baring you will have an excellent opinion.
... 5 o'clock. — I am now just returned from an
exciting scene, where George and I have been for four
hours. Cliefden is burnt down, but the books and
pictures are saved. We have been very active and I
hope useful. The Duchess is in Scotland. Workmen
were in the house.

1849] FUx at C lief den. 309

Mrs. Raikes Currie says:

As I write, Mary runs down from the schoolroom
to sa}' the house at Chefden is on fire. We all rush
up, and see the flames blazing furiously. Now they
burst through the windows — the roof falls in ; a
magnificent scene, but one grieves for the destruc-
tion of so much property. I forget whether Sir J.
Warrender had sold it, before you left England, to
the Duke of Sutherland for 3^40,000. Alterations
were in progress in the house, and I daresay we shall
hear the fire was caused through the carelessness of
workmen. Your Father and George ordered their
horses and galloped off to Cliefden the moment they
heard of it. An engine belonging to this house was
despatched in charge of the coachman, and all our
servants flocked to assist. A strong north-west wind
and the elevated situation of the house, must render
all attempts to check the flames fruitless. We can
see that the whole house is in flames.

To-day, Thursday, 15th, is a day of public thanks-
giving for the removal of the cholera, which has almost
entirely subsided within the last three weeks. The
Queen's Proclamation has made it a holiday, so
George came down last night and goes back this
evening.

3IO Visit at Hunts7nore. [ig^^

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Taplow Court, Dec. 15, 1849.

My dear Bertram,

Since I wrote to you one month ago, affairs
have moved so quietly with us that I have Httle to
communicate. We very often think and talk of you
and earnestly wish to have you here, and on your
birthday I tasted the " unusual grape " to your health
and safe return.

I finished my last letter when Cliefden was still
smoking. Barry dined and slept here a few days
since, having come down to make his plans. He
proposes to rebuild the house (which was fully insured
in the Royal Exchange) in the likeness of an Italian
villa. Lord Frederic Gower, a youth of seventeen or
eighteen, is the only one of the family who has been
down. He dined here and went round to thank the
neighbours for their exertions.

We have been staying for a night with Ch. Tower
and Lady Sophia at Huntsmore, an old family place
in this county. There we met the Bishop of Oxford
who is particularly agreeable. We met him afterwards
at Labouchere's, where we had a feed you would have
approved, and a particularly pleasant party — Grotes
(Grote in great force), Le Marchant, Fazakerly, and
the Bishop.

John Lawford is just recovering from his very
severe illness ; he was entirely absent from business
for five weeks. . . . George came out very efficiently,
and took the keys for the whole time. It has been an

1849] Visitors at Taplow. 3 1 1

excellent thing for him and forced him to exert himself.
Money is cheap and becoming cheaper. We discount
at rates from 2 and z\ to 3 per cent. Our Stock
investments will do well, as Consols to-day were ex
dividend 96^. Parliament meets 31st of January.
The Queen Dowager was buried yesterday. Lady
Louisa Elliott marries Mr. Ponsonby, Lord Bess-
borough's brother, a clergyman.

We find this place so comfortable that we intend
staying here till Parliament meets. At Christmas the
Captain, his wife, and Albert, with the Chamberses
and Armine are to come here. The Colonel and family
are at Florence, hoping to be summoned by Ward to
rule the Greeks.

White hopes to be grinding at Shadwell by ist of
February. They have negotiations going on for
granting Royalties to different parties in distant
counties, upon the plan of dividing the proceeds with
Bovill. . . .

Edith has made extraordinary progress in German,
which she talks fluently with Miss Thun. . . . The
Childerses paid us a visit for two or three days. The
Scott Murrays from Danesfield and Laboucheres met
them.

With kindest love from all here, I am ever,

Your affectionate father,

K. C.

312 Passage of the Andes. [1849

Two letters to Mr. Southern were returned by Mr. Henderson
after Mr. Southern's death, and are here inserted.

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS EXCELLENCY HENRY SOUTHERN,
H.B.M. MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY, BUENOS AYRES.

Santiago, Sunday, Dec. 2nd, 1849.

My dear Mr. Southern,

I send a line by the postman, who goes
to-morrow to Mendoza, and returns with the letters
from Buenos Ayres, there being but one in the service
of the Chilian Government. We hear accounts of the
capitulation of the Paraguayans to Urquiza, which I
imagine must be without foundation, and various other
reports about the intentions of H. E., who finds no
favour with the Unitarian Editors of Chih.

I accomplished the passage of the Andes in six
days, and found the journey very easy compared to
the gallop across the Pampas. The weather in the
mornings and evenings was cold and on this side of
the Cordillera the road passed through walls of snow
five feet high, but the scenery is grand, the air clear
and exhilarating, and the bivouacks at night very
pleasant. One advantage in the rarified atmosphere
is ihdX p id gas and chinches cease to exist in it, and one
may pass the night unmolested. Wood and water
are plentiful and the latter excellent, so that with the
admirable preparations made by D. Benito we always
had a good supper.

Santiago, where I arrived last Sunday, appears to
be smaller than Buenos Ayres ; but it is so furiously
hot that I have not been able to explore much. The

1849] Santiago and Buenos Ayres.

O' J

Alameda is good, a broad walk about six or seven
caradens in length, with a double row of poplars and
an asequia on each side. In the evening a few people
appear there, and afterwards sit at home to receive.
The circle is preserved as at Buenos Ayres, but there
is not half ihe franqiuza or laisser alley of the charming
Patenas.

The house of Arcos is by far the pleasantest I have
entered. He has a capital cook, and the sons are very
nice young fellows. His bank is now established. In
setting it up he has met with immense opposition
directed principally by the English at Valparaiso, and
the papers are still full of controversy on the subject.

I heard the other day from young Baring, who has
arrived at Lima, and have written offering to remain
a month here to wait for him, and then go on to Lima.
To Valparaiso I have not yet been, but shall probably
do so in a few days. The Driver, in which I came out
from England, went out of port yesterday as well as
the Admiral's ship, so that I shall be badly off for
society, as there is no English man-of-war left in the
harbour.

Your ex-fat man has suffered much from his travels
and is reduced considerably in size. He does not
abound in intelligence, but I find him on the whole
superior to his antecessor.

I wrote to Manuela from Mendoza, but forgot to
mention how excessively kind Trigoyen had been to
me. If }-ou have an opportunity, will you be kind
enough to express my feelings of gratitude for that as
well as for other favours? In the Hotel Ingles, where
I am living, is a most offensive Argentine named Mur,
who claims friendship with you. The only thing I

314 Edward Baring. [1849

have to reproach Trigoyen with is his having intro-
duced me to him.

I cannot write more before the post goes. Begging
to be remembered to Henderson and all my friends,

I remain very truly yours,

Bertram W. Currie.

Lima, Dec. 2gth, 1849.
My dear Mr. Southern,

I arrived here four days ago by the steamer
from Chili, and find my particular friend Edward
Charles Baring, on his way to Buenos Ayres, where
he will arrive about the beginning of May. By the
last mail from this place, he addressed a letter to
the Governor, under cover to Zimmermans requesting
a passport, or at least all the necessary facilities for
passing the Pampas from Mendoza.

The object of his travels is to combine amusement
with information respecting the state of commerce,
the character of houses, &c. ; and he expects to find
at Buenos Ayres instructions to make some further
arrangement with regard to the payment of the debt.
Perhaps this will be no great recommendation in the
eyes of His Excellency, but, as the house is well known
to him, he will not, I suppose, refuse the favour. At
the same time, Baring is anxious to have his request
conveyed in the best manner possible, and would have
written directly to you, had either he or Mr. Adams
had the pleasure of your acquaintance.

Will you be so kind as to support his petition in
whatever way you think most advisable.

1849] Lima Incidents. 315

The British crown and dignity has received an
affront here in the person of Mr. Sulivan, its unworthy
representative in Chili. He arrived a fortnight ago
in the steamer from Panama, in company with one
Potter, the North American consul at Valparaiso. . . .

(There follows an account of the quarrel between these
gentlemen, which, as it is fully narrated in the succeeding lottiT.
may be omitted here.)

This place is more of a town than Buenos Ayres,
but the women are not so pretty (as indeed where are
they ?). The sago and inanto are no more, and of
course this is the wrong time of year for everything.
To-morrow we are to have a bull-fight, and I shall see
something more of the people. I was last night at a
Madame Bergmann's — Patefia, nee de Rubio.

Adams is a good fellow, with a jileasant wife.
To-morrow the Admiral is coming up with his
women, who arc dowdy and slow. I will write again
before leaving, which will be perhaps in two months.
Pray write to me here, care of Alsop and Co., and tell
me how your politics are getting on. I see in the
paper that Garibaldi is to return to Monte Video.
Believe me, very sincerely yours,

Bertram W. Currie.

2,i6 Valparaiso to Lima. [1850

FROM B. W. C. TO MR, RAIKES CURRIE.

Lima, Jan. 12th, 1850.
My dear Father,

I received with great pleasure your letters
of November i6th, the first (with one other exception)
that have reached me directly, the rest having
experienced delays varying from two to five months
before they fell into my hands.

My last letter was from St. lago, November 28th,
written as soon as I got to Chili, and sent by the
monthly steamer, the only opportunity this coast
affords. As I was anxious to get on after the long
delay at Buenos Ayres, and heard from Baring that
he intended to stop a month or two in Lima, I took
steam on the 14th December for this place. On the
30th of each month the Pacific Steam Navigation Co.'s
vessels start from Valparaiso to Panama touching at
all the intermediate ports for the mails, and there is in
addition a steamer in the middle of the month from
Valparaiso to Lima. The vessels do not excel in
accommodation and are much crowded. The voyage
lasts ten days, from the necessity of stopping every
day a certain number of hours at one of the small
ports. These are the most wretched places which can
be imagined. The coast of Peru, Bolivia, and Chili is
a desert ; and the towns being consequently in the
interior have each their sea-port, to which the products
of the mines, silver, copper, nitrate of soda, &c., are
brought, and by means of which they communicate
with the coast. Their supplies of food and water are

1850] Quarrelsome Co7tsuls. 3 1 7

brought in ships from the cultivated regions of the
north. The only object of any interest in the voyage
was in the Chincha Islands off the coast of Peru,
which are now supplying the world with guano. In
some cuttings the manure is 200 feet deep. The
Government have granted a monopoly in England to
Messrs. Gibbs and Co. in consideration of an advance
which that house has made to them. It appears there
is a considerable demand for this article, and every-
body talks guano from the President downwards.

I was much pleased to meet Ned Baring on my
arrival. He is staying with Mr. Adams, the charge
d'affaires, whose wife, nee Lukin, is a niece of
Mrs. Baring's ; he means to cross the Pampas from
Chili, and get to Buenos Ayres in April or May. He
was much pleased with Mexico, where he stayed six
months, having run through the States in a few weeks.
Adams is an old Foreign Office bird, a little official, but
a very good fellow, and has a cook (British) who
deserves encouragement. His wife is a clever, pleasant
little woman.

On my first arrival I met Sulivan (since gone in
the Driver to his post), the new charge d'affaires in
Chili, and nephew of Lord P. who met with a
misfortune during his short stay, which perhaps you
may have heard of. In consequence of a dispute
about the right to some rooms at an hotel, between
him and one Potter (the North American consul on
his way to Valparaiso) in the course of which the
Potterites say that Sulivan called Mrs. Potter a cook-
maid. Potter, after exhausting the abusive terms
contained in the American language, broke a thick
stick across Sulivan's face, and kept off all interference

3i8 Li7na. [1850

by presenting a loaded revolver at the bystanders.
Sulivan wrote home an account of the proceedings,
offering in case of the disapproval of H.M.'s Govern-
ment his resignation, but he bore his stripes most
humbly, and has I believe no warlike intentions. He
is certainly an uncommon ass and most unfit for his
appointment. Potter, who is a SontJiern man (as the
Yankees say by way of excuse), I did not see.

Lima is a larger and better town than Buenos
Ayres or St. lago, but from the fact of Baring and the
Adams being here, I live little with the natives. As
usual it is the wrong season for everything, and all the
people are going off to a bathing-place for the carnival.
We have an occasional earthquake to talk about, and
last Sunday a bull-fight, which all the old Spaniards
said was a contemptible affair, but which was pretty
well for America, though the bulls and men might
certainly have been better.

With regard to the future, as soon as this packet
leaves I shall go with the rest of the world to Chorillos,
a sea-bathing place four leagues distant, where ever)'-
body possesses a marine villa in the shape of a mud
cottage, and where the great purpose of life is bathing
and swinging in a hammock.

On the 30th inst., I go with Baring to a port two
days down the coast called Islay, from thence to
Arequipa, and thence cross the Cordillera, either to
Cusco, or to the Lake Titicaca (of which Prescott
speaks so much), and, spending a month in our
journeyings, recross the Cordillera to Arica, where
I take the return steamer to Lima, and he goes on his
way southward. I have animated Baring to this
expedition because I think in our vocation of travellers

1850] A pj'ojected Tour. 319

we are bound to see something of the countr}- (which
nobody does here) ; because in this tour we shall twice
cross the Cordillera, decidedly the most interesting
object in South America ; and also because an American
traveller, whose letters I saw, describes this lake as
the most interesting object in the world, and where the
most perfect remains of the Tuca's civilization are to
be met with. Of course we shall be disappointed and
should be much more comfortable in Lima with Adams
and his cook, but I am convinced that the after effect
of fine scenery and travelling (not by railroad, but as
conducted in these countries) is agreeable, and I even
begin to look at the Pampas through a distance in
which the many things that were disagreeable are lost,
and the few agreeable sensations brought into relief.

Having returned to Lima, I shall leave it for
Panama on March 15th ; arrive there in ten days, and
from Chagres take the steamer for New York, arriving
there about the loth or 15th of April. The only thing
that can interfere with this arrangement will be, that
if I find the expedition southward agreeable, I shall
spend a month at Guayaquil and Quito on my way to
Panama, and for this chance I think you may write
me a few lines to the care of the consul at Panama.

Mexico I give up with reluctance. Baring gave me
an account of the country which makes me long to
see it, as it is undoubtedly the richest and most
interesting part of Spanish America, but he agrees
with me that there is no use visiting these countries in
a hurry, and that to see Mexico three or four months
are necessary. The same is applicable to every place
I have passed through, and if I had stopped but a
month at Buenos Ayres I should have known nothing

320 Plans. [,850

of it. The facilities of communication are so few, and
the ideas of the people so slow, that it takes time to
see the country and to understand the inhabitants.

I am sure that the four or five months I shall have
to spare will be much better employed in seeing
something of the States, than in attempting to run
through too much and understanding nothing. If I
had afterwards time, I should like to go to Mexico as
well as to Jamaica and Havana, said to be the most
beautiful place and the finest island in the world.

My reasons for going to New York direct are that
the spring is the best time for seeing the Northern
States, and the Americans tell me it is the best point
for beginning a tour from. Will you, therefore, direct
thither all letters of .'ntroduction you may have for me.
If Mr. T. Baring be 'n England, I think he could give
me some, or Bates. Ned Baring was so short a time
in the country that he hardly knows who the best
people to know are ; but I believe Webster, and
Prescott the historian in Boston would be useful, and
there are some old Virginian families in Pennsylvania,
w^ho are said to compose the best society in Philadelphia.
My address will be " Messrs. Goodhere and Co., New
York." I have written to George to send me some
clothes to the same point — it being impossible to get
anything to wear in these countries.

The credit for ;;f200 on various places I have
received, and hope not to have occasion for, till I leave
Lima, having practised a most praiseworthy economy.

Baring assures me that the Yankee merchants
dispense their civilities in proportion to one's means
or reputation for them, and strongly recommends for
the United States a credit from Messrs. B.B.C. for

i8so] Reasons for a large Credit. 321

3^1,000, If you are not afraid of trusting' your money,
it would, I think, be a ^ood plan, and require no
advance. I would of course draw for no more than
I could help, as I have done before, and, in fact, if I
had wished to exceed my credit, I should have found
no difficulty from the merchants here. However, if
you have any misgivings, pray do not think anything
more about it.

I am much interested with your account of W. and
P. The Shadwell affair seems to have been a pro-
tracted one, having been, according to your different
letters, to he ready in September, October, November,
December, and finally the new year, but old Ponsford
is rather a icstiido in his movements. I hope you
make them submit all their treaties with other millers
to you, and preserve an absolute veto. I think we are
entitled to this. How was the arrangement about the
machinery settled between White and Bovill ? . . .
I shall write a few lines to my mother, and am

Your most affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

The distance from New York to London is so short
that I shall be able to tell you my plans as they are
formed.

322 Valparaiso.

[1850

Lima, Jan. I2ih, 1850.

My dear Mother,

You will see by my letter to my father that
I did not stop long in Chili, and in truth I found both
Santiago and Valparaiso very uninteresting. At the
former place I spent but ten or twelve days, and had
it not been for the family of my Buenos iVyresian friend
Arcos, should never have been able to stand even so
short a stay. The Chilian women are far behind the
fair Argentinas in beauty, and are proverbially slow.
As the country is more civilized and imitative of
Europe, society has lost its only charm — its originality
— and reminds one of that of a second-rate town in
Europe. The country, however, is pretty; there are
hills and cultivated valleys artificially watered, and
trees of moderate size, but the town of Santiago is so
immoderately hot (hotter than this, which is in
lat. 12^), that I was unable to explore, and hardly
stirred out during the daytime.

From thence to Valparaiso, along a mountainous
road, I went in a sort of pre-adamite gig, and, to
avoid the sun, by night. About five in the morning
I came upon the Pacific, gratifying (as an enthusiastic
Yankee, whose letters I saw, exclaimed) the earliest
dream of my childhood.

Valparaiso is almost English, and devoted purely
to commerce, and I only indulged myself with five
days of its pleasures, spending the evenings profitably
in the society of literary and scientific American
females. With my usual good fortune, both the

1850] Meeting with Captain Johnson. 323

flagship and Driver, which had been in harbour for
months, sailed for Callao the day before I arrived, and
there was no man-of-war in the place.

I had previously written to Ned Baring at Lima,
proposing to wait till the end of the month in Chili
and then go northward, but hearing that he intended
to stay some time in Peru, I took the first opportunity
of shipping myself, and arrived there after a ten days'
voyage.

I found here Captain Johnson of the Driver, who
having left me ill at Rio, and not having heard of me
for eight months, had concluded that I had made my
exit from life, and was astonished at my re-appearance.
Indeed his sister whom I saw at Valparaiso plainly
told me so, and could hardly believe in my material
existence.

Since then the Driver has been sent to Chili, and
will return in a few days and then go to the Sandwich
Islands. Johnson wants me to make the cruise with
him, which, if I had the time, I should not mind.
Elwes, my antecessor, is or was there. He, I believe,
intended to return to Europe by way of China and
India.

The Admiral (Phipps Hornby) is still here, but
lives principally on board, surrounded by some of the
plainest w'omen that the United Kingdom has pro-
duced, who fortunately for us prefer their ship to
Lima. Mr. Stanley, his nephew, is at Quito, gathering,
I suppose, honey for the protectionist's hive. He (S.)
comes from Jamaica, where he has collected facts for
a crushing attack on Lord Grey in the forthcoming
session.

I think I shall very likely spend a month in the

324 Chailles. [,850

republic of Ecuador and reach New York in May.
Before that month I hear that it is cold and unpleasant,
so at all events write to me at Panama as well as to
New York. Less than a month one cannot stay, as
that is the interval between the two steamers ; but if
I get much bored I shall probably go on directly to
the United States. By going straight to New York,
I shall quiet your apprehensions about yellow-fever,
though there is none at New Orleans till July. Will
you ask my father to send me a letter to Panama to
the consul, Mr. Perry, which may be got from the
Foreign Office. He is a son or brother of Sir
Erskine Perry.

I am glad you are so well suited as you seem to
be at Taplovv. Not knowing whether you have 3'et
left, I shall direct to Cornhill.

Ned Baring has just been with me. He seems
to have amused himself a good deal in his travels,
and takes great interest in imports and exports,
mines, custom duties, &c. It is a great thing to
have an object, however small, in travelling.

Chailles, the bathing place, whither I am going
next week, is a curious place in a desert on the coast.
The whole society of Lima meets in the water.
I have ordered a complete dress for the ceremony.
Adieu, my dear mother.

1850] A new Peer. 325

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Coruhill, Jan. 26tli, 1S50.
My dearest Bertram,

We were rejoiced this morning to receive
an interesting and long letter, dated Buenos Ayres,
October 13th, from you (the mail being three weeks
and more after its time). I have flown one line (to
say that we are all well and flourishing) to Lima,
Panamd, and Chagres, respectively, but hope that you
will be at New Orleans by the time this arrives or
soon after. I will write more at length when I know
where to direct and to send letters of introduction in
the States to. One piece of news I have to tell
which is really a profound and well-kept secret here,
but may be told to you across the Atlantic. At
Easter our excellent friend, Samuel Jones Loyd, will
take his seat as Baron Overstone of Overstone, in
the county of Northampton ; docs not this amuse
you ? It has literally been pressed upon him, not
as usually said to be so. He is out of the firm, though
not known to be so, and Henry Norman, G. W.'s
brother, comes out of Bouveries (where he has been
a partner some years), to be a steady working man
with Lewis and Long-ears.

S. J. L. is taking an active part in Prince .Mbert's
commission for the Great National Exposition of
Manufactures in 1S51, and Prince Albert is much
struck with his power. Our friend was to have come
out noble with the new year; but two others from the
House of Commons cannot vacate their scats (for

326 Life at Chailles. [,850

some reason or other) before Easter. I guess
Hobhouse and Labouchere, or possibly Lord R.
Grosvenor. Is not all this, all things considered,
rich ! I give Lord John great credit for it.

The Protectionists are making idiotic exhibitions,
and will be well belaboured when Parliament meets.
The Plate question has been a great political champ
de bataille in France. I envy 3'ou your United States

tour. . . .

R. C.

FROM B. ^\. C. TO HIS MOTHER.

Lima, January 2gih, 1850.
My dear Mother,

To-morrow I start on the expedition of
which I told you in my letter of the 12th inst., and
will leave a few lines to be sent by the February
steamer, that }^ou may not be entirely without news
of me.

Nothing has happened, since I last wrote, worth}-
of record. Latterly I have been staying at Chailles
in a cottage lent me by my banker, and living with
Mr. and Mrs. Adams. The sea bathing was very
agreeable and the sea air charming in this hot weather.
We swung in hammocks, and rode about, and passed
a very pleasant lazy sort of time. Indeed, I was sorry
to come away, as the bathing season is but now
beginning and the place getting fuller every day, till
it reaches its height at the Carnival, when Lima is
entirely deserted and left to the blacks and browns (of
whom there are some twenty varieties).

1850] The Rainy Seaso7i.

0-=/

I have not yet determined whether I shall spend a
month in Ecuador before going to the United States,
and shall be influenced principally by the weather and
state of the roads in the journey we are about to make.
The rainy season is now at its height, and everybody
tells us that the roads are impassable, but I have been
too long in South America to believe anything I am
told, particularly when the information regards travels
and difficulties to be met with.

I have nothing more to add. Direct to me at New
York until further notice. By last mail I sent you a
full account of my proceedings, and will write again in
March to tell you of my e.xperiences in Bolivia, till
which time, with kindest love to all, believe me, my
dear mother,

Your most affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

Panama, March zStli, 1850.
My dear Father,

I wrote a few lines by the last West Indian
steamer, dated, however, some time before the mail
left Lima, as I was setting off on an expedition to the
south of Peru. I am now on the point of crossing
the Isthmus to Chagres, there to take my passage to
New York. If I succeed in doing so, 3"ou will hear
from me, before this arrives, from the United States,
but in case I should not find a passage, I leave a few
lines here to be sent by the West Indian steamer,
which will start on the 29th or joth inst.

o

28 Panama. [1850

This place is in a state of great confusion from the
quantity of Americans on their way to and from
California. Yesterday a steamer sailed for San
Francisco with 500 passengers, and there are 650
more waiting at Chagres for a passage to the United
States. Inns and accommodation are unattainable.
I am living with Mr. Perry, H.M.'s consul. Lima I
left on the 13th inst., having returned safely from my
trip with Ned Baring. I will defer the account of our
expedition till my next letter ; ^ if that has not arrived
before this, you must suppose that I failed in getting a
passage to New York, and had to wait for a fortnight
or so for another steamer.

Ned and I separated at Arica ; he to proceed
to Chili and I to return to Lima, where I spent
a fortnight very comfortably with Adams and his
wife.

Before leaving I drew on Messrs. Baring Brothers
and Co. for /"300 to pay my expenses on the coast
since leaving Buenos Ayres, making in all /""oo since
leaving England. I am afraid this is rather alarming,
but everything is atrociously expensive, heightened
by the Californian adventurers. I have had to pay
/■105 for steamers alone on this coast and have now
got to disburse for the passage of the Isthmus and to
New York. It is to be hoped that in the States the
expenses of travelling are more moderate, as indeed I
believe they are cheaper than anywhere else.

I hope to find in New York letters from you in

1 Unfortunately Bertram must have forgotten his intention of giving
an account of his expedition with Mr. Baring. The two letters which
follow, though written but ten days later than the preceding one, do
not refer to it at all.

1850] Uncertain Plans. 329

answer to my first from Lima. Here I picked up a
few words, dated January i6th, telling me you had
written to New Orleans. Perhaps I shall have to go
there on my way to New York. Everything about the
steamers is unknown here, and I shall think myself
very lucky if I get away this month. With love to all,
believe me,

Your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

LETTERS FROM JAMAICA AND
NORTH AMERICA.

1850.

III.

LETTERS.

1850.

Kingston, Jamaica, April 5, 1S50.

My dear Father,

You will receive by this steamer a letter
from Panama, written just before I started across the
Isthmus, with the hope of catchin.i; the steamer for
New York. In that attempt I was unsuccessful, and
therefore took the opportunity of the West Indian
Mail Steamer to come on to this place, from whence I
hope to be able to start for New York in a week or ten
days by one of the steamers from Chagres which
touches here.

I crossed the Isthmus of Panama in about thirty
hours. The breadth is ninety miles, of which twenty-
five are performed on horseback, and the rest on the
river, which joins the Atlantic at the small village
of Chagres. From the extraordinary emigration to
California, the road is covered with passengers, and I
met at least fifteen hundred persons on my way. At
Chagres, where there are a few wooden houses called
hotels, the confusion is at its height ; the rooms filled
with beds, sometimes to the number of sixty, and food
to be procured with difficulty. As it was impossible to
live on there, I went on board the steamer as soon as

334 Fro7n Chagres to Kingston. [1850

she arrived, although we did not start till three days
later.

From Chagres, in two days, we went to Cartagena,
a dilapidated old Spanish town, and from thence, in
two days more, to this place, whither we arrived this
morning. The steamer starts again for England on
the gth, but I write immediately, as I think of going to
Spanish Town to-morrow, to pay my respects to His
Excellency, and perhaps to go up into the mountains.
This town is a poor-looking place, built principally of
wood, and there are few ships in the harbour, and
little movement in the streets. I have got a room at a
sort of lodging-house, which seems tolerably clean.

The Tay, the steamer in which I came, is a fine
ship, and well provided with food. My fellow-
passengers were, many of them, the same who came
from Peru. Besides these was Mr. Chatfieid, the
charge, d'affaires in Central America, who is staying in
the same house with me.

The scenery in Panama is pretty, but the road
atrocious. One has to descend the river in a canoe
half filled with water, and constructed on the most
primitive plan. The land part of the journey is worse ;
for the road is so bad that the quickest pace practic-
able is about three, miles an hour. The whole is a
good specimen of South American want of enterprise.
Hoping to be soon in New York, from whence you
shall hear immediately on my arrival, believe me,
your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

1850] The Calif or nian Emigration. 335

Kingston, Jamaica, April 5, 1850.
My dear Mother,

I have given a letter of introduction,
addressed to you, to a lady who will arrive in England
by this steamer. She is of one of the best families in
Peru, and wife of the ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs in
that country. The husband is paralytic, and goes to
Europe for his health, and the education of his
daughters, one of whom (aged fourteen years) has
pretty black eyes. They will probably pass a few days
in London on their way to Paris, and if you can show
them any kindness, such as taking them a tlrivc in the
Park, or to see anything remarkable, they will be very
grateful. She is a very nice person, and a good
specimen of a Limeiia, a species of the human race
which 3'ou may perhaps have some curiosity to know.
I believe they possess a little French, and the father
has some idea of English, but from the nature of his
illness he is a fixture. Mary might fraternize with the
girls, who are lively, and, being fresh from America,
rather curiosities. I hope you understand that my
friends arc highly respectable, and quite the crane dc la
creme of Lima society.

I was much annoyed at losing the steamer to Now
York, but still hope to be there by the end of the
month. This place is very uninteresting, and I have
come only to escape from Chagres, which is unin-
habitable.

The Californian emigration is a most curious fact.
Every month there are arrivals of several thousand
Americans (one steamer, the Georgia, brought 1,300),

336 Arrival in New York. [jgjo

who are not generally of the lowest class, and have all
some funds ; in fact, the journey to San Francisco, at
the lowest computation, must cost them ;^ioo. Although
they talk a great deal here about their ruffianly appear-
ance, they seemed to me to be generally a fine-looking
set of men, and by no means offensive, though some
are acrimonious enough.

I made a great friendship at Chagres with Colonel
Smith (they are all colonels or majors), an engineer in
good business, with a large family, who was neverthe-
less going out to try his luck for two years, and
expected to come home full of gold. When we parted,
he told me not to think him a snob, because he was so
dirty. He and his companions set off in a very small
canoe, in which they had hardly room to sit, and for
which they paid /'3 a head, to go up the river, and be
broiled for two days under a tropical sun, after which
they will have a walk of thirty miles along a most
execrable road before they arrive at Panama. Such is
American enterprise !

New York, April 27, 1850.
My dear Mother,

I send you a line from the counting-house
of Messrs. Goodhere and Co., who promise to forward
it by an American steamer, which sails in an hour for
Liverpool. I got in yesterday afternoon in the Crescent
City, a steamer which runs between Chagres and New
York, and which picked me up at Jamaica. We had a
tolerable passage of seven days. My companions were
chiefly homeward-bound Californians, and not very
agreeable.

1 850] Jama tea. 2)^7

As I left Jamaica on the 19th inst., I spent about
fourteen days there altogether. The climate is fine,
though ver\' hot in Kingston, whicii is on the level of
the sea. By ascending the range of mountains behind
the town, one reached a delightful temperature of
about 65°, 70°. I was, however, unable to see so much
of the island as I wished, from the necessity of being
in Kingston, when the steamer arrived, as it only stays
there a few hours to take in coal. Sir Charles Grey I
saw at his seat of Government in Spanish Town. He
was very kind, and begged me to stay with him, which
I declined from the reason above mentioned, and also
because his menage did not strike me as lively, although
he seemed to be a very well-informed man. With the
Bishop, Mr. Aubrey Spencer, I made great friends.
He possesses perhaps the prettiest place in Jamaica,
a charming cottage, 3,700 feet abo\e the sea, with a
view from it which surpasses anything I have seen in
my travels.

Mr. Chatfield, the charf^c d'affiiircs in Guatemala,
was my principal companion, and I found him a very
agreeable person.

I have written so far, because I knew you would
like to hear of my arrival, and shall postpone further
details till the English steamer, which will sail on the
ist proximo. Excuse haste and headache, of which I
have a considerable touch this morning. With love to
all. Your aftectionate son,

B. W. CURRIK.

P.S. — The weather is quite cold, and the fog
reminds me of London.

Pray thank my father for his letter enclosing the
credit, and for several of introduction.
W

338 New York. [,850

New York, April 28, 1850.

My dear Father,

I had just time to write a few words by the
Atlantic, a new American steamer, which sailed for
Liverpool on the 27th, and which, according to the
New York papers, is to surpass anything on the ocean,
not excepting the famous Cunard line, which now
meets with competition for the first time. I have
received your letter, enclosing the credit on Goodhere
and Co., and various letters of introduction, for which
I am greatly obliged. Though I have not yet had time
to experience their effect, I am sure they are very well
chosen, and will be of great use. As I left Panama in
March, I did not receive your letters of that month,
but they will, I have no doubt, be forwarded to me
from thence.

New York seems to me a great emporium, after my
experience in South American towns. Broadway is as
wide as Oxford Street, the shops are as good, or
better, and the omnibusses and foot-passengers quite
as numerous. I am living at an hotel kept by an
Italian, called Delmonico's, which is reputed the best
for Europeans, and civilized persons, who dislike a
table dilute of 500 at two o'clock, and wish to be quiet.

The entrance to the harbour, which is beautiful,
I did not see to great advantage, in consequence of a
thick fog, which lasted the whole day of our arrival,
and delayed us several hours. To-day I have been
occupied the greater part of the morning in getting my
box out of the custom-house. The forms to be gone
through were most complicated and troublesome, and

1850] Plans. 339

the duty (/"lo) I thought rather a shame in this hghtly-
taxed country. I was glad enough to receive my
clothes, which arrived just in time to save me from
being reduced to a state of nature, and which will now
enable me to sustain the part of a " dandy Broadway
swell/' The only omission of any consequence in tiie
box is the want of visiting-cards, w^hich I shall have to
leave in packs. I must try and supply the want here.

As yet I have formed no plan for travelling, but I
think my first move will be to Philadelphia, Washington,
and Baltimore, stopping some days at each. In the
months of June and July, the population of New York
moves to the north, and I shall then probably go to
Niagara and Canada, stopping first at Boston. If you
can get me letters for Lord Elgin, and any (jthcr
Canadians, T think it would be well to send them at
once, directed to Goodhere and Co. Of course I am
unable to say \vhcther I shcdl want them, but as a
month must elapse before I can get an answer from
you, it is well to be prepared beforehand.

You do not tell me anything about the milk though
my mother mentions casually that it progresses slowly.
I hope there is no hitch of any sort. I have heard
nothing of it since December. What has become of
Jones, Loyd, and Co. ? Is it carried on by Lewis
Loyd and his brother unaided ? How does the proud
baron of "Overstone and Fotheringhay, of Manchester
and Lothbury" bear his honours? Is Macaulay coming
out soon with some more history ?

If you will send me the Spectator or Examiner by
the weekly steamers, I shall be grateful. The Times
may be read at the Exchange, but I see nothing of the
other English papers.

340 Kingston. [1850

I hardly remember whether I gave you an account
of my proceedings since Panama. At Jamaica I stayed
perforce a fortnight. The population is almost entirely
black, the principal shopkeepers in Kingston Jews, and
except the officials, there are few Europeans in the
place.

Kingston is a poor town ; the largest houses are
turned into lodgings, and let or sell for a mere song.
The private hotels are atrociously bad, kept by people
of colour, and the black servants are dirty and lazy. I
should like much to have explored the island, which,
from the specimen I saw, must be beautiful in the
interior, and being provided with the unusual com-
modity of good roads, not difficult of access ; but after
the 13th inst., the American steamer was due, and
kept me at Kingston in readiness to start.

Tuesday morning, April ^oth. — Since writing the
above, I have delivered some of my letters and received
invitations to dinner. Dr. Macvicar (Mr. Senior's
friend) is a professor of moral philosophy and political
economy in a college. Mr. Bancroft I called upon
yesterday, and am going to his house to-night. It
appears that the balls and gaieties are all over, and
the party will be of men only.

Last night I was at the opera, where the company
from the Havana was performing, among them Marini
and Salvi.

The Cambria has not yet arrived, though due
at Halifax some days. I hope to get letters by
her from you. In a week the next steamer will
start from hence, and I shall be able to tell you

1850] English Travellers. 341

more about New York and its attractions. With
kindest love to all,

Affectionately yours,

B. W. ClRKIE.

P.S. — I hope you do not give up Taplow.

There are several travellers here. Among them
Lord Durham (who is in very bad health), Mr. Coke,
and Mr. Calthorpe. Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley and
daughter are at Panama en route to California, without
a man of any sort to accompany them. I think she
must be mad.

The following letter from his mother, containing news of
various members of the family, was received by Bertram on his
arrival at New York.

Hyde Park Terrace, March 21st, 1850.

Your letters from Lima rejoiced us much. It is
a comfort to think of you as so much nearer home. I
hope the expedition to Lake Titicaca will have proved
an agreeable one, and rewarded you for the exertion
of leaving Lima, where you were well fed and housed.
The various articles of clothing, &c., which you desired
George to order, were packed by Sanderson, and sent
into the City to be forwarded yesterday. Your father
wrote last week to Panama, and told you any news,
domestic or political, which you may like to hear.

The papers will tell you of the strange proceedings
of Ministers on Tuesday last, when they threatened
to go out, if beaten on the question of retaining the

342 Family News. [1850

African Squadron. The Times of yesterday, which I
sent you, has an amusing article on the subject.

We were at a party last night in Downing Street
(Lady John Russell), having previously dined with
Mr. Vardon in Chester Square. I cannot say much
for the Premier's reception : rooms dirty, dingy, and
not half lighted, and I could see no rcfrcsJiment of any
kind. Mrs. Vernon Smith inquired after you. George
was very attentive to Miss Vernon, and I think he
believes himself to be in love with her. Lady Listowel
has brought out another daughter.

We are all pretty flourishing. Your father has
been better than usual through the winter. Mary is
not as strong as I should like to see her, but she is not
unwell, and Edith continues fat and merry. Our new
governess. Miss Stuart, gives great satisfaction, and
Mary works hard with her. She is a good German
scholar, and well-informed generally — very gentle and
unassuming in manner.

Philip came home yesterday with a good character
from Pickering : he has taken sixth in his Remove at
Trials, having been twenty-seventh before. The result
of " My Tutor's " trials will not be given out till next
half. Philip is very much grown and must move into
tails in the summer, Maynard got through his little-
go last week, and is now at home, but goes back to
Cambridge to-morrow. He goes somewhere with his
Tutor for the long vacation, to read. They did talk
of the Isle of Man, and Killarney is also mentioned.
Whymper has engaged to be one of the party.
Maynard likes him, and says he shall then be
independent of the others, whoever they may be.
Maynard was invited one day to dine with his uncle

1850] Tap/oii) Court. 343

Mr. I. G., who has got this year a magnificent house
in Cavendish Square (Lord Gainsboro's).

Your Aunt Anne has just bought No. 24 in Upper
Brook Street, the house that did belong to my grand-
father, old Lord Wodehouse. She buys it of Mr. Curzon,
who has improved it by throwing out a bow at the
back. It is a very comfortable house.

John has hired a house in Grosvenor Street. He
takes a great interest in colonial matters, especially in
the new Government for Australia. . . .

We think of going to Taplow on the 27th for a
fortnight. The weather has been very cold and wintry
for the last fortnight, and, unless it improves, / would
rather stay in London. We have not yet made any
arrangements for taking Taplow on, and our term in
it ends on the ist of June. Lord Orkney is a difficult
person to deal with : he expects a high rent, and will
only grant a lease of seven years. The house requires
to have a great deal done to it : there are unfinished
rooms to be carpeted, which we, of course, could not
undertake without a long term in it ; altogether our
continuing there is doubtful. The air agreed so well
with your father, and the place itself has so very much
to recommend it, that we should be very sorry to give
it up, and shall if possible come to some arrangement
with Lord O. 7/ we are to leave it, we think of spend-
ing the month of May there.

We have seen a good many of our friends at dinner
since we came to London. To-day we entertain the
Cecil Fanes, Col. and Mrs. Gascoigne, Mr. .Mandovillc,
"The Count," and your uncle the Captain, who is
come to London for a few days and is in great force.
Your Uncle Berkeley with his family have left Florence

344 Ecclesiastical Matters. [1850

and are now at Bastia in Corsica, where they have
taken a house for three months. Sir H. Ward has
renewed his promise of giving him an appointment in
the Ionian Isles, whenever there is a vacant one, but I
fear it may be long before this occurs. . . .

The High Church party are in a state of great
excitement at the decision of the Privy Council in the
case of " Gorham v. Exeter," as you will see by the
papers.

Your father will tell you that the mill progresses
but slowly. We have talked over the subject of your
prolonged absence from England, and I believe agree
in thinking that if you still wish to visit Mexico, there
is no real objection to your remaining away another
winter, beyond our own feeling of regret that we are
altogether deprived of your society, and I assure you,
my dear Bertram, that we do very much wish to have
you amongst us again; but as there is small probability
that you will ever cross the Atlantic a second time, it
would be well that you should derive ever}' advantage
that can be gained from a visit to the New World, and
we believe that you are able and willing to profit by it.
I look forward with very great interest to a sight of
your journal.

Your father has sent many letters of introduction
from different people. I hope he will get one from
Lord Carlisle to " George Ticknor," the author of the
History of Spanish Literature.

Tell me, when you write, something of the state of
the Church in the United States. Have you heard
any good preacher ? Mr. Boone continues to preach
eloquent discourses, but, to my mind, unprofitable
ones.

1850] Neiv York. 345

Our drawing-rooms are very pretty, especially when
lighted up in the evening. . . . On Thursday night I
went to three parties with George — a concert at
Mrs. G. R. Smith's, where I saw Eric Smith and his
bride, who looks old, and Mrs. Harvie Farquhar, nee
Colborne, who looks sick ! Then, to Mrs. Crompton
Stanfield's — Mrs. Wickham's sister — finally to Lady
Fremantle's. We all send our kindest love. When
I told Mary of the possibility of your staying away
another winter, she exclaimed, " Oh ! I am so sorry —
and how old we all shall have got ! "

With every affectionate wish, dear B.,

I am your very affectionate mother,

L. S. C.

FROM B. W. C.

New York, Sunday, May ^th, 1S50.

My dear Mother,

I proceed to give you the results of my
week's experience of New York, to go by the steamer
on Wednesday. To-day has been so unremittingly
rainy that I have not been able to leave the house,
and on the strength of having nothing to do, have
been writing a long letter to Ned Baring, who is pro-
bably now in the midst of the dangers and difficulties
of the Pampas.

As I think I told you, the season for balls and
diversions is over, so that I have not been to any, but
my letters have been productive of several dinners, not
remarkable, however, in any way, and including only
the families of the respective Amphitryons.

346 New York Society. [1850

Dr. Macvicar regaled me with pork and political
economy, in the college of which he is a professor, and
I have dined with one of the firm of Jas. G. King and
Sons.

At the house of a lawyer to which Mr. Bancroft
took me, I met the judicial and legal world of New
York, and according to the American custom, was
introduced to some dozens of people in succession as
" Mr. Currie of England." (What would Mr. H. C.
say ?) The only opportunity I have had of seeing the
" best people " was at a morning reception given by a
newly-married couple on their return from the country,
at the house of the lady's father. Here were assembled
the old Dutch families, who form the basis of the
acknowledged aristocracy of New York, and here too
was Mrs. Jones, a lady not of ancient family, for her
father was a shoemaker, but overpoweringly fashion-
able, and the leader of a set.

The girls struck me as being very young, decidedly
pretty, and not differing substantially in appearance
from English girls of the same class, except in being
much better dressed. The house, though small, was
very showily furnished, and not unlike one in Eaton
Place in arrangement. Of course there is nothing to
be seen here of the peculiarities spoken of in the
various books on American society, and I see and hear
nothing, except a few Americanisms (to which from
my absence from England I am not very sensitive),
which has not its parallel in Tyburnia or Belgravia.
At the same time there is (particularly among the
men) a want of refinement, less of manners than of
ideas ; and though they do not chew tobacco or
expectorate immoderately, they would certainly not

1850] State of the Diocese. 347

be quoted in England as models of gentlemen. How-
ever, I must postpone my remarks till I know more
of them, more particularly as New York society is by
common consent exceptional, and not to be taken as a
specimen of the rest of the States.

I am very comfortably lodged at my hotel, which
is situated in the business part of the town, and
about three miles from the centre of the fashionable
world.

New York is increasing rapidly to the north — the
east and west sides being bounded by the rivers of
these names, and the correct thing seems to be to
live on the outskirts of the town, while the houses that
were fashionable ten years ago, are being gradually
appropriated as shops and counting-houses.

I have seen the Bancrofts several times, and am
to dine with them to-morrow or the next day, when
she is going to take me to some party.

From all this you will gather that New York is not
at present excessively lively, and that I spend a good
deal of time in mine inn. Moreover, the weather is
cold, and the trees have not begun to blossom, so that
there is no temptation to make inroads on the country.

You ask me about the state of the Church, of
which I will try to get some information. In the
meantime, I should think the diocese of New York
must be in a state of spiritual destitution, for the
Bishop has been suspended for his "evil life and
conversation," and, as he declines to retire, the Church
is divided as to the course to be pursued — some
arguing that he should be summarily deprived, while
others contend that there is no power vested in any-
body for this purpose.

34S The A'rnerican Church.

[1850

By the constitution of the Episcopal Church,
there is a Bishop for each State, the oldest of whom
is the head, and they together elect new Bishops,
but on points of discipline their authority seems
to be no better defined than that of London or
Philpotts.

Within the bosom of the Church there exists, I
believe, every known shade of opinion ; at least I
know that the Puseyite party has its parallel here, and
of course includes those who are for keeping the
immoral Bishop above mentioned. Curiously enough
(for political economy and Puseyism have not much
affinity). Dr. Macvicar (Mr. Senior's friend) is a chief
of this party and, as he himself told me, a great
ecclesiologist — a word which Aunt Harriet will be able
to explain, but which from its derivation I should
suppose to be a person who talks about churches
(query, instead of going to them). For the other party
there are May Meetings, at present in session, where
I understand they are very hard upon slavery and the
Southern gentlemen.

Here you have all the facts I know on this subject.
There are, I believe, some eloquent preachers in New
York, but I was not able to go to church to-day on
account of the unceasing rain.

By-the-bye, did I tell you that Mrs. Spencer (the
Bishop of Jamaica's wife) is a great admirer of Mr.
Boone's, and a constant attendant in the evening ;
admitted by favour of Mrs. King^ into our own
" porochial " pew. Here was a bond of sympathy
for us — added to which the Bishop has received a

^ The pew-opener at St. John's, Paddington (see p. i), and wife to
Mr. Raikes Currie's coachman.

1850] Indisposition. 349

presentation copy of that deeply interesting work on
One, Manifold}

Adieu, my dear mother, till next week. With love
to all, I remain, your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currii:.

I have been rather disappointed at the arrival of
two steamers without letters.

New York, May 21, 1S50.
My dear Father,

I wrote to you by the last steamer, under
the effects of a bilious atta':k, which, combined with
sore throat, kept me for a w^ek in my room. I am
now convalescent, and have been out to-da}- to see a
grand trotting match about ten miles off.

The weather is still cold and ungenial, and I start
on Friday, 24th, for Washington, where, it is to be
hoped, the spring is more advanced. On Thursday,
I am to dine with Mr; Barclay, our worthy Consul, to
celebrate, I suppose, the Queen's birthday, which,
however, according to my calculations, comes off on
the next day. The Bishop of Jamaica has arrived
from his diocese, and I have seen him, but, owing
to my illness, I have been obliged to decline several
invitations, and have nothing to communicate in the
way of gaieties.

My time has been spent entirely in my room, with
occasional visits from the doctor and other friendly

' One, Manifold; or System. Introductory Argument in a letter
addressed to Raikes Currie, Esq., M.l'., by the Rev. James Shergold
Boone, Perpetual Curate of St. John's, I'addington.

350 A Trotting Match. [1850

individuals, and has been as uneventful as possible.
I hardly know what to tell you about. American
politics are a bore; a description of New York you
will find in Mr. Mackay's book, and there is really
nothing different from what I have been used to all my
life, either in the people or the way of living.

The trotting match which I saw to-day was between
the two most famous horses. The course is a circular
mile of hard ground, and the heats were three miles
each. The horses are driven in light two-wheeled
carriages, and the three miles were performed by the
winner in seven minutes forty-four seconds. The
sight was very pretty, more interesting to the un-
initiated than an English race, and the pace extra-
ordinary.

I wish in your next letter you would repeat a little
about the mill. As I have missed all your letters
between December igth and April 26th, I am in
entire ignorance on the subject, not knowing whether
the building is finished or the machinery commenced,
or anything of the views and intentions of my worthy
friends, W. and P.

Of domestic news I am likewise in arrear, but I
hope for a letter by the Eiiropa, which is telegraphed
to-day from Halifax.

Excuse the shortness of this note. I will write
more fally from Washington if anything turns up.

1850] Imp07'ta}it Doviesiic News. 351

The Europa brought important domestic news iu a letter
from George, dated,

Hyde Park Terrace, loih May, 1850.

My dear Bertram,

I sit down to write you a piece of news,
which is no longer news to any one here ; but which
I am sure will interest you very much.

I am engaged to be married to Evelyn, daughter
of Mr. Vernon Smith. You will remember, perhaps,
my talking to you about her a long time ago (two
years ago, I think). Since that, I have become more
and more con\inccd that we were intended for each
other ; and, after a vast deal of difficulties about settle-
ments, &c., with her father, it is at length, thank God,
finally and satisfactorily arranged. All the family (our
family) are, I am happy to say, much pleased with it.
They are quite delighted with my future wife herself,
as well they may be ; and they are pleased with the
connections and the fortune which R. V. S. gives his
daughter. . . .

. . . You will, I am sure, be charmed with Evy,
as are all the family ; she is most sensible, clever, and
affectionate, very agreeable to everybody, and has a
most fascinating voice and manner. She is as good
as gold, both head and heart. She is much improved
in health and in looks ; has a slight, pretty figure and
a very expressive face, pale, but varying very much
with her health. It is pleasing to me to find how very
fond of her all her friends are, and every one who
knows her. She and I have received endless letters
of congratulation from all sorts of people.

352 Georges E^igagement. [1850

V. S.'s mother was a Miss Vernon, a half-sister of
a Lady Lansdowne (mother of Lord Lansdowne) and
a Lady Holland, and own sister of Lady Warwick.
The name of V. S.'s children was changed in the
regular way by Act of Parliament some years ago.
The mother of this Miss Vernon was by first marriage
Countess of Ossory. . . .

V. S. gives his daughter the house, &c., at Cheam,
where old Robert Smith lived, and to which she is
much attached, from having been there a great deal
as a child ; but I think we shall let it and make our
home in London. ... I trust your things will all
arrive in good order. I took all due care in complying
with your instructions. I shall hope to hear from you.
I am ever,

Your most affectionate brother,

G. V/. CURRIE.

FROM B. W. C.

Baltimore, May 26, 1850.
My dear Mother,

I was obliged to write in a great hurry in
answer to G.'s interesting announcement. From my
father's former letter I guessed how things would turn
out, and forebore from any condolement on the cruelty
of the Governor. I am glad to hear that you approve,
as I am sure that if you really like the young lady she
must be a very amiable person. You seem to have
stood up to Mrs. V. S. most manfully, and made her
surrender at discretion. I suppose George, always of
a susceptible turn, is now in the seventh heaven and

1850] Expedition against Cuba. 353

generally to be heard of in Savile Row. I can hardly
yet realize (as they say here) him as about to enter into
the awful state of matrimon\-. It seems but a year or
two ago since we were together at Cheam. To you it
must seem still more strange. The pecuniary part of
the affair is very satisfactor}-. It certainly is a recom-
mendation to have a father-in-law in the consols,
independent of the more immediate advantage of the
;f 20,000. What do Fitzpatrick, " de Gorham," and
the other young nobles think of this alliance? Are
they in London ? Pray write and tell me all the
particulars.

I write this, as you see, from Baltimore, having
arrived last night. This evening I start for Wash-
ington, which is about two hours railroad distant. I
am suffering from a regular English cold in the head,
brought on by the continual bad weather. Though
this should be the finest month in the year, we have
nothing but rain and the temperature of an English
March.

I slept the night before last at Philadelphia, where,
in consequence of the rain and my cold, I saw nothing
except an old compagnon de voyage in the Pacific, who
lives in that city.

You will see in the papers the account of the
piratical expedition against Cuba. We have no
particulars and know nothing of its success or failure,
though I think the latter is certain, from experience of
Spanish-Americans. Though it is a most outrageous
violation of treaties and even common honesty, tiiere
are very few who do not sympathize with it even
among the highest and (what would be witii us) the
most respectable classes. I trust the gentlemen of

X

354 Paternal Advice. [1850

the expedition will get what they deserve — plenty of
cold lead.

I would beg to call your attention to the fact that
the mail now sails for Liverpool once a week, and that
letters are highly appreciated by your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

Love to all. Mary of course is delighted at these
matrimonial events. Take care I don't bring you home
a Yankee beauty with countless dollars.

In one of the missing letters addressed to Panama, Mr.
Raikes Currie announced his intention of sending the large
credit asked for,i having perfect confidence in his son. He says :

We are on very short commons with the wretched
2\ per cent., and I know that in your actual expen-
diture you will be as moderate as you can.

Do make the most of the great advantages of an
opportunity of getting well acquainted with the con-
stitution and practical working of the Federal Govern-
ment and the States, with the public men and the
literary men. Ticknor's book on Spanish Literature
is written in the purest English and is (Hallam says)
facile princeps on the subject. He and Prescott are, I
believe, at Boston, where every one says there is most
agreeable society. I hope you will some day take a
part in public affairs here, and looking to the future, I
cannot imagine a more useful field of study for a
political man than the United States.

1 See p. 321.

i8so] Lord Kimberley s debtit. 355

In the letter of April 26th, Mr. Raikes Currie says:

Overstone and Wodchouse have both made their
maiden speeches, the first declamatory versus Brougham,
the second argumentative on the Transportation and
secondary punishment question, best reported in the
Morning Chronicle. W.'s was considered a speech of
great promise. O. over-praised Albert (whom he
greatly admires), but spoke powerfull}*.

Mr. R. Cnrrie's next letter is dated Cornhill, May 17, 1S50.

My dear Bertram,

We were very glad to receive your second
letter from New York, date 30th April, yesterday —
just sixteen days. I look forward to a similar favour
weekly. Your letters are a great pleasure to us, and
I am much interested in all American news, social,
political, commercial, and typographical, having much
to learn on those matters.

George's letter, and your mother's last, will have
told you how all was settled with the Vernon. That
she is a clever, agreeable, loving little creature, with
a very pretty, taking manner and sweet voice, and
conversational powers very uncommon in girls of her
age, cannot be doubted. The per contra you know as
well as I do, and the consequences of such a ^■ery
early marriage come heavily home sooner or later. . . .

. . . We had a very splendid party last night at
Devonshire House, the whole thing beautifully done.

356 White and Ponsford. [,850

Evy, who is Lord Lansdowne's godchild, dined with
G. at Lansdowne House previously.

Tuesday we went to Harrow to see Greville V., and
lunched with Dr. Vaughan and his wife (C. Stanley).
Poor I. G. C. is reduced to extreme decrepitude by his
late illness, though he still comes here and crawls
about.

I have requested White to write to you by this
post, though I don't know if he will have time to do
so. Innumerable little petty delays in details (perhaps
unavoidable in starting, but aggravated by Pon.'s
obstinacy) have delayed starting Shadweil till this
time. The general promise of the patent is, I believe,
quite as good as ever. Puddledock looks imposing,
two stories being up. Old P. seems to find funds
without an effort, and is pushing on. He is living in
a splendid house in Kensington Palace Gardens.
White has paid in ;^2,ooo more, and I have altogether
advanced ^£'6,217 on your account.

Business is dull, our money fully employed, but at
very low rates. We do a good deal on demand with
Cunliffe, who allow 2 per cent., Gurney only i|. Our
funds are steady — about g6 ; would be higher, but for
the deep conviction of a row in France sooner or later.

. , . The girls went to Taplow Tuesday, and we
follow in a day or two for our short term till June.
I cannot afford now to live there except I gave up
London, which would be hardly fair on Mary. Edith
is a greater pet than ever, and has said all sorts of
good things on this love affair. George is not to be
married till the middle of September, in Northampton-
shire.

Overstone takes his glories very quietly, and seems

iSso] Foreign Affairs. 357

extremely happy. I told you that Norman (from
Bouverie's) joined the two Loyds as a working partner,
and old Edward L, i^ in the firm at their back. . .

We talk of Germany on H. Currie's return — say
on 20th July. Mary is far from strong. Homburg,
or whatever Spa seemed best for her, would be our
destination. After the happy couple have had their
holiday — say seven or eight weeks — I should exces-
sively like to go abroad for the winter.

We shall under any circumstances be right glad to
see you again in England, but if you are happy, not
living at much expense, and gaining health and infor-
mation, I do not see any prospect at present of business
calling you home.

Charles Bruce will write a very special letter of
introduction to Colonel Bruce, Lord Elgin's right-hand
man, and I will ask Lord Gre}', as soon as I can see
him, for a private letter to Lord Elgin. Palmerston,
as usual, is boiling the pot. France has been scurvily
treated by our settling the Greek affair after our own
fashion, having accepted their mediation. Drouyn de
Lhuys went off on Wednesday, but whether in dudgeon
or not is not known. Old Brunow is utterly disgusted,
and Bavaria and Austria. Meanwhile, our Viscount
looks as gay as a lark.

The Vernon Smiths go to-morrow to Farming
Woods for the recess. Fitzpatrick V. is at present
private secretary to Lord Seymour. Adieu, dear B.
Pray write very fully and very often ; and with our
united kindest regards, believe me, most affectionately
yours,

R. C.

; 5 8 Wash mgton. [1850

FROM B. w. c.

Washington, June 2, 1850.
My dear Father,

I have received your letter of May 17 by
the Asia, the new Cunard steamer, which made the
quickest passage on record — from Liverpool to Boston
in less than ten days. They have just started an
opposition line at New York, and there is a most
lively interest taken in its success here. The Atlantic,
by which I wrote, was the first of the line, and made
the passage in thirteen days to Liverpool, so that as
yet the Cunarders are unconquered.

I wrote by the last mail from Baltimore, on my
way hither from New York. I passed the day there
with an old acquaintance of Rio Janeiro, and came on
the following morning to this place. Unfortunately
the Congress has been adjourned during nearly the
whole of the week, so that I ha\e had no opportunity
of hearing any speeches, but to-morrow, I believe,
they resume their session.

I have seen most of the " most remarkable men " —
the President, Webster, Clay, &c., and met at dinner
and elsewhere some very intelligent members of both
Houses. Sir Henry Bulwer is very civil, and I have
dined with him frequently. Altogether, however,
Washington is a very dull place, and has none of the
qualities of a great capital. The houses are small,
and the members of Congress live generally in the
hotels, of which they are the oracles, and rule supreme
at ** the ladies' ordinar}^ at five o'clock." This is not

1850] The President' s Levde. 359

the season for entertainments, certainly, but I should
think they can never be very brilliant. Sir H. Buhver's
dining-room will only hold eight people, and there are
very few houses larger. The official receptions are
open to all the world, and rather amusing from the
extraordinary mixture of the company. '\ went on
Friday to the President's Icvce. The rooms are good,
but there is nothing to eat or drink, and anybody who
likes may come in and shake hands with the President,
who stands close to the door all night with his arm
working about like a pump-handle.

A companion in exile has just arrived here —
Humphrey Mildmay, Junior. He is on his way home
after a year's travel in the States, and has given me
some information which will be useful for my guidance.

I think of leaving this place in a week or more, and
returning by way of Philadelphia to New York, from
thence up the Hudson to Albany — Niagara — thence to
Canada, and then perhaps by the lakes to the west,
where I shall strike the Mississippi. However, this will
all depend upon what I hear. It is very difficult to
get good advice upon the subject, for, if I ask a man
what is most worth seeing, he always tells me his own
state, and there is no guide-book nor even a good map.

Whenever I am within reach of mails, I will keep
you advised regularly of my progress. I heard a day
ago from Baring ; he had crossed the Andes to
Mendoza, and was about to start on the iGth of April
for Buenos Ayres. In case his mother has not heard
from him, she may like to know this.

I hope George is still in an ecstatic state of
happiness. These arc what are popularly considered
the happiest moments, and with him they will last

o

60 Suggestio7is for Ponsford. [ig^o

some months. Mildmay knows la bella inamorata, and
says she is charming.

White wrote me by the last mail a rather discursive
letter. He attributes the delays to the difficulties of
foundations, both at Shadwell and P. Dock, which it
seems Ponsford could not get over. I hope you urge
on the latter, as you have more inlluence with him
than any one else, and represent the three-fold loss we
sustain by delay — viz., expiration of the patent, accu-
mulation of interest on our capital, and advances to
Bovill, who, I suppose, by this times requires feeding
again.

If you go to Homburg this summer and stop at an
hotel, the best is opposite the Kur-saal, but there are
some private lodging-houses which I should think
would suit 3'ou better.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Taplow Court, Thursday, 2^rd May.

Dear Bertram,

An agreeable letter dated Sunday, May
5th, but which arrived in thirteen days from New
York, which it left the 8th, reached 3'our mother here
yesterday. I am keeping my room from a sore throat
and cold, but will begin a few lines for to-morrow's
mail.

I suppose you will not prolong your stay at New
York, as there seems little to be done there. The
weather here, as with you, has been cold and ungenial,
from a very long continuance of easterly wind, though
latterly accompanied with hot sun. We have been
down here for the Whitsun recess. Parliament meets

i8so] Lord Pabnersto7t. 361

to-night, and I suppose " Palmy " will be called to
account for his extraordinary and most purposeless
squabblin;^ with the French Government. As long
as Lord John sticks by him, he cannot be dislodged,
but there is a growing resolve to get rid of him. The
Court make no secret of their wishes on the subject,
and quiet people don't like to have their consols
knocked down every four or five weeks some one or
two per cent, by his contemptible blustering. Unless
he jobs in the funds, I cannot conceive what he is
about.

George is in London, awaiting the return of his
beloved from Farming Woods. She is coming here
on Saturday to sta}' till we leave, the middle of next
week.

I am to have a sale of my effects, corn, hay, (S:c.,
which I hope (though much smaller) may in its way
be as successful as at Albyns. ... It is as well you
have not known this charming place, that 3'ou may
not regret it as much as I do.

The papers give a letter (probably a forgery) from
Bulwer to Chatfield. Does the Nicaraguan question
excite any interest in the States ?

I think I told you that Mr. H. C. intends to take
his girls to Switzerland on the loth of next month,
and to be absent till the 25th of July. We hope to
start a day or two before his return, and go to
Homburg or Schwalbach, or to such other Spa as
the doctor at Frankfort may recommend for Mary,
who is far from strong, languid with constant head-
aches and a return of hooping-cough. I hope
we should take Edith with us and be absent six
weeks. In September we are all to go to Farming

J

62 Farewell to Taplow. [1850

Woods for the wedding. Shall you be home for it ?
The happy pair are to abscond for some two months,
whither does not seem easy to determine. Sir David
Dundas has offered them his house at Ochtertyre.
On George's return, I should much like to go abroad
with your mother and the girls for the winter. If in
Europe, why should you not go with us ? I am right
glad that the yellow fever did not set in at Rio when
you were there ; the accounts now seem frightful.

Your Aunt Fanny writes us very amusing accounts
of Corsica, which seems to unite beautiful scenery,
a charming climate, with abundance and extreme
cheapness. The Colonel is working all day (without
any apparent progress) at Italian. This scrawl is
very redolent of headache, gargle, &c., so I will only
assure you how glad I shall be to see you once again,
and how sincerely I am, dear B.,

Your affectionate father,

Raikes Currie.

Mrs. Raikes Currie adds a few lines.

Your father seems to wish that you should do as
you yourself think best about returning to England.
. . . The plan of going to Nice for the winter would
be very agreeable if put in execution, but I dare say
there will be various impediments to our going; at
all events, we should not get away before December.
It is rather tantalizing to have come down here at
the moment when this place is in its highest
beauty, to leave it altogether at the end of the month ;

1850] Evelyn Ve^'iion. 363

but Lord Orkney is not a man of sound mind, and is
quite blind to his own interests. He will not give
us a longer term than seven years, and asks a very
high rent. We have just heard that workmen are
coming into the house as soon as we leave it, to finish
rooms already begun, but so ill-planned, that the
house will be very much spoiled. It h a lovely
place, and I much wish we could have remained, but
as we ought now rather to diminish than to increase
our expenses, it is more prudent to leave it.

I think I told you in my last letter that we were
all very much pleased with Miss Vernon, or E-cy as
we now call her. We have had letters from her since
we came here, and she seems looking forward to her
visit on Saturday with great delight. I am almost
sure that you will like her, and I know you are a little
fastidious about women especially. She is simple and
unaffected in manner, and lively and agreeable.
George seems thoroughly happy, but not at all
excited.

TKOM l;. w. c.

Washington, June gth, 1850.
My dear Father,

I have received your letter of May 23rd
from Taplow, which I am sorry to hear you have
definitely settled to give up. Although the steamer
which conveys this will not leave Boston till the 12th,
I am obliged to write to-day, in consequence of the
irregularity and delays of the post.

My life here is so slow, that the events of a week

364 The House of Representatives. [1850

hardly suffice to fill up a letter. I have heard a debate
in the Senate, in which Webster, Clay, Cass, and
others of note took part. I think that the speakers
in facility and neatness of expression are superior to
the common run of the House of Commons ; but this
is not surprising, as they are mostly men of great
experience, having passed through all the grades of
public life from the Legislature of their own State,
and often its governorship, to their seat in the Senate,
which, with the sole exception of the Presidency, is
the highest object of ambition.

The House of Representatives is, I should hope,
inferior to anything in England, even to the Paddington
Vestry. The speeches are seldom listened to, which
is not of much importance, as they are addressed to
the speaker's constituents rather than to the House,
and are invariably printed by him for distribution
among his electors.

In neither House did it seem that much progress
was made in the business before it. The whole day
I passed in the Senate was wasted in personal explana-
tions, and as there is no limit to the number of times
a speaker may rise, the debate became a disputation
between two or three members, who followed and
refuted one another ad infinitum.

The question of Cuba is very curious, and many
people think a war between Spain and this country
inevitable. The Secretary of State has already made
a demand for the extradition of some of the prisoners,
which the Spaniards will certainly not accede to, and
has sent a fleet to support the Consul and protect
American interests.

In the meantime, although by an Act of Congress

1850] Americaii Politics. 365

the fitting out of hostile expeditions against a friendly
power is a punishable offence, the Government is
unable or unwilling to convict even Lopez, the Com-
mander-in-Chief of the expedition, who is at present
at large in this countr}-. The truth is, as Bulwer said
in his letter to Chatfield, that although the intentions
of the Government may be good, it is unpopular and
afraid of increasing its unpopularity, and there is no
doubt that a war with Spain, or any other country
which has something to lose, which it is too weak to
defend, would be very popular in this free Republic.

The Nicaraguan question is settled by treaty, in
which we and the Americans mutually bind ourselves
not to colonize or protect any States of Central
America, and engage that the canal (which will never
be made) shall remain neutral, and open to all nations.

These and the Californian question, which is long
and uninteresting, form la haute politique of the day.

I should like very much to go with you to Italy in
the winter, so much indeed that I would cut the South
altogether in November or December for that purpose.
At the same time, if you do not go, I think it would
be worth my while to spend the winter here. In the
former case, I should visit Niagara, the lakes, Canada,
the St. Lawrence, Quebec, Sec, and sail from Boston
or New York. In the latter, I should go down the
Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans in December,
through Cuba to Charleston, and return by the northern
cities in the spring. I suppose till your return from
Germany you will settle nothing finally.

I hope George is happy in the society of his enslaver.
I suppose his table is spread for the most part in
Savile Row, where I think I have heard you say that

o

66 The Corps Diplomatiqtie. [,850

the feeding is good. I hear of his brother FitzPatrick
from Sir Henry Buhver, whose attache he was in
Spain. ]\Ir. Fenton (Sir Henry's secretary) is his
intimate and correspondent. He tells me that old
V. S. always represented himself to his heir as hard
up, and unable to discharge the latter's incumbrances,
which he has at length done after a delay of two years,
perhaps in celebration of the "auspicious event."

There are not many people here whose society is
entertaining. Sir H. Bulwer is agreeable and miladi
good-natured enough ; the rest of the corps, diplomatique.
not brilliant. The French secretary and attache are
^* dcs rotiges trh forts,'" and one was a " chef de barricade"
in June. Madame Calderon (wife of the Spanish
Minister), whose book on Mexico you have perhaps
seen, is one of the best. There are no balls, the
weather being too hot — yesterday the thermometer
at go°. I have been spending a good deal of time at
the dentists, who are famous in this country. I think
I shall go to Baltimore in a few days.

"With love to all, I am, your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS SISTER MARY.

Washington, June 17, 1850.
My dear Mary,

I was much pleased to receive your letter
and will lose no time in answering it, though I am
afraid I have nothing very amusing to tell you. I live
here in a dirty inn, and spend a great part of the day
in my room to avoid the heat of the sun. Sometimes

1850] Daily Life in Washington. 367

I take a carriage and drive to the Capitol — a fine
building on a hill overlooking the town — in which the
Sessions of Congress are held, and either listen to the
members making speeches about California, or read
a book in the library.

As Washington was intended to be the principal
city in the United States, it was laid out on a very
large scale. The streets are as wide as Regent Street,
and of great length ; but from the absence of trade,
and the few residents besides the Minsters and official
people, the place has never been filled up, and it looks
like a large straggling village. The Americans call it
the city of magnificent distances.

There are a good many young ladies in the town,
and most of the people have a day on which they
receive, when one may go and make a call, but the
season for balls is passed and the weather is too hot
for amusements out of doors.

In the summer I shall go to a place called Newport,
in the State of Rhode Island, which is the Brighton
of this country, and filled with people from all the
principal towns. They live in great hotels, which hold
five or six hundred people, and dine together about
two o'clock, and meet again in the evening to dance.
Single gentlemen, who are so much esteemed in other
countries, arc rather under a disadvantage here, as the
best rooms, the best places in the railroads, and the
best dinners at the inns, arc appropriated to ladies and
the gentlemen who accompany them. So that there
is a great temptation to follow George's example.

I suppose you are looking forward to the wedding
with great interest, and have determined upon the
dress, (Sic.

;68 Hot Weather.

[1850

I hear that the brothers of your stout friend, Bessie
Marshall, were here in the winter under the charge of
a youth, half-companion, half-bear-leader. The elder
brother they describe as a great cub, but the younger,
a young lady told me, was " quite a darling."

Besides these, the eldest son of our friend, Sir Jean
Boileau, has been here, and is said to have trifled with
the affections of a niece of the President's. What
would Mdlle. Bidault say ?

I am glad to hear you get on in German, I had
nearly forgotten mine, the Spanish having driven it
all out of my head. I am losing the latter for want
of practice.

Give the babe many kisses for me, and with love
to all, believe me, your affectionate brother,

Bertram W. Currie.

Washington, June 23, 1850.
My dear Mother,

I am still at this place, though I hardly
know why, except that in this hot weather travelling
would be very disagreeable. We have jumped from
winter to summer without any preparation, and have
a steady temperature of go° — 92° all day. Of course
walking or driving, except in the evening, is impossible,
and then there is generally a thunder-storm.

Sir Henry Bulwer is in New York with his secre-
taries, and I have very few other friends or associates.
I shall certainly be off this week, and am waiting
principally for letters from you, which I directed to
be forwarded here, but which, in consequence of the

1850] The Califoj'iiian Otiestion. 369

long passage the steamer has made, have not \-et
reached me. By the telegraph from HaHfax, we get
the heads of intelHgence about two or three days
before the steamer arrives in New York, but they are
often incorrect or unintelHgible, and refer principally
to the price of cotton, the all-absorbing interest in this
country. By the last mail I received a letter from
Mary, which I answered. I hope she will write to
me again : it will be good practice for her hand-
writing.

The Cuba business seems settled for the present.
The Spaniards have behaved with great moderation
and have not given these people a chance of quarrelling
with them ; but further attempts on the part of the
Americans are very probable, and if made, under a
Democratic President, will be probably connived at
more or less by the Government.

At New Orleans, General Lopez, the chief of the
pirates, has been received with enthusiasm and
serenaded in his hotel, and the attempts to bring him
to justice are quite unsuccessful.

The question of California continues to occupy the
whole time of Congress. The dispute is between the
free and slave States, hitherto equally matched (fifteen
on each side in the Senate), as to the admission of
California as a State. The latter oppose her admission
without some equivalent by way of compromise, as
she, having declared herself a free State, her admission
would give a majorit}' of free votes in the Senate
and destroy the balance between the Northern and
Southern States. Mr. Clay has come forward as the
mediator, and has formed a compromise which, it is
believed, will pass the Senate, though its progress has

Y

370 A77terican young Ladies. [1850

been lamentably slow. The session of Conj^ress which
ends generally in July, will last, they say, this year till
October.

About myself I have nothing to tell you. My only
companion is the attache to Sir H. B., Mr. Pennell, and
we generally drive together in the evening. I some-
times walk with a certain Miss Adelaide Smith, an
exceedingly pretty girl, but either I am very hard of
heart or the American nymphs are incapable of
exciting la grande passion, for I confess that I soon get
bored with them. I don't remember whether I have
told you that the custom of walking or riding alone
with young ladies obtains here, and I am indulged as
often as I like with long tcte-a-tctes in the soft hours
that wake the wish, &c. Why, even George is not
more privileged. I am glad he is out of harm's way,
for such opportunities would inevitably have brought
him to a declaration. Love to all.

Baltimore, July 1st, 1850.

My dear Father,

I have to acknowledge two letters received
since my last, and will endeavour to write more at
length as you desire.

I told you, in a former letter, how much I should
like to accompany you in your travels, at the same
time that I thought it would be a pity to miss seeing
the Southern States merely for the sake of arriving in
London a few months earlier.

With regard to the monetary question, I have
endeavoured to envisage ma position financiere. I find

1850] Expenditure. 371

that my expenses amount to about /"^o per month,
which sum I can undertake not to exceed (from the
;ri25 drawn for in Ma}', must be deducted /'30 for
passage money from Jamaica to New York and /"lo,
30 per cent, duty on a box of clothes).

I have had great compunction in spending so much
mone\-, and am quite ready, if \ou think' the above too
much, to return home, as I am most unwilHng to abuse
your kindness. The great expense has been incurred
in actual travelling : for instance, the passage from
Lima to Panama, and from Chagres to New York,
together occupying but twenty days, cost /So ; exclusive,
of course, of transit of the Isthmus and disbursements
at Panama and Jamaica.

I should certainly prefer spending the winter with
you in Italy to passing it here, and in case you remain
in England, I am quite willing to do whatever suits
you best, and to return to the fatted calf when you
think advisable.

You will see that I have left Washington since I
last wrote, and shall probably pass on to Philadelphia
and New York in a few days. This is a flourishing
place of 150,000 inhabitants, exporting bread-stuffs
from the Western States, with which it is con-
nected by canals and railroads, and importing coffee
and sugar from Brazil.

I find an old Rio Janeiro friend, Mr. Wright, of
Maxwell, Wright, and Co., and my female acquaint-
ances are certain Miss Macleods, whose mother (sister
of Madame Calderon) keeps a young ladies' school.

The weather is even hotter than at Washington,
and I think than Peru or Ecuador.

The Cuba business is not settled, and a row with

372 Spain and America. [1850

Spain still seems probable. The Spaniards have
captured two American vessels with their crews on
the high seas, and have brought them into Havana
charged with the intent, to commit piracy. The United
States Secretary of State has instructed the consul at
Havana to demand their extradition, and has met
with an evasive answer from Roncali, the Captain
General, who wishes to get instructions from Spain
before he acts in the matter. If Clayton persists in
his demand, as he intended when I left Washington,
it will be difficult to arrange the matter amicabh'.
The papers here are indignant at the strong expressions
used by the European press in treating of the Cuban
affair, and probably the Spaniards will be encouraged
thereby to resist the American claims. I don't know
whether all this interests you particularly, but it seems
by the papers to be making some stir in England.

I wrote to White in answer to his letter and put
down some queries for my information. By the last
mail I hear from Mortimore, making -inquiry about
some leather-dealer in New York. Will you tell him
that I will try to find out the state of the individual in
question when I return to New York and write to him
from thence ?

Sir Henry Bulwer has taken a house on Staten
Island, in the harbour of New York, and means, I
believe, to spend the summer there. He is very
popular in Washington, and will make a capital
Minister — the rather that he understands the art of
flattery, of which these Yankees will devour any
quantity. I like him very much, and get a good deal
of information from him about Spain and other
matters.

1850] Romance in Cornhill. 373

I am much amused at hearing that fat Cowie has
been hit by the archer and that " love has taught our
Henry to be wise." Between the two amorous swains
they will turn Cornhill into Arcadia, and make the
shop resound with the praises of their respective
Phyllises. There only remains for John Lawford to
transplant some nymph from Blackheath to No. 29.
I suppose in reality that Mr. H. C. does not mean to
countenance such an absurdity as the marriage of that
unhappy youth, his son.

With love to all, j-our affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

The following is the first of the two letters from his father to
which Bertram referred in the preceding letter.

Cornhill, 6th June, 1850.

We received your two last (latest 21st May)
together, and hope that 3'ou soon recovered. I shall
be anxious for your next. As you make no comment
on George's affairs, I suppose you had not heard of
them, tho' I thought my letter of the 26th April (which
you acknowledge) was written at the first crisis.

Mr. H. C. starts to-da\' with his girls for Switzer-
land, to be back July 25th. John Lawford is to attend
them as far as Ghent. H. Wm. has a season ticket,
rides every day to the station and back, lives alone at
Horsley, and at present attends here with exemplary
regularity. This is the effect of all-powerful love : he
hoping if he behaves well to be some day united to
Miss Parsons, who captivated him at Malta.

374 Family News. [1850

Hawtrey gave a very grand entertainment on the
4th of June to two or three hundred people in Upper
School. He sat between Lady Ailesbury and Mrs. Van
de Weyer. I did not go, but Maynard went with your
mother. Maynard goes to the Isle of Man on the 15th,
and is now visiting Aldcrson at Oxford.

The V. Smiths gave a family dinner on Wednesday
to Wodehouses, H. C, Dundas, G. Hibbert, &c., with
a large assembly in the evening to Whig notabilities,
cSrc.

We went down yesterday to inspect the Chcam
property (part of Miss V.'s dower), which they will
let. We were amused by an old Mrs. Jones, a tenant
and pensioner of Miss Vernon's, recognizing George
as having washed him some tv/elve years ago, prepara-
tory to the vacation.

I requested White to write fully about the mill,
which he assured me he did, but if you will write to
him with any "queries," he will be most happy to give
you all information. . . .

I have finally left Taplow and sold my effects, which
went off pretty well.

Your friend Gary Pepys moves into ladyhood, and
her brother " Crowhurst " is more " heavy " than ever.

I trust you will think seriously about accompanying
us to the South of Europe in November. I very much
wish to spend the winter abroad with the girls, and
after your long absence, we should be truly glad to
have you with us. I do not think that P. Dock can
possibly be going before the spring.

Mr. I. G. C. has moved to Bush Hill : he comes
here constantly, but is very weak. Wodehouse has
made another very successful speech on the Australian

1850] Return to New York. 375

Government Bill. I think he will very probably be in
the Government next year.

Overstone feeds no one, but is going to give
concerts. Banking is very quiet and not very profit-
able. Tom Baring (who was staying down at Brighton
in consequence of his sister's death) tells me he thinks
of going to the States in August. Emma Wodehouse
(Mrs. Alfred) comes to stay with us in Hyde Park
Terrace next week.

Pray write a little more at length. All you say or
think is amusing or interesting to us : also all com-
ments on what we tell you.

FROM B. w. c.

New York, July gth, 1850.
My dear Mother,

I received no letters by the last steamer,
and know not whether you will be in England when
this arrives. I have not time to say much, having just
arrived from Philadelphia by the night train — it is now
midnight — and having to send off my letter early
to-morrow morning.

I have been for the last six days in and about the
Quaker city, where I found an old friend and com-
panion on the west coast of South America to show
me the sights. Otherwise, there is nobody in the
cities at this time of year, and nothing to detain the
traveller for many days. The 4th of July, the anniver-
sary of the Declaration of Independence, I spent in
the countr}-, but in a flat and unpicturesque part of it.

376 Philadelphia. [jg^o

Philadelphia, from being the largest city and port
in the United States, has now fallen to the third place
among the northern towns, but the State possesses
great wealth in its coal and iron, and, from the large
interests involved in the manufacture of the latter, is
the most active in agitating for a return to protection.
The present duty on iron rails is 30 per cent., but this
does not prevent a large importation from England,
and consequent depression of the Pennsylvanian works.
The coal, which is of the kind called " anthracite," is
exported, to the value of a million and a half sterling,
to other parts of the United States.

I am afraid that the cause of free trade is not
advancing much. The Whig party, which contains
the majority of the commercial class, is avowedly
protectionist, and the present Government are pledged
to a modification of the tariff of '46, which established
ad valorem duties on manufactured goods, averaging
about 30 per cent., but fortunately they are in a minority
in both Houses, and will probably be unable to make
any alteration — at all events during this session — as
the Congress is fully occupied with the admission of
California, and the questions arising therefrom.

Philadelphia is a clean and rather pretty town, and
has more remains of antiquit}' than New York or
Washington. The hospital, built by Penn, is still
surrounded by the trees he planted, and the citizens
are very proud of their State House, in which the
Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and
in which the early Congresses met. The streets are
laid out at regular distances, and planted with trees
which are both ornamental and useful, as the heat is
excessive. The thermometer rises here as high or

1850] Home Politics. ^JJ

higher than in any other part of the world. Already
this year we have been at 99'^

I am very anxious to see the account of the debate
in the House of Commons on Roebuck's motion and
Lord P.'s defence, and hope my father supported him ;
for to judge from the speeches of Lord Aberdeen and
Stanley, I think his policy decidedly preferable to
theirs, though he certainly manages to carry it out in
an unfortunate manner.

How are the loviers ? and what are their intentions
about housekeeping ? Is she experienced in domestic
matters ? For I should think George is rather green
in that respect.

I heard from Maynard by the last mail, but his
letter was dated 14th June, and had lain a week in the
London P.O. I have written to him in the Isle of
Man.

It is now one o'clock, a.m., and my candle is going
out. Adieu, dearest mother.

Your affectionate,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Cornhill, 2Sth jnnc, 1S50.

We are here in the extreme suspense of one of our
party " crises," and the result of the division more
than usually uncertain ; — unless Tufnell has interviews
(like Perkes's at Eatenswill) with many Protectionists,
I see not how the Government can get the majority of
forty which they seem to say is their " minimum."

2,7 S Lord Palmerstoiis Portrait. [jgjo

As you will see my name among the presenters of
Palmy's portrait to Lady P., I must tell you that in
the summer, when I was much interested in Hungary
and the Hungarians, and afterwards when he stood
up to Russia against the extradition of the refugees, I
put my name down in the list. The scene with
" miladi " was really touching; — as to Palmy, "the
tears coursed one another down his innocent nose,"'
and he spoke admirably.

If the Government resign, the result must surely
be amalgamation, and a reconstruction with Graham,
Cardwell, and Co., instead of Johnny, Palmy, and I
hope Grey. By-the-bye, I send you a private and
special letter from him to Lord Elgin — being the third
letter to Lord and Lady E. I think that you are
right well introduced there.

I was much interested by your last agreeable letter
from Washington. Sir H, Bulwer writes much in
your praise.

The lovers are as lovers should be — the little
woman in particular. How she will wait for September
I cannot tell. She will just suit you, being perfectly
refined, with a very sweet voice, and a quiet, easy,
natural manner, and a continuous but gentle flow of
pleasant talk, as remote as possible from boring in
any way. Her health and looks are much improved,
and she seems generally considered prett}'. She
certainly looks interesting and thoroughly refined.
They have got a very nice house, lo, Hyde Park
Street, furniture and all (formerly Elliot McNaughten's),
a great bargain ; it will stand them, including all
things, in about -£2^0 per an. I suppose they will not
be back in town till December.

1850] Silvej' Wedding: 379

We hope to be off somewhere on the 20th, but as,
I am thankful to say, Jc mc porte bicn, I think it
possible we may cut German waters and go on to
Switzerland, where, located on some Alp, we might
inhale pure air instead of Bubbles from the
Briinnen.

We had a jolly Greenwich party in a private
steamer, Wodehouses, Henlcys, G. G. Glyns, Airlie,.
Emma Wodehouse, Macdonalds — in all twenty-one.
The weather has been fervid for some time, but is now
cooling.

This day, the 28th, is our " Silver Wedding."
Van de Weyers, R. V. Smith, Carlisle, Parkes, Dundas,
&c., to dinner, and "a Drum" in the evening. On
Saturday we go for three nights to the aunts, who
have Lord Vaux's house near Bagshot for the season.
Evy has consented to sell Cheam, which is a good
thing, as it will make the settlement " homogeneous."
She puts ;r20,ooo to G.'s 3r5,ooo, which gives them
all events £"1,000 a year. Yoti will no doubt command
a much higher figure, not however I trust paid in
dollars.

You will see the account of an absurd blow struck
yesterday with a cane over the Queen's forehead.
She came to the opera afterwards, and as a man who
saw her tells me, she had a wheal or bump as big
as a plover's c^g from the switch.

The intensest interest is excited b}- the division
of this night, or rather to-morrow morning, some say
10, 20, 40, 50. Never was greater uncertainty. Peel
and his party vote against Ministers. I hear only of
Corry and one or twQ others for. And Drummond,
Blackstone, Goddard, Sturt, and some other Pro-

380 London Neivs. [1850

tectionists ; but perhaps Tufnell has induced many to
be absent.

Dundas has given Evy a superb dressing-case ; he
is a great friend, and she in her delight offered to kiss
him. Sir David said, " No, no, dear Httle woman,
not in this world but the next."

Maynard writes from the Isle of Man. Philip is to
go abroad with us. Emma Wodehouse and her
two children have spent three weeks in Hyde Park
Terrace, and are just returned to Norfolk. Another
Miss Gosling marries a son of Lady Ann Wilbraham.
Lady Clanricarde, who has always said her plain
daughter "was intended for the Church," marries her
to Mr. Weyland, a good match.

We were at a breakfast at Mrs. Horsley Palmer's
yesterday, and are going to Lady Howard's next week.
On the 17th we are to feed the Speaker and a party,
which will, I hope, terminate London gaieties with us.
Geo. and E. go to a few balls together. Next week
they have Lady Carington and Lady Waldegrave, who
is a great ally of Florence's and an immense enter-
tainer.

White is waiting for the completion of a very large
tank for water supply which Boville has had great
difficulty in putting down into the beach of the river,
from its unnecessarily large size. Puddledock looks
very imposing and goes on rapidly. White shall soon
write to you again. God bless you, dearest B. I wish
you could be with us to-day, but we shall think of
you.

Yours most affectionate,
R. C.

,850] Neivport. 3S1

FROM B. W. C.

Newport, July 15///, 1850.
My dear Father,

I have but half an hour before dinner to
answer your agreeable letter accompanying an intro-
duction to Lord Elgin. They were forwarded to me
from New York, and only arrived this morning. I am
fresh from a dip in the sea, which was so rough as to
give me a headache, and have just been through a
a long process of getting the salt-water out of my hair.
I made a short excursion from New York up the
Hudson River to West Point, which is prettily situated
on the wooded hill through which the river runs, and
on Saturday the 13th, came on by railway to this place,
which may be considered the Brighton of New York
and Boston. The season has as yet hardly begun, but
though the hotels are not filled, there appear to be
several pleasant people living in their cottages. The
air is charming and invigorating.

To-morrow I leave for Boston (about four hours
distant), to be present at the commemoration, or
commencement as they call it, of Harvard Uni\ersity.
Bancroft, who is there to enter his son, advised me to
go, and I shall probably see Mr. Everett and others of
the illtuninati. From thence I shall strike for Lake
Champlain and Canada, and return by Lakes Ontario
and Erie to Buffalo, Niagara, Saratoga, and this
place, which will then have reached its culminating
point of fashion.

I shall probably be unable to write by the next

o

82 Death of the P^xsident. [,8go

mail, but will not lose any opportunity of doing so that
may offer.

Our principal event is the death of the old President,
which they are at this moment celebrating with half-
hour guns. His death was occasioned by cholera,
induced by a " hearty meal of cabbages, milk,
cucumbers, and wild berries,"' eaten at night, after
having passed the whole day under the burning sun.
What will people think of the habits of a President of
the United States when they read this in the papers ?
I think the old gentleman is really a loss, for he was
undoubtedly honest and patriotic, and less fettered by
party pledges than any other public man in the
country. He was elected by the enthusiasm of the
people excited by his victories in Mexico, and owed
nothing to politicians of either party. His successor,
Mr. Fillmore, is a regular Whig, and will be guided
by the traditions of his party. It is supposed that
Mr. Webster will be Secretary of State, in which case
he will have the real authority. The discontent
between the North and South seems on the increase,
and a great many Southern men talk of dissolution of
the Union, but I fancy it will end in talk. The
advantages to both parties are too great to be easily
sacrificed.

I am looking ver}' anxiously for Lord Palmerston's
speech, which I hope to see at Boston. I conclude
from your letter that you supported him.

I am very glad to hear that George has got a house
that will suit him, and that he is so happy. There
are heiresses in this country, but ^20,000 is considered
quite unwieldy, and the interest would be enough to
live upon.

,850] S{7' Robert PecTs Death. 383

I thought of your Silhcrnc Huchzcit on the 2Sth,
and hope the celebration went off well. It would
have been a good day for George to have begun his
matrimonial duties. I am invited to dinner, and must
positively conclude.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO 15. W. C.

Cornhill, July 4, 1S50.

The death of Sir Robert Peel (after seventy hours'
sufferings from the injuries occasioned by a fall from
his horse on Constitution Hill last Saturday) entirely
absorbs public attention, and is felt by e^•ery thinking
man as a great national misfortune. I would not (as
3'ou well know) have given him for a whole wilderness
of Whigs !

Is it not grievous to think of so much ciccumulatcd
political experience, such stores of knowledge, such
immense influence — latterly always exerted for the
public good — all up to the fatal moment remaining
fully effective from unabated intellectual vigour —
crushed and lost to the country and the world ?

There is scarcely a question on which his advice
and opinion will not be sensibly missed, his absence
in the House felt every day. I send you the Times of
the 3rd and 4th. He never spoke with more modera-
tion, more good feeling and good sense than on foreign
policy this day week. Some persons allege that what
the horse did, a start, or a caper, was not enough to
have thrown him, but that he fell in a fit, and pulled
his horse over upon him. However this may be, he
was perfectly well and cheerful a minute before.

The Ministerial majority, fort} -six, was larger than

384 London Letter. [,350

most men expected ; but alas ! this is a Government
which its well-wishers can have no real satisfaction in
supporting. We still intend startinj:^ on the 20th, but
whether for Homburg or Kissingen is not quite decided.
The Count is at the latter place, but leaving soon.
H. Mildmay is in London. I have not yet seen him.
Mary was much pleased with your letter of the igth
of June.

White h grinding, and has sent me some excellent
flour. He will write to you next week.

We had a dinner-party yesterday, but Evy and G.
went away early to Savile Row, where R. V. S. was
entertaining the Palmerstons, Shelburnes, &c. We
wev& going to-day to Lad}- Howard's breakfast, but it
pours.

Lord Petre died yesterday. I have lately intro-
duced his youngest son to an excellent business — ■
Cooper, Currie, and Petre — Currie, a son of Sir
Frederick. They bank here. Charles C. has passed
the East India Coll. with great eclat, and is now going
out.

Thorburn is painting Evy for R. V. S. Mr. L G. C.
is certainly better in general health and spirits, but
sadly weak. He is here early and late and daily —
I believe chiefly to escape from his home. I went
with my womenkind to visit the aunts from Saturday
till Tuesday. They have a pretty place of Lord Vaux
for the season on Bagshot Heath. . . .

To-night we are to decide whether the Monster
Exhibition shall or shall not take place in Hyde Park.
Old Campbell of Stratheden is furious against it.

1850] Departu7'e fo7' HombuTg. 385

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Cornhill, July ig, 1850.

I am so very bus}- to-day that I can send only a
few hasty lines to acknowledge your letter from
Baltimore. We have arranged everything for a start
on Tuesday the 23rd to Dover, and propose to cross
Wednesday morning to Calais, and proceed via rail
to the Rhine, stop at Coblentz on Saturday till
Monday, and spend two or three days on the Rhine,
as our rooms at Homburg are taken from the ist of
August. The place is excessively full — the G. Glyns
(junior) are there, the two Lady Morleys, Miss Stewart
Mackenzie, Phillips, and, I believe, the Count, &c.
Our party includes Edith, Mary, and Philip. We
have a courier who travelled with me twenty-five years
ago. I send Nosey and the barouche and horses, and
two saddle-horses, to be all conveyed, without changing
boat or horse-boxes, from London to Mayence, for

We had a capital party on Wednesday. Bear
Ellice, the R. V. S., and Evy, the Speaker an4 Mrs.
L. Portman, Lord and Lady Lilford, and the \'an de
Weyers. The last, very great friends of Evy's, are
great additions to our acquaintance. R. V. S. supplied
an excellent haunch of Farming Wood venison, and
I found the tortoise.

Thorburn has painted a most beautiful miniature
of Evy for her father — an excellent likeness. Mr. II. C
is to meet me at Calais. Mr. L G. C. is still liors dc
combat with his eyes and hay asthma,
z

386 Letter front E. Baring. [1JJ50

The legal appointments, at least Wilde's, are queer
— he is (if they divide the office) to be Lord Keeper.
But can the Whigs last ? I think that the Pro-
tectionists, throwing the farmers over, will join the
Peelites, and then little Johnny goes.

We were a few days ago at a charming breakfast
at Holland House. He has done it up with perfect
taste and great luxe, and the gardens, &c., are
beautiful — about two hundred of the smartest people
and prettiest women.

Adieu, dear B. Pray continue to write constantly,
as your letters will be forwarded.

Your affectionate,

R. C.

FROM B. W. C.

Saratoga, July 28, 1850.
My dear Mother,

I wrote to you last from Newport, and have
since received letters by two steamers. I have also
heard from Ned Baring, who has passed the perils
of the Pampas without danger or loss — even of leather.
It would seem from his account that Rosas' position
is not so strong as when I left Buenos Ayres ; and as
the French have a large force in the river, which
would be an important auxiliary to his enemies in case
of war, perhaps the old t}Tant's reign is drawing to
a close. I think, however, that he will outwit them
all, for he is as cunning as a fox, and his subjects fear
him so, that they hardly dare think of opposition.

1850] Saratoga. 387

This place is the Baden of America, and is resorted
to from all parts of the Union for health and recre-
ation. For the last few years it has had the reputation
of bein^ fashionable, which in this free country is
sufficient to destroy anything, and now the really
decent people have moved off to some quieter spot,
and left the field to barbarians from the west. At the
head of society we have Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Rush, the
former immediately descended from an eminent tailor,
and the latter a millionaire of Philadelphia. Our young
men are mostly addicted to drink, and are seldom in
the full enjo3-ment of their faculties.

Of amusements the programme is as follows. In
the morning we play tenpins with the young ladies,
drive in the afternoon, and occasionally dance in the
evening, which last, to do them justice, they do very
well. But the people have so little gaiety or light-
heartedness in their nature, that with all this dissipa-
tion we are very dull.

Nor arc there wanting certain farceurs of the class
who frequent Homburg and Baden. We are honoured
with the presence of S. E. Monseigneur le Due de
Calabretta, and of a distinguished Hungarian noble-
man, but their popularity seems on the wane in
consequence of some disclosures affecting their personal
identity.

But the most remarkable man of all is a prodigious
swell named Garnum, who has been kind enough to
claim acquaintance with me on account of an intimacy
with Mrs. I. G. C., a man with a wooden face, large
moustache, and florid style of dress, cultivating inti-
mate relations with the English nobility, and frequently
referring to them in his conversation. He seems to

388 Village in Massachusetts. [1850

have great success here, and has the reputation of
being " an elegant man," or " quite a beau." There
are several other Englishmen, but not of a brilliant
order.

A few days after I last wrote to you, I went to
Boston to be present at the annual festival of the
University of Cambridge, and made the acquaintance
of Mr. Everett, and several other intelligent people.
After spending two days there, I stopped in my way
hither at a little village in Massachusetts, very prettily
situated, where a lady I knew in New York was
spending the summer, and saw something of the rural
life of New England. Though the country was beau-
tiful, I missed the old church tower and picturesque
cottages which make an English landscape so inter-
esting, and instead of the respectable-looking building
of the Establishment, there were half a dozen heresy
shops of most novel and hideous architecture. The
Americans have inherited and improved upon our
proverbial bad taste in building, and disfigure the face
of the country with their wonderful combinations of
bricks and mortar.

In politics there seems little new. " The god-like
Daniel," having been made Secretary of State, a new
senator will be chosen for Massachusetts, and it is said
that ]\Ir. Everett will be appointed. I hear from
Washington that the new President is thought very
well of, and his Cabinet contains the foremost public
men of the Whig party. Sir Robert Peel's death made
a great impression in this countr}', as it seems to have
done everywhere. I fear we shall have no more
Ministers so disinterested and so respectable.

I am glad to hear that Miss Florence Anderson at

1850] Saratogan young Ladies. 389

last meets with a husband. I think I remember Lord
A. Compton at Eton. Mildmay, who you say dined
with you, was with me in Washington. He had
travelled a good deal in the different parts of the
country, and is almost the only English gentleman I
have met ; excepting Mrs. Marshall's cubs, who have
no clear title to such a distinction. However, I was
not particularly delighted with him, and prefer the
brother in Bishopsgate Street. Egerton, if it be
the one in the navy, is a very good fellow, and
I liked much what I saw of him at Buenos Avres,
I suppose he is now a commander in Her Majesty's
navy.

I leave this place to-morrow for Utica and Sharon,
another watering-place to the westward, and thence to
Buffalo, which is close to Niagara. When I have seen
enough of the Falls, I shall go to Toronto, the seat of
Government in Canada, and thence up the St. Lawrence
to Montreal and Quebec, return to Montreal, and
descend through Lakes Champlain and George to this
place, or Newport.

I hardly know what to tell you about this place
which will be amusing. The young ladies are, on an
average, pretty good-looking, and some have moneys.
They are divided into two classes — those who aspire
to refinement, and in the pursuit of it forget nature
altogether, and those who consider amusement as the
chief good. The latter are addicted to mint-juleps,
and dinners at the lake, and are rather free in action.
I doubt if there be a sensible woman at present in the
United States Hotel, which contains six hundred
persons.

I am glad to hear from you that Mr. Wright has

390 Sharon Springs. [1S50

begun to bring grist to the mill, and hope soon to hear
from himself a favourable account of his experiment.

In answer to a letter from Mr. Mortimore, inquiring
about the substance of some New York leather-dealer,
I had the pleasure of informing him that his friend
was in a very unsatisfactory state of finance. Love to
all, from your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

Sharon Springs, August 5, 1850.

My dear Mother,

I have not heard from you since I last
wrote, a week ago, and have nothing particular to
communicate since that time.

The place from which I write is about seventy or
eighty miles west of Saratoga, and famous for its
sulphur springs, which attract the maimed, halt, and
cutaneous in great numbers. The situation and neigh-
bouring scenery are beautiful, and the air is healthy. I
have been spending a week very pleasantly in the
society of a lady from New York who is staying here,
but not in consequence of any of the above-mentioned
infirmities. She is the wife of a millionaire, and one
of the leaders of fashion in New York, rather prett}-,
and very well dressed.

The hotel, an immense building with Grecian
pillars, is full of people, and we have the usual amuse-
ments of bowling and dancing, the latter to the most
abominable band I ever heard. The sulphur baths
are very pleasant, and the drives in the neighbourhood
picturesque in the extreme.

1850] American Travel. 391

I am off to-morrow on my way westward, intending
to see Trenton Falls before Niagara, which will, of
course, cast all other falls into the shade, and then to
steam up the St. Lawrence to Quebec.

This is a tour which is made ever}' summer by
hundreds of people, and I shall find all the hotels and
steamers crowded. Indeed at this time of year the
whole population is on the move, and the discomfort
occasioned by such a quantity of travellers ver}' great.

The only tolerable mode of travelling in this country
is by steamers, which are to be found on all the
numerous rivers, and are fitted up with a great deal of
comfort, and even magnificence, and which travel
quite as fast as the railroad carriages. The latter are
abominably uncomfortable, and are constructed on an
entirely different principle from those of the London
and North-Western, &c., being of the shape of an
enlarged omnibus, with seats placed transversely, and
each made to hold about fifty people. The dust, smoke,
and heat are all excessive, and at the end of a day's
journey one has to undergo the most elaborate ablu-
tions to restore oneself to a decent state.

I hope you are enjoying yourself at Homburg, or
some other equally lively place. I am getting on prett\'
well, meeting occasionally with a pleasant person,
though the mass are certainly anything but agreeable.
I am afraid my letter will be hardly worth the trouble
of forwarding to Germany, but it will let you know
that I am alive and well, and ever yours affectionately,

B. W. CURRIE.

392 Niagara. [,350

The sheet of paper on which the following letter is written
contains a view of Niagara Falls, and is dated,

August II, 1850.
My dear Father,

I send you the above work of art as a better
representation than any I can give of the view from
my windows at this present writing. I arrived the
day before yesterday from Buffalo, having left Sharon
Springs (from whence I last wrote) on the 5th inst.
On the way, I stopped a day at Utica, in order to see
Trenton Falls, which are very picturesque, and intend
to-morrow or the day following to go on to Toronto.

I have received your letter of the igth July, written
on the point of departure, and imagine you now
enjoying the dissipations of Homburg, wath its society
of Russian Princes, French ladies, Polish Counts, and
other equivocal personages.

There is very little to tell you of since I last wrote.
I have found a companion in my walks and drives in
Captain Campbell of the 42nd Regiment, and last
night Messrs. Stuart-Wortley and Coke arrived on
their way to the far West.

During the day, from the heat of the sun, we are
obliged to content ourselves with the above prospect,
and in the evening we walk to the points which
command the different views of the great wonder.
You will see that there are two distinct falls, the one
on the American and the other on the Canadian side.
The island in the centre divides H.M.'s dominions from
those of the United States.

I am living under the flag of our beloved Sovereign,

1850] The Great Cataract. 393

because the inn is better and the view far more
beautiful. The great cataract, called the Horse Shoe,
is truly magnificent, and increases my admiration
every time I see it. It sends forth a continual roar
like that of the sea during a storm, and makes the
earth tremble around it.

I wrote from Buffalo, where I had to wait some
hours for the steamer, to George and Maynard (the
former is now the only lineal representative of Sir Piers
left in the land of his forefathers, for I suppose the
Isle of Man is a sort of colony or dependence), and
congratulated George on the now rapidly approaching
"auspicious event."

From White I have heard nothing, and hope his
silence is to be accounted for by the number of buyers
who engross his time. The principal query I addressed
to him was concerning the machinery of Puddledock.
I should think it would be desirable for the internal
part of the mill to be completed as soon as the external,
and in this department Pons cannot interfere with
his coffer-dams and other impediments. With regard
to the money already expended on the building, and
whether it exceeds Pons' estimate, I suppose no infor-
mation is to be got till the whole be completed, though
it is important to know, as the more he puts into the
building the less will he have for other uses. I have
no doubt this has all been considered, but, from
hearing nothing about it, one naturally imagines all
sorts of possible difficulties and dilemmas.

How is that great speculator Bovill ? Are his
finances in a more health}' state than when I left
England ? I remember the account S. and 15. used
to give great grief to Mr. H. C. If he still continues

394 ^^^ ^^^^^ President. [jg^o

the manufacture of iron rails, he might perhaps export
them with profit to this country. The Pennsylvania
iron-masters are up in arms against the large impor-
tation which has taken place during this year, and
one of their representatives in Congress made a
violent attack upon Sir Henry Bulwer for writing a
note to the Secretary of State, deprecating any increase
in the duties on British iron.

Stuart-Wortley, who has just arrived, tells me that
the Whigs do not talk of going out. To us at this
distance their position looks extraordinary, and I
should think no Ministry ever held office on such
terms. They appear to be unable to carry any of
their measures, and, even after the abandonment of
the most important ones, to be constantly defeated in
the House of Lords. Whenever I see the lists of
divisions, which is rarely the case, Wodehouse's name
appears on the Government side. I hope he has not
attached himself and his hopes of office to Lord Gre\-
and his colleagues, for, though the measures of the
Whig Ministry appear popular, the individuals com-
posing it are decidedly the contrary.

With us in the United States there is little of
general interest in politics. The new President,
supported as he is by a Cabinet composed of the first
men in the country, is universally popular, and is said
to be much more competent for his duties than his
predecessor. He has risen from the ranks of the
people, having been himself a clothier, and having at
present a brother working as a blacksmith. At the
time he was raised to the Presidential chair, his
daughter was teaching in a school. The newspapers
are delighted with this practical illustration of re-

1850] Effect of Republican Equality. 395

publican equalit}^ though it is another proof of what
is undoubtedly true in this country, that the higher
and wealthier classes take no part in politics. Of
the members of the two Houses, at least three-fourths
are lawyers, showing that "vocables" arc the sure
way to power, a fact of which Mr. Carlyle would not
approve. Have you read the Stump Orator and the
other Latter-Day pamphlets ? I have been doing so
in my railroad journeys, and cannot help thinking that
there is a great deal in them ; at least there are one or
two ideas most ingeniously and forcibh- illustrated,
and the result is exceedingly amusing.

So is not my letter, but I am not up to a description
of Niagara, and had nothing else wherewith to fill my
letter. At least you will know that I am well and
prosperous.

FROM GEORGE CURRIE TO IJ. W, C.

London, August 27, 1S50.
My dear Bertram,

I was very glad to receive a letter from
you to-day, as, since my father and mother have been
abroad, I have not been able to share in your letters
to them, and have heard nothing of you. I expect
them back about the 12th proximo, and the 19th is
the day fixed for my wedding. This is to take place
at Farming Woods, from which place I came up to-
day, having been there as usual from Saturday to
Tuesday. The house is very comfortable and the
arrangements of all kinds good : the country pretty in
summer, but damp. There is a deer-park, or rather

;96 The Bridegroom elect.

[1850

forest, round the house, producing excellent venison.
The place belonged to Lord Ossory, and came, witji
quantities of plate, pictures, &c., to V. S., and is
entailed on his eldest son. It is reached by a station
on the branch railway from Northampton to Peterboro',
and is distant from the former place about twenty-five
miles. Sir G. Robinson, a celebrated Northampton-
shire Tory, is to perform the marriage ceremony, and
we are to go to Lord Lansdowne's villa at Richmond
for a few days, preparatory to starting via Paris to
Nice or Genoa. We shall be back early in December,
and about Christmas settled, I hope, in Hyde Park
Street. The house I have got is No. 10, almost in
Hyde Park Square and looking into it — on the opposite
side to what was Sir T. Harrington's, therefore on the
east side. It is a nice-looking house, clean, and has
all the necessary furniture. Our trustees are to take it
as an investment (that is, the lease of the house
eighty years), and the fixtures, &c., some money of
Evy's will pay for. I don't like the situation except
for old associations' sake, but one cannot ask any
woman to live in the streets so many months in the
year. I can hardly believe myself that I am actually
going to be married so soon, but I am quite sure on
reflection that it is the best thing to be done, living
the sort of monotonous bucket-in-a-well sort of life
that one does, and must here. I am quite sick of a
single man's life in London, with no penates of one's
own, and no time or money to plunge into other
amusements. Then I am very fortunate indeed in
my choice, as everybody else will tell you. I will not
enlarge now on the merits of my intended wife ; but
I may say that I discover them more every day.

1850] Puddlcdock. 397

I began in the right way — by a conviction that she was
good and sensible, and better fitted for the situation
than any one I had ever seen, and have ended by falling
desperately in love.

I have written to Maynard to-day, who is still in
the Isle of Man, and told him to inquire for a letter
from you. He will be coming back soon.

Your partner White showed me a long letter the
other day he had written you. I think they are as
sanguine as ever, but have met with endless delays in
getting to work in the experimental mill at Shadwell.
White is always there, and seems to have his whole
soul in it. The Puddledock edifice (which White says
is the " Glory both of Englishmen and foreigners ! '*)
will be soon, I should think, ready for roofing. It is
now a conspicuous object from the halfpenny steam-
boats. Everything here in London is just as when
you left it, and I can hardly fancy you have been
away so long.

If I were you, I would come back and winter in the
Old World. Italy and the Mediterranean are before
you, and better, I should think, than the barbarous
West. My father's idea of going there will of course
end in smoke. I have seen Mildmay and Egerton,
who met you in different parts of America, and heard
of you from Bulwer thro' F. Vernon.

Mr. I. G. C., who has been very bad, has rallied
wonderfully, and comes now constantly to Cornhill.
The West End is deadly dull ; everybody who can get
awa)' to the moors or the Rhine having gone. Pray
write to me again at your leisure. I am ever.

Affectionately yours,

G. W. CUKKIli.

\gS Alaynard in the Isle of Man. [,850

Maynard, who was at this time in the Isle of Man, wrote :

"The Douglas society offers no temptations which it is
beyond my powers of resolution to resist. The Attorney
General, Mr. Ogden, and his wife and daughter, to whom
Lady H. Wigram sent me an introduction, are kind and
pleasing.

The Government here is purely aristocratic : the House of
Keys is self-elective ; and there is an Upper House consisting
of the Governor and half a dozen great swells. The people have
no share whatever in the legislature, but possess the privilege
of petitioning for or against any Bill proposed by either House.

Gold is almost unknown on the island. The circulating
medium consists of £\ notes, for the amount of which, security
in landed property is said to be deposited.

The people seem poor, but there are scarcely any paupers,
and those few are nearly all Irish. They are supported, not by
a rate, but by the collections which are made every Sunday in
all the churches.

There are no turnpikes, and the roads, which are very good,
are kept up by a small tax upon wheels. This is almost the
only tax on the island. The import duties are very small, and a
very drinkable sherry may be bought for 24s. a dozen.

The land is divided into small holdings of from twenty to one
hundred and twenty acres, with the exception of one large

estate, the property of Mr. G , the wealthiest inhabitant, at

whose house I dined and slept the other night.

I am surprised at finding no remains of ancient churches and
abbeys, which certainly existed at some earlier date. At Castle-
town, the castle, which is still inhabited, is (some of it) one
thousand years old, and there are remains at Peel which I have
not seen. This last place was the scene of Fenella's appearance
in Peveril of the Peak."

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Cohlentz, July 2gth, 1850.
My dear Bertram,

We received your letter (written to 3'our
mother on your return to New York) before we left
England. We crossed to Calais on Wednesday

iS5o]

Letter fro7n Geriuany. 399

morning, the 23rd, met Mr. H. C. and daughters for
half an hour and saw them embark for England,
slept at Ghent. Thursday, 24th, to Ai.x, where we
slept at Grand Monarque. Friday, 25th, to Cologne,
Disch's Hotel. At the tabic dliote there we met Meyer
Rothschild and his bride, Miss Cohen, whom we
promised to visit at Frankfort. Saturday we had a
lovely voyage to this place, where we have been staying
on the east side of the river in a very quiet, new hotel
— the White Horse. Nosey, four horses, and the
barouche spent last night in the steamer here, and are
off to Mayence this morning. We are going to-day to
Bingen, and mean to linger about the Rhine till
Thursday, ist August, on which day we enter upon
our rooms at Homburg. T. Phillips writes me word
that they are the best in the place, which is excessively
full.

We are a very comfortable party. Edith chatters
away German most amusingly to the natives. Philip
enjoys his first tour. Even Sanderson is reconciled to
" these furriners."

As a courier, we have a capital old Swiss — Girod,
who has been butler at Rotherfield, and travelled with
us south in 1825.

The weather is very line, with occasional heavy
showers. The views yesterday evening were lovely.

I presume you were told that Lord Darnlcy marries
Lady H. Pelham, Lord Chichester's daughter. I cannot
recollect any other matches.

Wodehouse spoke remarkably well at the Exeter
agricultural meeting and is tolerably reported in the
Chronicle and Herald.

We shall look forward to your letters, whicli will

400 Hamburg. [,850

be forwarded to Homburg — if we like the place and
the waters suit us we may stay four weeks. Evy
Vernon writes very nice affectionate letters to us, and
counts the hours to the igth September. Her 5^20,000
goes into the consols, and she has a few hundreds over
which she gives George for furniture. I think she is
just the sort of little woman you will like to talk to — a
good, intelligent listener, with plenty to say in a very
sweet voice, taking all things easily and quietly, and
perfectly refined, not at all commonplace, and quite
unlike an average young lady. She will in a quiet way
manage George, and, I hope, much improve him. It
is a great thing to marry into a family in which there
are no bores.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO B. W. C.

Homburg, 10th August, 1850.

I wrote to you while we were en route, and have
had the pleasure of receiving here an agreeable letter
from Newport, 15th July. We arrived 2nd August,
and have a very nice suite of rooms an premier chez
C. Theis, at the entrance of the place as you come in
from Frankfort, on the left hand ; our windows look
down the road which leads to the wells. Nosey, the
barouche, and four pads are in a comfortable stable
behind.

We think the air delicious. Mary is drinking the
Elizabeth, but I do not venture on it, as there is lime
in it. We have some pleasant people here, as you
may see by a list of a few I feed to-day at two o'clock

1850] English Visitors. 401

at the Belle Vue — T. Phillips, Dowager Lady Morley,
Lady Morley, Hallam, Lord and Lady Galway (she is
M. Milnes' sister), Mrs. Yorke (a very pleasing widow),
Mr. and Mrs. Hildyard (she is Rochfort's sister),
and Mrs. Cecil Fane. Miss Stewart Mackenzie and
mother come to-day. Lord and Lady Castlereagh
are here. Lady Farquhar and daughter, and many
queer people. Philip danced away at the Kursaal on
Wednesday, and we went there.

The Count waited at Frankfort to shake hands
with us, but is off to Boulogne. Greffalte of Paris is
here. All the Legitimists now at the various Eaux are
mustering at Wiesbaden to pay homage to the Comte
de Chambord, who arrives there from Gratry. I have
had an invitation from the Rothschild at Frankfort
(Anselm) to dine, but declined.

I am glad you are off to Canada. Niagara and
Quebec must be well worth seeing. . . . The marriage
stands for the igth September. We are to go from
Farming Woods to Kimberley.

FROM MRS. RAIKES CURRIE.

Hombiirg, August iSth, 1850.
My dear Bertram,

Your letter dated Saratoga, July 26th,
reached me this morning at an early breakfast, soon
after eight o'clock, and gave us much pleasure and
amusement. From your account of the young ladies
they cannot be very attractive to any one who has lived
in good society in England. Rclinement at the expense
of nature is scarcely worth having.

AA

402 Life at Hombitrg. [,850

We get on very well here, though the life one leads
does not particularly suit me, being in society all day
long ; but there are some people, those with whom we
chiefly live, who are very agreeable. Old Lady Morley
is a host in herself, and the younger Lady M. is very
pleasing and ladylike. Mrs. Stewart Mackenzie, but
especially her daughter, are great acquisitions. The
daughter is clever and agreeable ; she joins your father
and Mary in their rides.

I find that you lived at the Hotel de TEurope.
Mr. Round, who is here, tells your father you generally
drove over to Frankfurt to dine ! Certainly the dinners
here are for the most part as bad as possible. . . .

We have been to two balls at the Kursaal. The last
was a very gay one. Lord and Lady Cowley came
from Frankfurt, and Mr. Petre, Lord and Lady Sidney,
Lady Pollington also, and she danced the whole
evening, with very great Tigers, waltzes and polkas,
looking fat and vulgar. Mary went, only to look on,
and was much amused. The waters seem to agree
with her, and we shall probably stay till the end of the
fourth week, which will bring us to the 30th August.
We have promised to be in London by the 12th of
September.

This morning's post brought a letter from George.
He had been down to Farming Woods the end of last
week and stayed till Tuesday, and was going there
again on Saturday. He describes the place as a
desirable residence only in very hot weather, being
down in a hollow and surrounded by woods with a
clay soil. The house, he says, is very comfortable.
Fitzpatricks, Lilfords, Stopfords, with all of us, and
probably Lord and Lady Shelburne, are to be at the

1850] Konigstein. 403

wedding, which is to be at Brigstocke, their parish
church, a mile and a half from Farming Woods. They
have settled to cross the Channel a week after the
wedding and to go probably to Geneva, as they hear
the Lake is in great beauty in October.

One of the prettiest drives we have been in this
neighbourhood is from Homburg to Konigstein. We
saw it one evening when the setting sun lighted up the
old ruin of Cronberg ; with the village at the foot of it
and the extended plain beyond, it was a most beautiful
landscape. You, of course, must have seen it as well
as all the other places in the neighbourhood. To-
morrow we are going to Konigstein again with the
Stewart Mackenzies.

A German mistress comes daily to read and talk
with Mary. She gets on very much with the language.

George says in his letter to-day: " Mr. H. C. gives
us a teapot. Lady Lansdowne an old Sevres dish,
Lady Shelburne a table." Lord Shelburne gave Evelyn
a bracelet. They had a great many presents — alto-
gether six inkstands! Your father is very well and
finds great comfort in Bass's pale ale, a cask of which
he brought from England.

The rivalry between Austria and Prussia is very
great. The King of Prussia, by his want of decision,
lost a great opportunity.

I am always, dear B., your very affectionate

Mother.

My letter is a strange jumble. Dr. Hook preaches,
and we are just going to church.

Philip has been to luncheon with Lady Cowley.

404 Newport. [,850

Wellesley, her son, who is at Eton, introduced him.
She was surprised to hear that George was old enough
to marry, forgetting that four years have passed since he
was at Constantinople.

FROM B. w. c.

Providence, September ■^rd, 1850.

My dear Mother,

I was very glad to hear of you from
Homburg, and to find that you were pleased with the
place. I think I can make out in my recollection the
house in which you live. I occupied a balcony on
the rez de chaussee of the hotel immediately in front of
the Kursaal, which looks down the walk lined with
orange-trees, leading to the principal entrance. Perhaps
the house is no longer an hotel. I forget its name.

I came on to-day to this place from Newport. It
is the capital of the State of Rhode Island, and a small
town of thirty or forty thousand inhabitants.

The last week I have spent at Newport, not
knowing well whither else to go. It is the best of the
watering-places, having the advantage of a delightful
climate, and, moreover, an air of respectability
uncommon in this country. The town has been built
two hundred years, and was formerly of some com-
mercial importance, though its trade has long since
departed to Boston and New York. There is an old
church of which Bishop Berkeley the philosopher was
rector, with an organ presented by him — one of the
most venerable reliquice in the United States. A building^

1850] Arrival of Jenny Li7id. 405

twenty years old is rarely to be met with. Since I have
been in New York, the house which was formerly
occupied by the Colonial Governors and afterwards by
General Washington, has been pulled down and turned
into an hotel !

I suppose this will reach you just before the closing
scene in George's history. Of course you will send me
a full and particular account, giving the confession of
the unfortunate man, together with the dresses of the
bride and bridesmaids, speeches of the honourable
members, &c. I shall think a great deal about him on
the 19th.

Yesterday the steamer arrived with Jenny Lind
and some other musical celebrities from England. She
has been engaged by Mr. Barnum, the enterprising
proprietor of Tom Thumb, to sing at one hundred and
fifty concerts for £"60,000. I doubt very much if the
undertaking will be successful, as there is very little
musical taste in the country, and not a respectable
opera even in New York.

The season at Newport is on the wane. The
Bulwers came there for a day last week, but miladi
was alarmed at the noise and confusion of the hotels,
and fled precipitately. As to quiet and comfort at
these places, they are unattainable. At 6 a.m. a gong
sounds, and after that, noise of one sort or another is
continuous. The dinner is an organized scramble.
Food and waiters are provided for about a third of the
company, and the competition for both becomes
intense. The only amusement is the dance, which
generally begins at g p.m. and lasts with short intervals
till midnight. I have become thoroughly sick of
dancing, and rarely join the giddy throng. My com-

4o6 Companions at Providence. [1850

panions are Captain Campbell, Pennell, the attache, to
the legation, and Mr. Duncan, in whose house I am
now writing. He is the son of a millionaire, a
Scotchman by birth, who is now in England, and,
having been educated there, is vastly superior to the
native young men. To-morrow, or the next day, I
return to Newport, and from thence shall work my way
back to Montreal and Quebec.

I am now writing late at night (having been to a
party) in order to catch the steamer, which leaves
Boston to-morrow, and having nothing but a steel pen,
find it difficult to make myself legible. Have you seen
or heard of Mrs. Abbot Lawrence, wife of our Minister ?
She is considered vulgar in Boston, and must therefore
be very ladylike or more outrageous than one can
imagine. The society here is very stupid ; those who
have anything in them are mostly unpolished diamonds,
and the refined part of the community is frivolous
beyond belief.

Newport, September 10th, 1850.

My dear Mother,

I wrote you a few lines by the last mail
from Providence, and have to-day received yours of
the i8th August. I have been now stationary in this
place for a fortnight, and have therefore little to com-
municate. My intention is still to go up to Montreal
and Quebec, and I am waiting partly for the chance of
meeting a companion. The New York season does
not commence till October, and we are still in the
finest season of the year, so that I am in no great

1850] Political Measures. 407

hurry to start, and in the meantime find the air and
climate of this place very agreeable.

I am not without hopes that Ned Baring may join
me here in a month or two, if he can get an extension
of leave. I have heard from him three times since he
arrived at Buenos Ayres. He seems much pleased,
and is on the best terms with all my old friends and
flames, the latter of whom, he tells mc, have dis-
covered a striking resemblance between us. I hope he
may come on here in October or November, so that
we may go together to the South.

Affairs in Washington are just now interesting, or
rather the interest which has been so long excited, is
just over, in consequence of the passage by the House
of Representatives of a Bill for the admission of
California as a State ; together with one fixing the
boundaries of Texas, and providing a territorial
government for Utah. The effect of these measures
has been to satisfy the moderate men of all parties,
and to allay for a time at least the vexed question of
slavery. I met yesterday at dinner Mr. Charles Sumner,
who is very well known in England, and to whom I
had a letter from Mr. Reeves. He is a great man
among the free soil or anti-slavery party, and, being
rather extreme in his opinions, is highly incensed at
the passage of these Bills, considering them too great
a concession to the South. It is of course impossible
to form an opinion as to the danger of an eventual
dissolution of the Union, but things have at any rate
advanced so far that the idea is familiar to the minds
of all men, and I have heard the most respectable
Southerners openly speak of disunion as desirable. A
good deal I suppose must be put down under the head

4o8 Charles Sumner,

[1850

of gas — as it is called here — and in which north and
south, east and west equally excel. Mr. Sumner is a
law3'er of Boston, and a very agreeable, intelligent
man : indeed, I think him and Mr. Everett the two
most agreeable Americans I have known.

You seem to have had a very pleasant party at
Homburg. We had travelling here a Mrs. Petre, nee
Stewart Mackenzie (daughter of an ex- Lord High
Commissioner of the Ionian Islands). I know not
whether she be a sister of your friend.

Captain Campbell, with whom I travelled about for
some time, left to-day to return to his regiment at
Bermuda. The Bulwers are at Boston, and still talk
of coming here, but they are uncertain, coy and hard
to please, and their movements most eccentric.

I cannot help thinking about poor old George.
It \\'ill be quite sad to return and find him flown from
the paternal nest, even though his flight be no further
than to Hyde Park Street. I hope that when estab-
lished in his colony he will follow the example of the
parent state and become a firm defender of our
parochial liberties and a good citizen of Paddington.
Adieu, dear mother, till next mail.

Your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

On the igth I shall be at home to my friends and
drink prosperity and long life to the happy pair.

iS^o] Letter from Homburg. 409

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

HomhuYgy August 28th, 1850.

My dear Bertram,

Our visit to this place is drawing to a close ;
we shall turn our faces homewards on the 30th, and
hope to be in London by the 12th September. I believe
that we shall go up the Moselle to Treves and Metz,
then post by two days' moderate journey to Chalons,
whence there is now a railway to Paris ; and thence
home by Boulogne.

George goes down to Farming Woods every
Saturday. Old Lansdowne has invited himself to
stay there for the wedding. We are to go there eti
masse and afterwards to Kimberley.

The weather has become cold and showery, and I
shall be glad to get home. We happen to have had
some pleasant people. Old Lady Morley is most
cheery and amusing, and the young one a very nice
person.

Did you ever see Miss Stewart Mackenzie? She is
handsome, lively, and clever. Her mother, Mrs. S. M.,
was a daughter of Lord Seaforth's (now extinct),
married early Sir Samuel Hood, was with him in
India, where she was a lionnc, shot a tiger, &c., was
left a widow, married Mr. Stewart, a grandson of Lord
Galloway's, became the heiress of Brahn Castle and a
great Highland territory by the death of her brother ;
then went successively to Ceylon and Corfu, her
husband (who took her name) being Governor and
Lord Hi'^h Commissioner of these colonies, is now

4IO Miss Stewart Mackenzie. [,850

old, but still clever and entertaining from her vast
variety of adventure and acquaintance. Peel was
■staying with her in the Highlands last year. The
daughter is twenty-four — a great friend of Sir David
Dundas. She is rather restless and ardent, wishing to
be at everything. Soon after she arrived, she wanted
to be off on a party up the Moselle, but a Lady Bryant,
who was to have chaperoned her back, fortunately
sprained her knee and could not go. I send you a
letter of admonition which she (Miss M.) received —
premising that B. means our chaplain, Rev. Butler,
who has actually attained what so many aim at —
preaching in his sleep ; and that the Dowager Morley
declines being called " old Lady Morley," but " the
less young."

" Man never is, but always to be blest."

'Tis yours to soothe, and give the restless rest,

To bid our strivings, wishings, wanderings cease,

To feel within, then shed around you — Peace.

While we aspire, and toil, and rage, and roam.

Our better nature whispers still of home,

And all the hopes those murmured thoughts disclose

Lie circled round by one idea, — repose !

Licensed like B., at once to sleep and preach.

Such, dear Louisa, are the truths I teach.

'Tis hard to see thee beaming on our sphere,

To charm, enliven, decorate and cheer.

To think the woods more green, the hills more blue.

Because the landscape wins a smile from you,

And just as we begin " to love too well."

Hey ! Presto, off! "I seek the fair Moselle ! "

The fair Moselle ! alas ! those ardent eyes
Will distant hearts and distant rivers prize.
Forgetting past and present — will pursue
Some fleeting vision which eludes the view.

Pause to be happy ! formed to bless and shine.
Make that which lies before thee, truly thine;
Pause to be happy ! formed to shine and bless.

1850] Lines of Expostulation. 411

'Tis nought to chase, 'tis something to possess.
How can I hope to bid such wanderer stay ?
My verse is feeble and my locks are grey.
Yet much discourse with man and woman-kind
Tells mc to value two>'0» leave behind ;
Strong sense with social wit — how rarely found
Since Sydney's name became a mournful sound !
And she, " still younger" — what a friend is here.
Refined, engaging, cheerful and sincere ; —
It cannot be ! — if sighs and tears be vain
I rest my hopes on Lady Bryant's sprain !
Hamburg, igth August, 1850.

I went with Lady Galway and Philip yesterday to
Konigstein : the view from the crag and ruin of
Falkenstein, near there, of the Cronberg and the
valleys of the Meuse and Rhine is beautiful.

On Thursday we attended the Peace Congress at
Frankfurt, and heard Girardin and a pure nigger.
Cobden spoke on Friday.

Ever your affectionate

R. C.

FROM B. W. C.

New York, September 16th, 1850.
My dear Father,

By the last steamer I had no letters from
you, but was glad to hear from George, who wrote in
capital spirits. I hope his firmness has not deserted
him on the momentous occasion. My movements since
last week have been from Newport to Boston, and
thence to New York. I stopped but two days in
Boston, seeing the Bulwers, who were there, and
missing Sir E. Head (upon whom I called on your
account), who was passing through.

412 Canadian Reciprocity Bill. [1850

In consequence, I suppose, of the Canadian
Reciprocity Bill, which is coming on before Congress,
and for the passage of which the colonists are very
anxious, there is quite a gathering of Governors and
emissaries. Lord Elgin is here, Sir E. Head on his
way, and several colonial dignitaries at Washington.
The Canadas have offered the free navigation of the
St. Lawrence on condition that their produce be
received in American ports without duty, — in fact, that
they enjoy all the commercial privileges of the States
of the Union. The passage of this Bill through
Congress is thought very important to our interests in
Canada, as the Canadians will then possess all the
material advantages of American citizens, with a much
lower scale of taxation, and will have no object to gain
by annexation to the Union. As usual here, it seems
quite uncertain whether the Bill can pass or not.

The great topic of conversation now is Jenny Lind.
She has already given two concerts, at which the
receipts were between ^5,000 and ^^6,000 each. On
the iirst night she handed over her share, amounting
to ^2,000, to the Mayor of the city to be distributed in
charity. Of course her popularity is unbounded, but
I hear people are much disappointed in her singing,
and expected something more wonderful. The other
lion is "The Turkish Ambassador," as the papers
magniloquently call a captain in the Sultan's navy who
has been sent over to get information about the United
States for his master. The doings of this individual,
as well as those of Jenny Lind, are duly chronicled
in the newspaper, and, from the sayings there attributed
to them, their conversation seems to turn principally
on the glories of this mighty Republic. The first

1850] Tennyson s ''In Memoria77i." 413

interview between Jenny and the American eagle was
quite touching, and the sight of the stars and stripes
positively overcame her. The Turk seems no less
expressive of his admiration.

I find that one becomes intensely patriotic here,
from the mere spirit of antagonism to the laudation of
themselves and depreciation of other nations in which
these people incessantly indulge.

The triumph on which they have been congratu-
lating themselves for the last two months is the passage
made across the Atlantic by one of their new steamers,
which they assert is the shortest on record, and by
which they say they have obtained "the dominion of
the seas." The Cunard steamers, which have always
been obliged to stop at Halifax b\- their contract, and
have lost thereby considerably, are now to run direct
to New York, and will, I trust, have the satisfaction of
beating the Yankees' heads off, as I have no doubt
they can.

I have been reading Tennyson's last poem, In
Memoriani. I think it is very superior to any of his
previous poems, and has some beautiful passages.
Wordsworth's Prelude, published about the same time,
choked me off very soon.

I arrived here the day before yesterday in company
with Pennell, and have seen hardly any one else. I
still purpose seeing Quebec before the cold weather
begins, and am waiting on the forlorn hope of finding
a companion. If I go south in the winter, the proper
time will be in November, therefore there is no cause
for hurry.

New York is full, but only of birds of poassage.
The inhabitants do not return for a week or two.

414 Jenny Liiid. [,850

The steamer which bears this will sail on the day
before George's wedding, which I trust may be the
opening scene to a happy life. From all accounts the
bride appears to be charming, and the groom will, I
think, make a good husband.

Do you think my coming home in the winter would
be of any service to the advancement of the mill ?

New York, Sept. z^th, 1850.

My dear Father,

As the steamer leaves to-morrow I will not
omit to send you the usual weekly despatch, though I
have nothing new to tell you of. I have been twice
to hear Jenny Lind, and that is the amount of my
gaieties. Balls have not begun, and dinners, being
mostly bad, I eschew. Jenny Lind, supported by
Belleti and Benedict, gives concerts three times a
week in a building which holds six or seven thousand
persons, who pay on an average fifteen shillings for
their tickets, and as yet the rush for places continues
unabated. The critics profess to be disappointed with
her singing, but with the multitude this makes no
difference, as they are quite incapable of forming an
opinion on the matter. I think if Mile. Jenny had
never sung but in concerts, she would have established
a very small reputation in proportion to her present
fame. The concert appeared to me a very slow affair,
and not worth the crowd, heat, and bad odour, which
counterbalance the singing. ... I have seen the
Bancrofts since I came here. They were surprised
the other day by a visit from Dr. Holland, who has

1850] Preparations for Wedding. 415

since gone off to the northward. If I had met him
I should have claimed relationship on the score of
George's amalgamation with the Smiths.

Adieu, my dear father. Give love to all from,

Your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM MRS. RAIKES CURRIE.

Hyde Park Terrace, Sept. 13/A, 1850.

My dear Bertram,

We arrived at home yesterday after an
absence of seven weeks, all well and prosperous, and
having enjoyed our trip very much. Mary, Phil, and
Edith are all good-tempered and easy, and we had no
contre -temps of any kind ; weather on the whole fine,
though latterly cold, and we have a good smoky
east wind to greet us on our return ! London looks
unusually disagreeable — the Parks burnt up, dust
flying, and nearly every house has its shutters closed.
We are off again on Tuesday to Farming Woods for
the auspicious ceremony on the 19th. George has
been down there at the end of every week, but now,
he stays with us till Tuesday. He looks thin and
seems rather nervous I think, but very happy. I am
going down to Richmond with him to-morrow to take
a survey of the house. We must lend them plate,
linen, and a cook, as these are not provided. George
has decided to remain there only a week. He has
engaged a foreign servant, and means to go first to

4i6 Bridesmaids.

[1850

Paris, and then to Nice and Genoa. I dare say they
will not be home before Christmas.

The Eton boys have an extra week, so Philip will
not go back till Saturday. Maynard is to be here
to-morrow. I have a little shopping to do to finish up
the bridesmaids' dresses. Edith is to have a pair in
a little Miss Stopford. The other bridesmaids are
three Miss Fitzpatricks, two Powyses, and Mary — eight
in number. They are to be dressed in clear white
muslin with silk scarfs of apricot colour, and white
transparent bonnets with lilac heath inside, and a
bouquet of the same on one side of the bonnet. The
two little ones are to have loose silk jackets instead
of scarfs.

Now you will want to know the costume of the
bridegroom ! He brought me his trousers to see this
morning ; they are a thin woollen substance, of a very
pretty brown colour, white double-breasted waistcoat,
blue coat and plain blue handkerchief! very good
taste, I think.

We are to go across from Northamptonshire to
Kimberley, and I shall go to Raynham to see Aunt
Charlotte and probably to Witton for a week, and
perhaps to Cromer for a week or ten days. Your
father says he must be in London, so he will only
go with us to Kimberley for two or three days. Lord
and Lady Henley are to be there, and Lord Airlie,
I believe.

Aunt Harriett and Mr. Chambers set out to-da}- on
a little trip to Belgium to see churches, and mean to
go to Munich and Schaffhausen. We heard that
Lord and Lady Overstone were passing through
London to-day, so have asked them to dine with us.

,850] Totir in Holland. 417

and Count Strzlecki, who is also in London for a day
or two, is to meet them. The Count has been at
Boulogne for sea bathing and is going to Scotland
to-morrow. Lord Overstone lent Wickham to the
Lefevres for three months till the end of October, he
and his family being at Overstone.

Your father will probably write to you by this day's
post, and tell you that after leaving Homburg we filled
up our spare time by a little tour in Holland, going
from Coblentz to Dusseldorf and Arnheim ; thence by
rail to Amsterdam and so by Haarlem and Leyden
to the Hague, where we stayed two days ; thence to
Rotterdam and Antwerp, and home by way of Calais
— out of our way, to shorten the sea voyage, which
makes poor Mary so very ill. We were very much
pleased with Holland, particularly with Amsterdam
and the Hague. . . .

I cannot help wishing very much that you were
now at home, that sve might all have been together on
the occasion of George's marriage. It will seem
strange to you to come home and find him settled,
a married man. Philip is very much grown and bids
fair to be tall. Edith grows also, but her face is still
very fat. Mary is stronger than when we first went
to Germany, but not robust. You will find us all, I
guess, a good deal changed outwardly, when you
return. I see myself age rapidly, but am thankful to
say I am perfectly well, and always, my dear Bertram,

' Your very affectionate

Mother.

BB

4i8 Letter from Cornhill. [1850

Mr. Raikes Currie wrote by the same post, 13th Sept. 1850.

Our constant locomotion last week prevented me
from writing as usual. You well deserve a constant
correspondent by your regular and entertaining letters.
We are now anxiously expecting one, your last bearing
date nth ult.

I write this hasty line in all the bustle of a first day
in Cornhill, after more than seven weeks' absence. I
find things quiet, and rather, if anything, more
employment for money. Your mother promised to
write you by this post.

I have just seen White, who has been dreadfully
bothered about water, from Bovill's ignorance of
hydraulics. He has now called in a first-rate engineer.
As to the value of the patent and the article he can
make, and has made and sold, he is perfectly satisfied
he assures me. He says he wrote to you at length a
month ago.

I assume that your mother has told you that we
came home via Dusseldorf, Holland, and Antwerp.

I think when your mother stays on in Norfolk, I
shall go to John Lefevre, who has the loan of Wickham
from the great O, who stays at O.

I hope you have enjoyed Canada. God bless you,
dear B.

i8so] Return to Washington. 419

FROM B. w, c.

Washington, Sept. Z^th, 1850.

My dear Mother,

I received yesterday your letter of the 13th,
and am anxiously expecting by your next a full and
particular account of the event of the 19th.

I told you in my last letter that I had formed no
plan of movement for the present, and that all I had
decided, was to visit Quebec before the cold weather
set in. For want of something better to do, I came
on to this place with my friend Pennell, whose leave
had expired, and am now paying him a visit of a few
days.

The Bulwers are still in Washington, and have got
a much better house than when I was here before, but
they intend, I believe, to go to the north again after
the adjournment of Congress. The finest season of
the year is yet to come. After the first frost in
September or October, there succeeds a period of five
or six weeks, called the Indian summer, which is
described by every one as the perfection of weather.
At present we have alternations of heat and cold,
which would be extraordinary in any other part of the
world. Friday, the day on which I arrived, was one
of the most sultry I ever felt, and to-day (Monday) is
clear and cool like a fine October day in England.

I have heard from Ned Baring at Kio. He had
not received any of my letters, and did not know what
had become of me. I hope he will be here in a month
at furthest, as I am much in want of a companion.

420 America and Europe. [1850

The young men of this country do not suit me at all.
They are like our gents — and the elder ones remind
me always of the class to which Barwell and Sharpe
belong in England. The public men in Washington
resemble, in dress, physiognomy, and manners, the
mayors and aldermen of our provincial towns. The
most of them are pompous and formal, and, as to
talent for society or charm of manner, I believe they
are unknown — certainly uncultivated.

After all I have arrived at the same conclusion with
regard to the relative advantages of America and
Europe that I suppose everybody else has. This is
the country for the poor and unrefined, for as the will
of the majority is law, they have everything their own
way. For the rich and the refined (if there were any),
it is the worst imaginable. There is no provision
made for their wants, nor are their tastes or habits
consulted. Everything, from hotels and steamboats
downwards, is adapted to the million, and there is no
choice but to mix with them. Their wealth or cultiva-
tion does not exercise its due influence, and serves
rather to make them objects of envy and dislike.

As to the form of government, though it ensures a
large amount of liberty, it seems to me cumbrous and
unwieldy, and so far from being a model to other
nations, it is more complicated and unintelligible than
our own.

Certainly, if, as Carlyle says, the object of all
reformed parliaments and ballot-boxes is to get the
wisest man or men to govern, we want some other
system than universal suffrage to find them out here.

I have come to the end of the paper, and have
given you enough jaw for this week.

,850] The Wedding. 421

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Farming Woods,

Thursday, Sept. igth, 1850.

My dearest Bertram,

I have only time (in order to save to-
morrow's post) to say that all has gone off most
satisfactorily, and without indulging in commonplaces,
it would be difficult to fancy a prettier wedding. The
eight bridesmaids looked very nice, and Eva charming.
R. V. S. was nervous and terribly cut up, but he
behaved firmly. Lord Lansdowne's staying in the
house has been an immense break, and made things
go on much more agreeably. The Lilfords dine and
sleep to-day. About fifty neighbours are arriving to
breakfast — a band is playing on the lawn.

I hope you have not been ill. How comes it that
you returned to Newport after reaching Niagara en
route to Canada? Perhaps between the nth May and
the 3rd September some letter has missed, but you do
not mention one.

Mrs. Raikes Currie finishes letter.

Dear Bertie,

On coming to my room I find this un-
finished letter in my blotting-book, which your father
began on first returning from church. It is now 4.30,
and the party has dispersed — those I mean who were
invited to the breakfast. The " happy pair " left the
house at 1.15. Evy showed herself to the guests, but

422 Speeches. [,850

did not come in to breakfast. George appeared and
had just time to return thanks when his health and
that of the bride (proposed by Lord Lansdowne) was
drunk, which he did in a few words and with good
taste. Then came the health of the bridesmaids,
proposed by FitzPatrick Vernon, and responded to
by the bridegroom's "best man," Maynard, who,
after thanking the company in the name of the brides-
maids, said with great sang-froid, " that he was
empowered by them to say, that they were ready at
any moment, at the shortest notice, to take the
principal role in the performance in which they had
just acted a subordinate part ! " The bridesmaids had
been desired to stand up while their health was drunk.

Then Lord Lilford proposed the health of Mr. and
Mrs. Vernon Smith, and Gowran said a few words
in answer. Your father proposed Sir George Robinson,
and said a few words very neatly of the obligation he
felt to him for having been instrumental in conferring
so great a blessing on his son and his family. Sir G.
Robinson made a very good speech in reply, with
good taste and much feeling and not over-done.
There were no long speeches, and everything was
really in good taste.

I told you of the dresses of the bridesmaids. The
three Miss FitzPatricks are bouncing women — the two
Miss Powyses pretty — Mary looked very nice, and
Edith also.

George had a very neat carriage and four horses,,
postilions with rose-coloured silk jackets and black
velvet caps, new for the occasion. Twelve little girls
in white strewed flowers before the bride. There were
four triumphal arches decorated with flowers. A band

,850] Festivities. 423

played on the lawn as soon as we returned from the
church. The breakfast was extremely well done. The
young ladies danced on the lawn — quadrilles, polkas,
and country-dances. The weather was very fine, and
the scene altogether a very pretty and animated one.
There was a dinner for the labourers and tea for the
school-children, and the tenants and servants are to
have a dance this evening. At Blisworth the carriage
was to be put on the rail. Horses were to be ready
at the station to take them to Richmond, which they
will reach at 8.30.

I have been writing this with a buzz of voices about
me — having come to my own room to be quiet and to
write to you. I was followed by Maynard, Philip, and
Mary, who talk incessantly. I am very much tired
with the excitement of the day, but very thankful for
George's prospects of happiness. We all much
regretted you were not here. Mrs. Vernon has said
some civil things about you. Yours, my dear B.,

Very affectionately,

L. S. CURRIE.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Hyde Park Terrace,

Thursday night, Sept. 26///, 1850.

My dear Bertram,

A hasty joint letter was sent off to you
after the wedding on Thursday last. Since that a
letter from Newport, I think of the loth inst., reached
us at Kimberley. I am now staying here alone.

424 The ''Happy Pair!' [,850

having been so much away. Your mother, with the
girls and Maynard, is visiting in Norfolk, having left
Kimberley, Wednesday, the day after I came up, and
gone to Rainham : thence she goes to Mr. D. Gurney's,
to Letton, and to visit the Captain^ for some days at
Witton.

I went down yesterday to dine with George and
Evy at Richmond, and this morning they started to
Paris en route to Nice. They had a most perfect
asylum for the loves at Lord Landsdowne's — a charm-
ing house on the hill, " with all appliances and means
to boot," and seemed supremely, i.e., calmly and serenely
happy. The dear little woman really looked radiant,
her eyes bathed in gladness. George, who had
assumed for months past the variable spirits and worn
aspect of an anxious lover, looked better and brighter
than I ever saw him. They have ^25,000 — her ^20,000
and 3^5,000 in settlement — so need not starve, even
if G. cannot learn (but I hope he will) to work.
Mr. I. G. C. gave him ;^ioo. He, I. G., has bought
an excellent house, Lord Templemore's in Upper
Grosvenor Street, for ^7,000.

The Henleys, Sir t.. Campbell, and Mrs. Alfred
with Hamilla, were at Kimberley — Lady H. looking
very well and very smart The Wodehouses come to
town ist November, and have taken a house in Lower
Brook Street. Lord Lansdowne, who was staying at
Farming Woods, told me (what indeed most men say)
that John was by far the most promising and rising
man in the Lords, not only by his success in speaking,

1 Afterwards Admiral the Hon. Edward Wodehouse, INIrs R . Currie's
brother.

1850] Lord Lansdowne. 425

but by his extreme usefulness and clear reasoning head
in committees. Overstone is quite of this opinion. . . .

We were much pleased with Lord Lansdowne, who
is excessively well read and well informed, with great
kindness and a charming simplicity of character and
manner, not without a quiet dignity and extreme
repose, which many would mistake for coldness. Just
the sort of production which, with all their merits, the
States cannot rear.

White tells me he wrote to you about five weeks
ago a long letter. He is rather disappointed at not
hearing from you, and would, I know, much like to do
so, with any information about bread-stuffs, markets,
probable exports, and at what prices, mills, &c., you
can give him. He is an excellent fellow. The water
supply which Bovill undertook with much ignorance of
hydraulics has bothered him terribly. The engineer,
Mr. Simpson, who came a week ago to Shadwell, says
there is a difficulty in river-side supplies, but one to be
overcome without serious expense, but that he must
have some days to consider the best means of doing it.
They are anxiously waiting for him, but he is a very
great man, immensely engaged, and can't be hurried.
Meanwhile they grind enough to show the effect of the
patent on the flour, which is talked about and eagerly
bought. The delays are really beyond all expression
tiresome, but everything which transpires docs certainly
confirm the value of the patent. I went the other day
to Waters' mill at Norwich, who is doing ... an
excellent trade and sending his flour even to Glasgow.

Bovill's trials at Deptford underwent a most
searching scrutiny approved by the Admiralty. Grant
of Portsmouth being had up for the occasion gives full

426 Carlyle. [1850

four shillings difference on the same wheats, between
the best milling in any of their yards and the new plan ;
and these were old and dry wheats, where, of course,
the difference is the least. The pious Dives has been
praying for a wet harvest, which would, he says, have
made him comfortable, but it has proved a peculiarly
dry one.

I shall be glad to hear that you have moved on to
Canada and visited the Elgins, but I suppose Newport
has some great attraction. I forgot to tell you that a
very fine grass hat has arrived for you from South
America, and is carefully put away.

Maynard goes up for his degree in January, and
tries for second class.

Your letters always give us great pleasure, and you
have been a most regular and excellent correspondent.
Pray continue so and give me a good yarn.

I have read Carlyle, and could say a good deal
about him. I am by no means sure that he is not the
supreme scoundrel whom he says we ought, if we could,
to catch and hang. I cannot find that he propounds
anything intelligible or practical, though he bedaubs all
the believings, sayings, or doings of other men with his
picturesque or grotesque but most abominable jargon.

Adieu, dear B. I wish you were home again.

TO B. W. C. FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE.

Hyde Park Terrace,

Thursday night, October ^rd.

I have to acknowledge your letter of the 17th from
New York. I can quite understand the reaction

1850] Plans. 427

occasioned by the continued vulgar braggadocio of
"Jonathan." We have doubtless our own absurdities,
but surely beside the public exhibition of folly in
France and America we are " a thinking people."

I cannot say that you are wanted by W. P. and Co.
till the Blackfriars mill is near completion, perhaps in
February or March ; but if you feel at all disposed to
return, it will give us all great pleasure to hear that
you are coming before Christmas ; but I have felt all
along, that having once crossed the Atlantic, you must
be the best judge of how far knowledge and amusement
were making your protracted stay desirable to yourself.
I think that when George returns in December, we
shall arrange for going with Mary and Edith to Paris
for January and part of February. If you were at
home, you could reside there with us, and perhaps
remain after us : a complete mastery of French will be
a requisite in your business.

The monetary affairs of Swayne and B. becoming
more unsatisfactory, our course with them has become
more " stringent," and they are now, with our full
consent, about to move to McGregor's new British
Bank ! The said bank is to give them a discount
credit (you know the sort of bills) for £"12,000 on the
Millwall mortgage! and a cash credit, i.e., power for
overdrawing on the flour patents to the extent of 20 per
cent. So much for banking by McGregor. If Bovill
can be induced, as he swears he will, to profit by this
wonderful opportunity of setting his house in order, to
take his various irons out of the fire, and concentrate
his energies on the patents, he may do well, but he is a
miserable financier and madly speculative and sanguine.

Mr. White has received your letter, and will write.

428 London in the Autumn. [1850

I am leading a very dull life indeed in Hyde Park
Terrace and Cornhill. I have been staying two
evenings with the J. Lefevres, to whom Overstone has
lent Wickham, and I hope about the 12th to join your
mother at Witton, and take ten days of sea and country
air before we settle in H. P. T. for the season. . . .

I am going on Saturday for the Sunday to John
Chandler at Witley, and shall see Mrs. Blunt, who is
living in the village.

Lord Eastnor was married to V. Pattle yesterday :
he is said to be clever and very agreeable.

There is rather an entertaining article (I suppose
by Ford) in the new Quarterly on Ticknor's Spanish
Literature — a book which I mentioned some time since.
Have you seen him ? His English style is the purest I
have met with from an American, more unadorned
than Prescott's.

Our customer, Gilliat, is, in conjunction with others,
an immense holder of tobacco, to the amount, I under-
stand, of one million sterling, and a great portion of
it, called, I think, strips (not leaf), is now saleable at
cent, per cent, profit. If he is wise he will make his
fortune and retire.

There is a very good trade doing in the country,
but money does not get above 2j per cent., 2 per cent,
with the brokers. The revenue is wonderfully good ;
the corn market rather lower, and the farmers floored
by a harvest indifferent for the most part in quality
and yield, without a chance of better prices. Their
1847 is at hand.

Friday morning. — Your mother was to send a letter
from Letton, which has not come to hand, but may be
posted in the country. She has been making a progress

1850] The Accounts of the Wedding. 429

through Norfolk with Maynard and the girls, and will,
I hope, come home on the 12th. I hope you will soon
be off to Canada. To us your movements, returning
so far, after reaching Niagara, seem rather eccentric.

I am told that the best parties in Paris now are
given by a beautiful American — Mrs. Ridgway — very
rich and very fascinating. Who is she ?

Adieu, dear B.

Ever your affectionate,

Raikes Currie.

FROM B. W. C.

Washington, October yth, 1850.

My dear Father,

In consequence of the late arrival of the
steamer, I only received to-day the news of the happy
consummation of affairs by the event of the 19th
September, and expect very shortly my letters of the
27th with further accounts.

I am much obliged to my mother for so kindly
giving me all the particulars of the day, notwith-
standing the bustle and excitement of such an event,
which I know indispose one for writing letters. She
speaks of Maynard and Philip as very talkative, owing,
I suppose, to some indulgence in the " foaming grape
of Eastern France." I should like very much to have
been there. The whole affair must have been on a
grand scale ; the cuisine, I presume, under the direction
of a metropolitan chef, and not " in Rincer's well
known style." The bridesmaids seem to have been

430 Indisposition at Washington. [1850

charming. I remember seeing Miss Powys at Brighton
with a very pretty face.

By the way, Lady Bulwer told me that the D. of D.

had sent poor Miss Florence to the D , and had

given her ;;^ioo on her marriage. " Put not your trust
in princes " will do for the text of her husband's first
sermon. Does Maynard view this appropriation by a
rival parson with indifference ? I think he was epriz
either of the young lady or of her mamma.

I am still in Washington, owing to an attack of my
old complaint — which showed itself the day before
yesterday, and has kept me in bed till to-day. As
usual, it is yielding to an enlightened medical treat-
ment, and will, I hope, allow me to proceed on my
journey the day after to-morrow.

The Bulwers are going to Canada, and are only
delayed by the indisposition of Sir H. Their direction
is to Niagara, while I am bound for Quebec.

I should much like to hear of White and his affairs,
for, from your letter of the loth ult., I suppose he has
met with further difficulties.

Shall you take a house at Brighton this winter ?

New York, October i^th, 1850.
My dear Father,

Since my last I have to acknowledge the
receipt of two letters, one of which (as it arrived about
six weeks after its date) was I suppose sent by a sailing
vessel. It contained some verses to Miss Stewart
Mackenzie with which I was much amused, and a
description of the society at Homburg. The other

1850] Future Movements. 431

gave an account of George's post-nuptial state, which
seems to be a most enviable one.

I think from what you say about my travels that
one of my letters must have miscarried. I have been
to Canada, i.e., to Niagara, Toronto, and Montreal,
and only missed Quebec. The reason of this was, that
my companion. Captain Campbell, of whom I think
I told you, was anxious to be present at a grand fancy
ball at Saratoga, and we came down from Montreal
to attend it, purposing to return by L. Champlain to
Montreal and thence to Quebec. This, however, he
was prevented from doing, and I delayed in hopes of
finding a companion.

I have now made up my mind to start to-morrow
with the Bulwers, with whom I have come from
Washington, and to visit Niagara again, and, once on
the St. Lawrence, I shall not return till I have seen
Quebec.

I wrote some weeks ago to White, and hope he has
received my letter, which was addressed to Cornhill.
I promised therein to send him some returns of the
exports of wheat of this year, but I find they cannot
be got without giving Messrs. Goodhere some trouble,
and they are really of no importance. The capacity
of this country for exporting is almost unlimited, and
the quantity will depend upon the price in London.
This year prices have been kept up in New York by
speculators, the largest of whom, Suydam, Sage, and
Co., failed a month ago, for about ^500,000. They had
an enormous stock of flour on hand, purchased in
anticipation of a demand in Europe which never
occurred. It appears that flour is exported in pre-
ference to wheat, I suppose from its bulk being less;

432 Political Excitement.

[1850

but there is no difficulty in procuring wheat of any
description.

We are still enjoying splendid weather, fine days
and cool nights. In London, I suppose you have
entered the agreeable fog season.

I am expecting Ned Baring almost daily. He
wrote to me from Rio, 31st July, intending to leave
for New York in August, and as the passage is about
fifty days, he ought to be here in this month.

In the political world there is at present a good
deal of excitement. In this State, the nominations
for Governor and other minor offices are taking place.
The process of nominating is conducted by a con-
vention composed of delegates from the different
districts. Each party {i.e., the Democrats and the
Whigs) has its separate convention, and abides by
their nominations, which collectively are called "the
ticket." On this occasion, th& everlasting question of
slavery has created discord in the Whig camp. At
the convention held the other day, about one-third of
the delegates seceded from the majority, and the effect
will probably be, to throw the State into the hands
of the Democrats, who are at present in opposition.

They have also their differences on the same
question, being divided into Old Hunkers, or pro-
slavery Democrats, and free soilers ; but as a party
they are more expert tacticians than the Whigs, and
will probably unite to a certain extent to defeat them.

This question of slavery is the grand difficulty of
this country, and its settlement seems almost im-
possible. At the same moment that it is dividing
parties in the North, meetings are held in Georgia,
S. Carolina, and the extreme Southern States, advo-

1850] The Slavery Difficulty.

■jj

eating a secession from the Union in consequence of
the interference of the North with the institution of
slavery. It is worse than our Irish difficulty, for in
England all parties are pretty well united on the
necessity of doing something, and remedial measures
meet with little opposition, whereas here thev are
diametrically opposed.

TO B. W. C. FROM HIS MOTHER.

IVitton, October gth, 1850.

You will have heard from your father of our move-
ments since we left Farming Woods on the 20th.
I wrote to you from thence an account of the wedding.
Since that time we have been to Kimberley, Raynham
— Aunt Charlotte's ; she is well and comfortable in
a snug little parsonage — Ranston and Letton. Mr.
Daniel Gurney has two pretty daughters left. One
lately married Mr. Herbert Jones, a brother of the
poor man who was killed in Syria. At Letton, we
found little Brammy and his family settled in their
new home. They have made a garden near the house,
which improves the place. Amy Gurdon is to make
her debut at a Dereham ball to-morrow evening.
A large party is invited to Letton for the occasion.
Lord Wodehouse and Robert Gurdon, Esq., are the
stewards. The Boileaus and sundry young men,
among whom I heard the names of Newton, Foster,
and Ridley, are to be there, also Maynard, who is
gone from Witton to-day for the purpose.

Maynard has been going about with us, and will
cc

434 Letter from Norfolk. [1850

accompany us to London on the 14th. Your father
wished us to stay on in Norfolk, though he was unable
to join us, but I have not liked leaving him at all.
He and I are engaged to go to Wivenhoe on the i6th,
and on the i8th to Ampthill. Mary and Edith must
stay in H. P. Terrace with Miss Stewart.

We have letters from George from Fontainebleau,
dated Sunday, 6th. They spent a full week at Paris,
and seem to have enjoyed themselves very much.
They were to proceed on the 7th, via Dijon, Lyons,
&c., to Nice. He says : " We have hired a capital
roomy French chariot for two months for £1^, which
will be invaluable in returning in the cold weather.
Our climate now is delicious, rather rainy but warm —
peaches, pears, and grapes, in perfection. In Paris
we saw the Radstocks, Ph. Wodehouses, J. A. Smiths,
&c. ... I need hardly tell you that we are exceedingly
happy, in fact there is nothing left to wish for. . . ."

Philip is to come to H. P. T. on Saturday, to spend
his birthday, 13th, at home. He will be sixteen, as you
know. He is very much grown and promises to be
tall. At Christmas he must, I fear, move into tails :
the intermediate coat between a jacket and tails which
he wore when abroad suited his figure — a sort of
Rochfort.

Maynard is going to Horsley on the 15th, till he
returns to Cambridge on the 19th. In January next he
is to take his Degree, and intends, he says, to go up
for Honours. I have no hope of his taking any but a
common degree, for I cannot believe he ever reads or
ever will read. He seems to me to have no power of
applying his mind to study. In all other respects he
promises to be well fitted for the profession he is

1850] Montreal. 435

destined for. He is quiet and steady in his habits,
and chooses his friends well.

Mr. and Mrs. Berney Petre are near neighbours,
and dined here one day. They are only lately returned
from the United States. She thought she had heard
your name, but did not remember having seen you.
She is a sister of Miss Stewart Mackenzie, with whom
your father flirted at Homburg ! not so well looking
nor so agreeable. . . .

... I suppose you fill up your spare time, of which
you must have a great deal, by much reading. I shall
be very glad when you are safe at home again, though
I doubt not you are gaining much useful knowledge
and experience. . . .

Ever, my dear B.,

Your affectionate

Mother.

The letter of October 23rd, alluded to in the following, has
not been preserved. It is the first missing of the series from
America.

FROM B. W. C.

Montreal, November 1st, 1850.
My dear Father,

On my arrival here to-day, I found your
letter of the 4th October, and one from my mother
written a few days later. After I wrote from Niagara
on the 23rd ult., I stayed on there till the 28th. The
Bulwers left the day after my letter, to pay Lord Elgin
a visit at Toronto, but Sir H. Bulwer's secretary,

436 Lo7'd Elgin. [1850

Mr. Fenton, stayed with me, and we took long walks
together, though the weather was cold and rainy.
We had the hotel to ourselves, the season for travel-
ling in these parts being over, and suffered some
discomfort from cold, against which there is no pro-
vision made in the summer hotels, Mr. Fenton, in
addition to other merits, possesses that of knowing
where his money is safe, and accordingly leaves it in
the hands of Messrs. Currie and Co. I have forgotten
the account, but he tells me it came from Dorriens.
I think I recollect a spinster of the name of Gumming
to whom he is related.

To return to my travels. On the 28th I left
Niagara, and at the place of embarcation met the
Bulwers on their return from Toronto. The passage
across Lake Erie is rather tempestuous when the
wind is high, as was the case on that day.

I stayed but one day at Toronto, which has no
particular interest beyond what attaches to any thriving
American town. Lord Elgin does not live at the
Government House, celebrated in Head's book, but
in a villa outside the town. I had the honour of
dining with him there. He seems very intelligent and
talkative, and perfectly satisfied with the success of
his administration, of which, not understanding
Canadian politics, I cannot form an opinion. The
disturbances at Montreal and other unfortunate events
he looks upon as necessary to the triumph of his
system, which is no less than the important one of
responsible government. His present advisers, unlike
almost all their predecessors, enjoy the confidence of
the Lower ?Iouse, and it was for supporting their
measure — the Rebellion Losses Bill — against the

1850] Beatiharnois Estate. 437

minority (composed of the Family Compact and the
Tories) that he became obnoxious to the citizens of
Montreal. Lady Elgin is very amiable and pleasing,
but has not at all the manners of the grandc dame.

I left Toronto on the 30th and arrived here to-day,
after a long passage of forty-eight hours — the delay
being occasioned by fogs and other accidents. All the
travellers for pleasure having gone home, the passengers
were few in number and uninteresting in quality. I go
on to Quebec, if nothing new turns up, to-morrow, and
having seen the Gibraltar o the New World, shall
hasten back as quickly as decency will permit to New
York, as it is by far too cold for comfort in these
regions.

I passed to-day the estate of Beauharnois (I always
thought it was Bohany), from which you are to receive
such a vast revenue. There seem to be villages upon
it, and I hear the land is excellent. I dare say the
speculation is as good as many of Bovill's. What an
ass McGregor must be to think he knows anything
of the '"mystery" or craft of banking. The career of
the British Bank will be short, conducted upon his
principles. From what I remember of Bovill he will
not have the decency to keep a balance, even with his
;^20,ooo advance.

Jenny Lind has returned to New York, after singing
at Boston and Philadelphia. I think the reaction of
the recent absurd enthusiasm is beginning, though at
present it has only set in against Barnum, I have not
been to see her, partly because I think she has probably
forgotten the acquaintance, and partly because her
entourage is anything but respectable. Tell Mrs. Grote
that her friend has made a dreadful mistake in engag-

43 8 A77iericans in Paris. [,850

ing herself to such a mountebank as Barnum. Bunn
of Drury Lane, as compared to him, is as Lumley to
the proprietor of a wild beast show. He is the very
type of a calculating Yankee, and Jenny must even-
tually be more or less identified with his swindles and
dodges.

Mrs. Ridgway, of whom you speak, is the daughter
of Mr. Willing, one of the principal people in Phila-
delphia. She is not the first American lady who has
made a sensation at Paris. In fact it is a favourite
object of ambition with them, and said to be easily
attainable by those who will spend money enough.
There is a Mrs. Thorn now in New York, who for
some years gave the best balls at Paris, and who is
consequently ruined. Bulwer told me that the old
French nobility who would not go to the native balls,
used to be anxious to get invitations to his house, and
I have heard that it is the same with Mrs. Ridgway.

I should much like the plan you propose of going
to Paris. If you remember, I was anxious to go there
rather than to South America, and I still think that
there is no advantage to be gained in foreign countries
equal to a thorough knowledge of French.

I shall start for the South before the end of this
month, and having seen New Orleans and Habana,
should be quite ready to return in January, but as you
say there will be nothing for me to do, it will hardly
be worth while to leave those charming climates for
the smoke and east winds of London.

Your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

I am now in daily expectation of Ned Baring.

1850] Fog-bound in Montreal. 439

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS SISTER MARY.

Montreal, November 2nd, 1850.
My dear Mary,

I was charmed at receiving your letter this
dull evening, and shall hasten to send an answer in
time for the steamer. I can make out from it, that
in the year and eight months of my absence you have
altered a good deal, and among other improvements
I notice a great one in your handwriting — a remark
which I hope will not displease a young lady who
must be almost " out." So the youngest of your
friends. Amy B. Gurdon, has made that important
plunge at Dereham. I trust she managed to subdue
those "crisped, snaky, golden locks," for the grand
occasion, or perhaps the young gentlemen of Norfolk
are not particular in hair. May she avoid poor
Charlotte's fate in being united to a " coarse, vulgar
man," though probably he is a very sensible person,
and can offer her a respectable home and good
attendance in Portland Place.

I was very sorry to be absent from the wedding,
which is quite an epoch in the family history. In fact
I was very sorry to be absent at all, from the delights
of Taplow (which I have never seen), as well as from
those of this summer, and when I do come back I shall
be dreadfully behindhand in all that has happened,
and require a great many confabulations with you to
put me an courant.

I am here, not wind, but fog-bound, having
intended to start for Quebec this evening, and being

440 Lower Canada. [1850

prevented by a dense fog. To-morrow is Sunday, and
the boats do not run, so that I must pass my time here
till Monday. It is a just punishment for travelling
about at this time of year, when everybody else has
gone home. Now that I have come so far I must see
Quebec, though I should be glad of an excuse to get
off.

I remember hearing of Lakes Superior, Huron,
Erie, Ontario, Champlain, &c., in your lessons of
geography, and hope you have not forgotten where
they are. I have only just found out from travelling
on them.

This place is the capital of Lower Canada, and
was, as I dare say you know, taken by us from the
French. The country is still almost exclusively
inhabited by French peasants, who preserve their
laws, religion, and language, though they speak the
last abominably.

I am glad to hear that the dear babe has not lost
her fat face. I cannot fancy her thin. Is she as
jocose as ever ? Give her a hundred kisses from me,
and write again soon to your most affectionate brother,

Bertram W. Currie.

P.S. — I wrote yesterday to le pere, his letter should
arrive at the same time as this.

1850] Quebec. 44 1

Quebec, Nov. Stii, 1850.
My dear Mother,

At this distance from Boston I am obHged
to write to-day to be in time for the steamer of the
I2th. I left Montreal on the 4th and arrived here the
next morning. The steamers travel at night between
the two places, so that I can give you no account of
the beauties of the St. Lawrence, and of Quebec,
although this is my fourth day, I have seen very little.
For the first two days, I could not leave the house in
consequence of incessant rain. We are now blessed
with a hard frost every morning, and a wind which
cuts like a sixteen-bladed penknife. I have been
suffering from Mary's annual grievance — chilblains —
which I have not had since I was at Cheam.

The principal sight here, after the citadel and the
Plains of Abraham, where Wolfe licked the French
and died, is the Fall of Montmorency, said to be
two hundred and forty feet in height, or about eighty
feet higher than Niagara. I thought it my duty to
drive there yesterday, in spite of rude Boreas.

To-day I have been all over the citadel with
Colonel Gordon Higgins, who is the Commandant
and Colonel of the Artillery, and a very jolly Irishman,
not of the Anak family to which our Higgins belongs,
but brother to the Duke of Gloucester's H. There
are two regiments of the Line. One commanded by
Colonel Maule, brother of Mr. Fox Maule, and the
other by Colonel Hay, bcaupcre of Leonard. I hear
that there is a young Currie in that regiment, who I
suppose must be the son of our distinguished relation.

442 The Plains of Abraham. [1850

After seeing the citadel I went to the Plains of
Abraham, where there is, of course, a mean and
hideous monument to the memory of the immortal
Wolfe. The steep cliff up which he brought his men
did not appear to me so difficult as I had read of,
and I think any man could get up it without much
difficulty. However, the great feat consisted in licking
the French next day.

The views from the heights, on which the citadel
and a great part of the city is built, are very fine, and
the fortress appears to be immensely strong. It
would make poor Mr. Cobden furious to see the
quantity of money which has been spent here, and
certainly without any great reason, as the Yankees,
the only enemy to be feared in this quarter, are quite
incapable of taking any place with half the strength of
Quebec.

I have not quite made up my mind whether to
leave this to-morrow or on Monday the loth.

I am sorry to hear that the C is to be married

to a snob, though perhaps they are the best husbands.
She is certainly a very dull girl, but, with plenty of
money, would make a very good, every-day wife.

What does the pious C book up ?

Your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

1850] Summons to England. 443

TO B. W. C. FROM HIS FATHER.

Hyde Park Terrace, 2/\th Oct., 1850.

Your mother and Mary have written by the two
last posts, and I have postponed doing so, because
I would not, till after most mature consideration,
come to a decision on the necessity of your return.
I have been for some weeks constantly in Cornhill up
to the i6th, and have given a good deal of attention
also to the affairs of White, Ponsford, and Co.

The upshot is, that I think there are so many
important points for decision, and so much to be
arranged and done, that I cannot take either the
responsibility or labour thereof, and though I have
been very loth to bring you home in the winter, I am
quite convinced now that your return is indispensable.
I have not allowed the very strong desire which we
all feel, to have you again amongst us, to influence me
at all in this matter.

Ponsford has gone on, I believe, altogether satis-
factorily with the great building. It will (I understand)
be roofed in, in December. He has borrowed nothing
from us, or, as far as I know, from any one, and he
has done the whole thing off his own bat. Seen from
Blackfriars Bridge, with its vast chimney rapidly
growing, it is an amazing pile. The great boilers are
in, and the machinery in a forward state. The
immense influx of visitors to London, calculated by
hundreds of thousands, expected in 1851, seems a
favourable time for flour producers to start ; but there
are a great many points wanting undivided attention
and a good head to decide upon.

444 White s Improvements. [1850

White gives me entire satisfaction. I think he
thoroughly understands his business, is painstaking,
persevering, honest, and perfectly practical, not
scheming, visionary, or over-sanguine. His industry
and constant working at Shadvvell will turn to good
account, and indeed that experimental mill has been
and will be everything for P. D. I know not what you
would have done without it.

The whole manufacture is so greatly modified by
the blast and new modes of dressing, that the most
experienced miller has his business in some sort to
learn, and he (White) has already effected most
important improvements in the processes as conducted
in Westrop's mill. The present water supply only
enables him to work five pair of stones, which of
course is disadvantageous as to present profits ; but I
am the principal sufferer by this, as I cannot in reason
take my royalties till the thing is in full swing, and
he has had so much to modify in small details of
machinery and to learn in various ways, that perhaps
this is as well.

There are various ways of remedying the defective
supply of water, but it is most important, specially
with reference to the future, to find out which is the
most economical and the most effective.

White sells almost entirely to three great and
wealthy factors for cash, at prices lower than he could
get from the bakers, wishing to run no risk, to interest
these powerful persons in the business, and to get his
flour known and established.

Bovill has made many mistakes in the machinery
and had much to correct, and White is determined to
proceed on a different plan with him as to P. D.

i8so] Ponsford's Failings. 445

S. and B. have been, and are, in a considerable
mess, and their account has required all my attention.
I have at last got the whole power over their patent
under agreement drawn by Murray with power of sale,
i.e., purchase peremptorily, into our hands. Dives'
present rent amounts to ;^2,5oo per annum, and is
increasing, so you will see what an important point
this may be. I have felt it more than probable that
S. and B. would not get the accommodation they said
they were certain of from McGregor's Joint Stock
Bank, and it is still quite on the cards that they may
be bankrupts. At all events, I have insisted on Bovill
selling and giving up altogether his engineering
business and devoting himself exclusively to the
protection, promulgation, &c., of his patent.

A son of Lord Petre's, a very clever engineer who
has 3^14,000 of his own, is now in town from Glasgow,
and in conjunction with Bramwell, a very steady
fellow with ^4,000, who has been the working man at
Millwall, will, I hope, take that business, forming an
entirely new firm, and one likely to do their work
steadily and with attention. It is e.xtremely difficult
to get Ponsford to attend to business (except the
actual building), but he is always at Brighton or
engaged some way or other, and White is left without
assistance on many points, and much impeded because
very properly he wishes to consult him on all. In
some things, such as drawing cheques for the milling
business, P. is crotchety and stupidly obstinate beyond
belief. All this your presence would set right ; in fact,
you and \V. could and would act without him, as he
is quite useless as a partner for the routine business.

A formal report has been made to the Admiralty

446 Patents officially approved. [1850

by Grant, the head of the Portsmouth Yard (had up
for the purpose), on the experiments at Deptford.
This is highly favourable. In consequence of the
tricks and obstructions, as well as roguery developed
in the course of Bovill's proceedings there among the
officials, a court-martial, presided over by Commodore
Eden, is now holding on the staff at Deptford, on nine
charges preferred by Bovill. He is carrying all before
him, and the men will be all dismissed, but meanwhile
the whole of his time for days together is taken up
there.

If you have at last gone to Canada, I suppose you
will receive this there. I do not know anything about
the probabilities of weather, but, leaving much to
your discretion, I shall depend on seeing you before
Christmas.

I was very sorry to hear that you had been
indisposed at Washington. I feel every hope that by
great care your constitution will naturally improve in
a year or two, as I remember mine did after twenty-
three.

We have not yet heard from G. and E. from Nice.
We have been at Ampthill and passed three or four
days very pleasantly, meeting the R. V. Smiths,
Aldersons, &c. The Stewart Mackenzies are in town
for the winter, and dined here yesterday. We do not
think of Brighton, but of Paris in January. Ever,

dear B.,

Most affectionately yours,

R. C.

1850] Preparations for Rettirn. 447

FROM B. w. c.

New York, Nov. iSth, 1850.
My dear Father,

1 received your summons at Montreal on
my way from Quebec, and shall lose no time in setting
my house in order. The steamers for the next fort-
night are, as a matter of course, the least comfortable
of the line, so that I have not quite determined on
the day of departure, though I think it will be the
4th December. I may perhaps be delayed till the
nth, in case Baring (who has arrived at New Orleans
and is on his way here) purposes coming home, but
even then I should be with you on Christmas Day.

I am very much interested with your account of
the affairs of W. P. and Co., and pleased with their
prosperous aspect. I think my presence will be of
advantage to myself, as gaining some insight into the
business, but of none to the firm, as I am daily
convinced that without experience one is good for
nothing, especially in matters of business, a conclusion
generally arrived at I suppose sooner or later.

This is not a profession of modesty, but what
I really think.

After the date of my last letter I stayed four or
five days at Quebec, and was much pleased with the
beauty of its situation and surrounding country.
I found a cousin there in the person of Douglas, son
of Leonard, a good-looking and rather bright young
fellow, who has certainly improved upon the paternal
exemplar. His uncle. Colonel Hay (whom I remember

44^ Hotel keeping in A^Jierica. [igj©

in the note-book), commands the regiment, and was
very civil and kind.

I left Quebec on the nth, as the cold was becoming
rather excessive, and travelled three nights and two
days, principally in steamers, to New York. The
Bulwers, whom I left at Toronto, have returned here,
and are reinforced by the arrival of Mr. Lytton, son
of Sir E. B. L., as an attache. They are at present
at Boston.

The fashionable world is beginning to attract its
votaries, and we have Parodi at the opera, who seems
to be a fine actress and singer. The Lind continues
her concerts. I am afraid that this immaculate
creature is something of a humbug, and not so simple
as the world imagines. A propos she has really made
an agreement with Barnum to sing in London under
his auspices. What will Mrs. Grote say ?

I do not hear of much preparation here for the
Exhibition of '51, but I think the number of visitors
will be great. A grand speculation might be made,
I fancy, by setting up an hotel on the American plan,
to be called the United States Hotel or the General
Washington, managed by a Yankee and supplied with
the American delicacies and drinks. Hotel keeping
here is the best business there is, not only on account
of its great profits, but from the social position it
confers upon those who follow it. The landlords
generally have the brevet rank of General or Colonel,
and I have known one who was a Judge. They lord
it over their poor customers in a most tyrannical way.

I was much amused with Philip's letter,^ though
from an ignorance of the context I am at a loss to-
^ See page 452.

,8^0] New York Banks. 449

know what could have induced Hayes to depart so
far from the usual formal relations with his alumni ;
perhaps it is a part of the new S3'stem of education,
as Chapman would say, emolUt mores, &c.

I know a good many men of business in New
York, and find them generally very shrewd and
sensible, though not worshippers of the Graces.
There is a grand field for business of all sorts in this
city, which is fast becoming the emporium of the
West, and I think, if such a thing were not repugnant
to the time-honoured usages of London bankers, that
the money which is almost useless there might be
invested here in bills of exchange with great profit and
equal security. From what I hear. I have no doubt
that in time a deposit business might be secured by
any private banker in good credit. The banks in
New York are corporations, and the majority issue
notes, though by a recent State law they must deposit
an equivalent amount of State stock in the hands of
the authorities. Otherwise they resemble our London
banks ; they allow no interest and charge no com-
mission, and use their capital and deposits in the
discount of bills. Seven per cent, is the legal rate of
interest, and is charged on the best paper. As to
permanent investments, the present seems to be a bad
time, as the stocks are very high, partly, I believe, in
consequence of the demand in England and from
returns having been made largely in that shape.
With love to all.

Your aftectionate son,

Bertram W. Cukrie.

DD

450 An excellent Correspondent. [1850

TO B. W. C. FROM HIS FATHER.

Friday, Nov. 1st, 1850.

I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 15th,
New York, on Monday last, the 28th October.

As you did not mention health, I hope you were
quite recovered. We certainly missed at least one
letter in August. I got one from Niagara, dated nth
August, the next after that was " Providence, September
3rd," in which you say, " We came on from Newport.
To-morrow we return there, and I shall work my
way back to Montreal and Quebec " — but no further
allusion to the North ; so we missed any account of
Montreal, and thought that you did not get farther
than Niagara. Did you use your letter to Lord
Elgin ? Perhaps you will see him now.

You have been a most regular and excellent
correspondent over a period of twenty months.

TToWaiv d' dv6pa)TT0}v 18 fP cicrTea /cm voov i'yvu).

I hope the next line will not apply —

TToXXa 8' oy' (V TvovTUt T7a6ev,

but that you will have a pleasant and prosperous
voyage to the " buzzum " of your expecting family.
The calf, or rather turkey, is already fatting ; please
God you come safe back to us, you shall have a hearty
welcome.

Every day shows me more and more the necessity
of your presence for the progress of W. and P.'s
affairs. The financial crisis of Bovill is still impending,
and there is some probability, I think, that events will

1850] George's Affairs. 451

enable W. and P. (perhaps in conjunction with Dives)
to purchase or buy up their own royalties.

White has made a better " loaf of bread " than
Dives from the same wheats, which seems to have
given him great satisfaction. He, W., is most
industrious and zealous, with good sound judgment ;
a very satisfactory man to act with and I think a
thoroughly good fellow. Your tall chimney, from
the ground 170 feet high, is rapidly growing to its
full standard. The roof will be begun in a fortnight
or three weeks.

We are settled in Hyde Park Terrace, but are
going to-day to W. Horsley, with Mary and Edith, till
Wednesday. We have heard from G. and Evy from
Nice, and en route to Genoa along the Corniche road.
I suppose they will return just before Christmas. The
house in Hyde Park Street is now his, purchased with
the furniture, &c., for ;^4,300, of which he got /'4,ooo
from his trustees, and which is I think not more than
the value of the house alone, but circumstances enabled
him to get it a bargain. His trustees are going to lend
15,000 at 4 per cent, to ouy Whittingstall, on a very
good mortgage. They, S. and W., owe us all the
money. George sold Cheam for the acd. to oxir
D. Witton, (who bought it on speculation) for ^^5,000,
so thai money (being lent to G.) was put into his
settlement, instead of clogging it with a villa property.

Though profits are very low, business in Cornhill
is well kept together, and I think our customers are
improving. Balances are large. Both the South
Australian Companies are doing well and keep capital
accounts.

There is doubtless an excellent trade doing in the

452 Letter from Philip. [,850

country, but the poor agriculturists are severely
punished.

Lady Morley I saw on Sunday passing through to
Bowood. From her window in Kent House, the
monster Crystal Palace, or rather its skeleton, is
already seen rising in gigantic proportions. Prince
Albert's speech in the Times, 26th October, is
admirable.

Mr. I. G. C. has possession of 45, Upper Grosvenor
Street, but will not get in for some time, as Madame
bestows a thorough renovation on it. . . . He is
excessively lame, feeble, and shaky, but in other
respects quite as well as ever, more in Cornhill than
usual, though we never leave him alone there ; but,
poor fellow, he perseveres in blotting, blotching, and
blundering in the books most painfully. . . .

As you like to hear of Hayes, I send a letter
Mary has just received from Philip. Adieu, dear B.

FROM PHILIP W. CURRIE TO HIS SISTER MARY.

Eton College.

. . . My tutor's party came off last night. It was
splendid fun. He invited all the fellows in his house,
and a great many besides — in all about eighty, and the
entire number was about one hundred and fifty. We
began at seven o'clock by a conjuror — the renowned
Spratt of Bond Street, who came down for the
occasion. He was, as all private conjurors are, rather
painful, and for the last half-hour we had a most vivid
and unpleasing representation of the black hole of

1850] Party at Eton. 453

Calcutta. After the conjuring was over we began to
dance. The Httle ones danced in the school-room
downstairs, and we danced in the drawing-room, where
the conjuror had previously been. There were very
few of ihe Eton fellows who could dance ; so that
we '"dancers" had lots of partners. I enjoyed it
immensely. There were two or three girls who danced
very well, and I worked away incessantly. Two or
three of the little boys were carried off to bed at an
early stage of the proceedings in a state of intense
intoxication ; but otherwise all went off very well.
The pupil-room, being hung with red curtains and
carpeted for the occasion, was used as a refreshment-
room, and there was a sitting-down supper in the
dining-room. The refreshments were done (as the
Brighton paper would say) in a style of unexampled
magnificence by Mr. Layton, whose arrangements need
only be mentioned to be admired, &c. Sarai officiated
at the tea-table arrayed in a new cap ribbon. The
Rosy God crowned the feast with plenteous libations,
and a certain degree of hilarity was, towards the end
of the evening, diffused over all parties by his influence.
Hayes himself became unusually affectionate, and called
me an " old fellow," patted me on the back, and dis-
played other signs of the influence of the genial Rosy.
I have filled up all my letter with an account of this
entertainment ; but I have nothing else to tell you
about. Give my love to the parents, Babe, Miss
Stewart, &c., and believe me, darling Molly, to be

Your affectionate brother,

Philip.

454 Visit to H or sky. [1850

Mrs. Raikes Currie wrote from Hyde Park Terrace :

November Sth, 1850.

Your letter dated Niagara Falls, October 23rdy
reached us yesterday.^ I am very sorry to hear you
had been suffering from swelled face and that your
journey had been a cold and disagreeable one. We
also had cold weather the end of October, but since
November began, the weather has been mild and fine.

We went to Horsley on the ist, and only returned
home yesterday. Mary had her pony and your father
" Sir Tatton." They rode daily with Emmie or Mary,
and we had altogether a very pleasant visit. Mr. Henry
Currie went to London nearly every day. Emmie and
Mary were very nice and pleasing. They were anxious
to hear about you, and talked of your being so agree-
able and amusing the last time you were at Horsley.
We had a Mr. Gifford and Captain Moore, who lives in
the neighbourhood, a nephew of Mr. Arthur Eden, in
the house, and Dr. Lushington to dinner.

We had a letter from George yesterday, written on
the road from Nice to Genoa. Poor Evelyn had been
very unwell, and they had been obliged to stop at a
place called Oviglia. George sent an express nearly
seventy miles over the mountains to Nice for Dr.
Travis, an English physician there. He arrived in
twenty-four hours. Meanwhile they found a native
doctor, who prescribed soothing remedies, and Travis
was satisfied with what had been done. She had

'■ It has been mentioned, p. 435, that this letter is the only one
missing of the series.

i8so] ''Papal Aggression.'' 455

violent pain, fainting-fits, and hysterics. When G.
wrote she had been ill five days, was still confined to
her bed, but was mending daily and was taking
quinine. G. hoped that in a few days they would be
able to return to Nice. He would not venture to
proceed farther on their route to Genoa. They had
found Nice at the beginning of October hot and
glaring, like Brighton in July ! By this time I
dare say the climate is more agreeable. Poor George
must have been intensely anxious about her, but I trust
from his letter she was going on satisfactorily. I have
always felt fearful about her health. She certainly does
look very delicate.

The second Miss FitzPatrick is to marry Captain
Dawson, brother to Lord Cremorne.

The Pope's Bull, dividing England into dioceses,
and appointing an Archbishop of Westminster, &c.,
and still more Dr. Wiseman's letter, have caused much
discussion and given rise to sundry newspaper articles.
On the 5th of November the London public showed
their indignation at the conduct of His Holiness by
burning an immense Pope in effigy, and carrying about
** Guy Fawkeses " in the garb of cardinals. Lord John
Russell, in a letter to the Bishop of Durham, condemns
this late act of the Pope, but is still more severe on
certain clergymen of the Church of England. However,
you will read his letter. I will send the paper.

We are not going to Brighton this year, but mean
to stay in London. Our drawing-rooms are to be ready
next week. They arc very pretty, but too splendid to
please me. At present we are sitting in the library.

While I am writing, a letter from George, dated
November ist, is put into my hands. He says Evelyn.

456 Letter from Home. [1850

is going on well, but she had been in bed eight days.
He hoped to set out on their way back to Nice on the
3rd.

We are going to-morrow to visit the Childerses, who
have hired a house near Uxbridge. They wished to be
within reach of London for the sake of their son, who
has lately got a commission in the Guards. We are to
meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer. . . .

You say, dear Bertie, in your last letter that you
have for some time past been getting very home-sick.
I thought so from your letters, and am not sorry for it,
as you will the less regret your summons home. I have
been rather regretting that you should return without
seeing the Southern States ; but your father says your
presence is now really much needed in the mill, and I
need not tell you how very glad we shall be to have you
with us again. We are already anxiously looking
forward to the time of your arrival. It will be a great
happiness to me if I may again see all my dear
children assembled together.

Maynard is supposed to be reading for his Degree,
which he is to take in January. / cannot believe he
will go up for Honours, as I am sure he has never read
steadily, and s,ome reading must be needed for a
common degree. . . .

The Dowager Lady Suffield died last week. She
had been for some weeks confined to her bed and was
quite blind. Lord Lothian, her great-nephew, who is
nineteen years of age, succeeds to Blickling. All the
estates which did not belong to the original property
are left to Lord Henry Kerr. Your Aunt Emma gets
5^1,000 and her boy Hubby ^1,000. The old Dowager
allowed her ^50 a year, so she is about as well off as

,S5o] The Crystal Palace. 457

during^ Lady S.'s life ; but it will be a great loss to her
that Blickling will be shut up, as she used to meet her
own family there.

The great building in the Park progresses rapidly.
It is to be covered in by the ist January, to be ready
for the reception of goods. It will be a beautiful fairy-
like edifice of cast iron and glass. Sixteen hundred
men are at work at it.

I think I told you that Mr. I. G. has bought a
house in Upper Grosvenor Street. His wife has just
taken him to Brighton. He is very lame and weak in
body and mind — worse than useless in Cornhill.

Your father is very well. "Little Francis" called
on me the other day. He has just returned from Italy,
having been to visit his brother William on the Lake
of Como, who has built, he says, a palace there.

I will not tease your eyes with crossing, and only
add our very affectionate love and that I am always,
dear Bertie,

Your very affectionate

Mother.

458 Last letter from A7nerica. [,85a

The following letter to his father is the last that Bertram
wrote from America :

N&w York, November 26th, 1850.

I have just made up my mind to start on the 4th of
December, by the Niagara. Baring arrived here a
day or two ago from the South, and will, I hope,
accompany me home. If we are fortunate we shall be
in London before the i8th. The weather at this time
of year is very stormy, but the prevailing wind is north-
west and in our favour.

By last mail I received a letter from my mother,
and am sorry to hear of my sister-in-law's illness. I
hope that she and George will have arrived in England
before I come.

Baring is in great force, with a beard like a pirate,
and delighted with Buenos Ayres, where of course he
fell in love with all my old friends. The nymphs of the
South are far more attractive than our New Yorkers.
I was yesterday at a dinner to which eleven of the
principal beauties were bidden, but could see nothing
to admire except their faces.

There is nothing new. Sir Henry Bulwer is here
with his nephew — a clever young fellow.

I suppose this letter will close my correspondence
for some time, and as the post is going out, I must
hasten to its conclusion, and remain, with love to all,

Your affectionate son,

B. W. CURRIE.

LETTERS FROM LONDON AND
SWITZERLAND.

1851. 1852.

IV.

LETTERS.
1851. 1852.

In the October of 1851, Mr. and Mrs. Raikes Currie, with
their two daughters and Miss Stewart, left England in order to
spend the winter in Italy. Several letters from George and
Bertram, written at this period, have been preserved.
Unfortunately I can find none from the travellers, except
two notes to Maynard from Genoa and one from Venice.
Mr. Raikes Currie's impressions of Rome and Naples would
have been particularly interesting.

The following letter from George W. Currie to his father
is addressed to the Poste Restante, Nice.

London, October 25th, 1851.
My dear Father,

Evy and I both had your letters from
Paris. I lost no time in forwarding the air bath
thro' Mac Cracken's, who promised it should arrive
in time.

You must have enjoyed Paris immensely ; indeed,
if I mistake not, you will for the present look back
to it with regret as the pleasantest part of your
journeyings — at least we did so.

Maynard was here yesterday on his way to Wells,
but I did not see him, as I had chosen that day to
stay at Horsley, where we are fixed till Monday.
Evy gets on famously with the two girls. I went

462 Letter from George. [1851

out rabbit shooting yesterday. W. J. Evelyn is
staying there. Mr. H. Currie has had a bad
swelled face and does not seem very well. He is
at home to-day.

We have some thoughts of making a short visit
to Brighton if we can find some cheap accommodation
there, as Evy suffers from the London fogs which
fairly set in just after your departure. In fact (you
will read this with satisfaction) there has been a
dense, heavy, black fog over town and country for the
last three or four days.

Cooper C. and P. are still going on. I cannot
learn that Lord P. means to assist them. He has
sold stock and paid us off the 3^10,000 ; he was here
on that occasion and was very friendly, but did not
allude to that firm. They, C. C. and P., had a squeak
for it the other day when they had a ^f 2,000 acceptance
to meet, and wanted further advance on produce,
which I declined. They found the money, however.
I have had the sugars which we held, put into
J. Lawford's name, so that is all right, and on the
failure of Temple and Co., on whom we had a £^']0
bill, they took it away at our desire.

Money since the dividends has been very heavy.
The brokers will not look at us, so, after sitting some
days with the amount nearlj^ £"200,000, we bought 20s.
exchequer bills at a high premium, but they are already
2S. higher and we get a small interest. I have written
to-day to Drapers Hall to urge the payment of another
£2,500 due yesterday. M'Neill talks about 2s. 6d.
We have not yet had Murray's opinion, but it does
not look well. There are no assets, and he talks
about his own note at eighteen months !

i8si]

Arrival of Kossuth. 463

Bertram goes down with me to Horsley to-day.
We come up on Monday and dine same day with
G. Hibbert and meet Lady Morley. . . .

Kossuth has arrived at Southampton. Some of
the Radical papers state that an eminent banker and
M.P. of long standing, has generously placed his
house in a fashionable quarter at K.'s disposal.

Old Wilton has had an auction of Cheam House,
but without success. I advise him to advance capital
to one of the Cheam ushers who could set up a rival
establishment with great success. I would tout for
pupils.

We shall hope to hear from you soon ; what you
think of Nice, &c., and how all of you like the journey,
the carriage, Linne, &c.

Kiss the dear Babe from me. Mr. H. C. says
Miss Georgiana Currie will certainly marry her
landlord. He (the landlord) says he never was
aware of the excellence of Miss C.'s port till Mr. R.
Currie called his attention to it. Mr. H. C. and
daughters are going to Pierrepont ^ on the 6th
proximo.

The Screws are screwing away. They launch

a large ship on Monday and want Emily to christen

it. They have had a great row in their board with

Laming, the managing director, who ventured to

propose an amendment to a motion of Mr. H. C.

They want to turn him out, but he won't go. Ever

your affectionate son,

G. W. Currie.

^ The residence of Miss Georgiana Currie.

464 Letter from Cornhill. [1851

FROM B. W. C. TO MR. RAIKES CURRIE,

Corfthill, Nov. jth, 1851.
My dear Father,

You have certainly chosen a good season
to absent yourself from London, as our proverbial
weather this 3'ear is worse than ever. We have had
continual northerly winds and excessive cold for a
fortnight.

There is nothing new or important in my affairs.
As to Messrs. C. and Co., they received a letter from
Edward Lawford yesterday containing a cheque for
;^i 1,300, but this I believe you have heard of. Mr.
I. G. C. is embarrassed with his riches, 3^3,000, and
asked me to-day when I should want any money.
I am afraid I cannot help him at present, as it will
not do to let Ponsford see that I have any sources
of further advance at present.

Cooper, Currie, and Co. are to go on. Few came
here yesterday, and said that they had served Cooper
with a notice of compulsory dissolution of partnership,
which he agreed to upon receiving a bonus of £100,
after having threatened to go down to Liverpool and
declare himself a bankrupt. Lord Petre has paid in
his cheque on the Commercial Bank for 3^2,000,
and a man named Mason his for ;^2,500. George
thinks the latter is going into partnership with
them. I suppose the account will be removed to
the Joint, as with the last-named cheque they paid
off their loan here.

I dined last night with my Aunt Harriet and met
Lady Young and her daughte&s, devout women of

1S51] A great A^ixiety. 465

the Anglo-Catholic persuasion. Otherwise, I have
seen nobody in London. All the world is at Brighton
I believe, and I shall go there for a few days the week
after next, and enjoy the hospitality of Miss Lize
Palk.

Consols are to go up to 98 to \, notwithstanding
the bad news from the Cape. Lawford has orders to
sell at qSt. The Gas shares could be sold yesterday
at 2j to f premium. Are you a seller ? I think at
5 premium it would not be a bad move considering
all the uncertainties of amalgamation.

Love to all. Yours affectionate,

B. W. CURRIE.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO HIS SON MAYNARD.

Genoa, Friday, Nov. i^th, 1851.

We have wished, had it been possible, to spare
you all the dreadful anxiety which we have suffered
from Monday last. Our darling Edith has been and
still is most alarmingly ill, and you may think what
that is at such a place as this, where you can trust no
medical advice.

She has a pulse of extreme irritation about 120,
amounting to fever of the type of bilious diarrhoea.
She has taken no food except spoonfuls of milk and
water, and once or twice of chicken broth, since
Sunday last.

From Tuesday evening she has wandered in a
sort of waking sleep, talking dreams with her eyes
generally open, being sometimes again quite her own

EE

466 Edit lis Illness. [jgji

darling self when talked to by your mother or
Sanderson.

Thank God she had last night for the first time
some calm sleep, gentle perspiration, and has for a
time this morning been quite herself, though too
languid to notice anything. Sanderson thinks her
rather better. At the same time the pulse continues
118, and the access of burning fever will return, and
at the very best it must be a case of extreme anxiety
for many days to come.

Mrs. Brown, the wife of the consul, a sensible
experienced woman, has been very kind, and the old
physician she has recommended, Viviani, is, I think,
a scientific experienced man. Dr. Giglioli, whom we
first called in, was educated partly at Edinburgh, is
married to an Englishwoman, seems a respectable
man and is very kind and attentive, coming three
times a day.

Your dear mother to be really known must be
seen in such trying scenes as this, calm, thoughtful,
and indefatigable. Sanderson is all a nurse can be.
The people of the hotel are very kind and attentive.
I endeavour to throw myself in prostrate submission
to the will of God.

Write, dearest Mayny, as soon as possible to P. R.,

Genoa.

Ever your most affectionate father,

R. C.

P.S. — I cannot write another letter. I have written
to your brothers, so pray send this immediately to my
dear sister Marianne, asking her to communicate to
L. and Georgina, and write yourself, dear M., to Aunt
Harriet.

i85i]

EditJis Illness. 467

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS FATHER.

New Steine Hotel, Brighton,

Nov. igth, 1851.

Your letter has just reached me on my return from
dining at Miss Hibbert's, having been forwarded from
London by George, and has made me very unhappy.
Still, from the tone of your letter and from what I
know of the dear child's constitution, I cannot but
think we shall have better accounts by your next.
Your situation and that of my dear mother and Mary
must be distressing indeed, but I sincerely trust that
before this it has been materially relieved.

I came down here on Monday, intending to spend
a week or ten days, but shall go up to London on
Friday. Of course we must anxiously expect your
next letter, and till it arrives try to think as well of
the case as possible. I can hardly fancy my dear
little Edith, who was always the picture of health, as
dangerously ill. I feel that long before this arrives
the dear child's fate must have been decided. There
is nothing to say except to assure you and my dear
mother how deeply I feel your sorrow and anxiety as
well as my own, and to remind you of my constant
affection.

12 o'clock, Thursday.

B. W. CUKRIE.

468 Maynard' s Letter. [185,

Maynard, who at this time was studying in the Theological
College at Wells, wrote from thence.

November 20th, Tlm^'sday.

My dearest Father,

I do indeed feel very deeply for you all in
the sad trial you have had. May God grant that our
dear, dear Edith may recover, and may He ever give us
grace and strength to bear aright all His visitations.

I have sent your letter to Aunt Marianne, and have
written to Aunt Harriet. Of course I shall look with
the greatest anxiety for another letter, and I am sure
you will have been kind enough not to keep me in a
long suspense. From what you say of dear E.'s
improvement on Friday I do hope and trust that you
will be able to give a better account of her. I am
very glad to hear that my dear mother has been
enabled hitherto to bear so well such a trial as she has
had.

We have had an exceedingly cold season, sharp
frosts every day, and must, I think, expect a very hard
winter, I had an invitation from Florence to go to
Kimberley on the 25th, but I told her that I could not
get away from this place.

We have been going on here as usual, without any
incident to disturb a very quiet routine. The Bishop
of Oxford has been delivering a Charge, which I like
very much, though I suppose he will be abused for it
by both parties ; because, taking himself a moderately
high but decided view, he has plenty of margin for
all those who, "whatever their shade of opinions," are

1 85 1] Edith's Recovery. 469

** striving in love and self-devotion to do the work of
Christ."

I am sure you will let me know how my dear
mother and Mary are, and will give them my very best
love. Ever, my dear Father, your very affectionate
son,

Maynard W. Currie.

After a few days, better accounts of the little patient were
received, and Bertram wrote to his father from Hyde Park
Terrace.

Novembey iSih, 1851.

I received your long letter dated the 21st the day
before j-esterday, and was delighted to hear that the
dear babe is in a satisfactory state. Doo ^ begs me
to express her sympathy and present joy. I said
nothing to her about the babe's illness, thinking there
was no use in making the poor creature unhappy, but
it seems she heard it through that universal channel
of information, Evy's maid, and was very much dis-
tressed in consequence.

I left Brighton on Thursday for good, having spent
nine days altogether there at the New Steine Hotel,
which I found very comfortable. Miss Hibbert
repeatedly spread the hospitable board, and on the
last night on a grand scale she entertained the
V. Smiths, N. Hibbert and G. Hibbert, Lady Henley,
and Mr. Robertson.

I also dined with Lord Wigram and met Mrs.
Oswald Smith and Froggie, grown a very pretty girl.
' A nurse in the family.

4/0 Ponsford's Affairs. [ig^,

Old V. S. stays at the Bristol till Monday next with
Mrs. V. S. and Fitz. He is an awful screw, and can
hardly be induced to order enough to eat and drink-
He dines out with great avidity. . . .

I was much amused with your account of the affaire
at Genoa. The Chevalier Wykoff is a well-known
character at New York, and I should think a regular
swindler. . . .

This evening I write to Ponsford to know what
arrangements he means to make about the £5,000
acceptance due on 7th December.

I am going on Saturday to G, W. Norman's at
Bromley to spend Sunday. He says there are none
but old people there.

FROM B. W. C. TO MR. RAIKES CURRIE,

London, December 6th, 1851.

I have delayed writing to you for the last few days
till I had arranged something with Ponsford about the
payment of our acceptance which comes due to-morrow.
After writing to him, and having an interview in
Thames Street, all I could get him to agree to, was
that he would produce the mone}^ in fifteen months
from this time, and that he would give his note of
hand payable at that date. My first impression was
to make him accept a bill to that amount, and to get
Swayne and Bovill to discount it at Overends, but I
found their account was so full there at present that
they could^ not do it ; and I was also afraid it might
throw Ponsford into their hands in the event of a
dispute. On the whole, therefore, I thought the best

1 85 1] Money Matters. 471

way was to deposit it with Messrs. Curric and Co.
as security for a loan on demand to White Ponsford
and Co. This is not very satisfactory, but it is better
than getting nothing from old P., either in money or
promises, as was the case when you left, and it pro-
vides for our immediate necessities. I went to him
this morning, and found him in bed with the gout, and
hardly able to sign his name. I hope to get Phillips'
detailed valuation to-morrow. The gross amount of
the two mills is about /i 7,000, so that we shall have
a claim upon Bovill for something like 3/^4,000, which
I am disposed to enforce, as the only way of
bringing him to book. The works progress very
slowly, and I see no more prospect of their being
completed than when you went away.

Mr. H. C. is in great spirits about the railway
account, of which he wrote to you. He has to-day
got a proof of the prospectus ; and a letter from
Bircham to say that he thinks it settled that the
account will be brought here ; the capital one million
one hundred thousand, and they say Lord Ashburton
is to be chairman of the committee.

I spent last Sunday at Mr. Norman's at Bromley.
He is very apprehensive about the effect of the gold
discoveries, and the constant arrivals which take place
on this side. To-day the steamer brings Three
Hundred Thousand from America, but up to the
present time there has been no effect upon prices.

To-day was Ashlin's first meeting. George, young
Glyn, and young Gurney are to be assignees. Nothing
was done but to fix Ashlin's allowance at ^^4 per week.
Murray calculates upon a dividend of five shillings
from the estate.

472 The Coup d'Etat. [ig^,

I am afraid this news from Paris will complicate
affairs at Rome, and perhaps prevent your going there
at present. To-day the funds are at 965- sellers, in
consequence of a rumour that there is disaffection in
the arm}^ to Louis Napoleon.

Charles Pain has just been in here and says he has
a large heap of towels arrived from Russia for my
mother. ... I have been reading Sir J. Stephen's
Lectures at Cambridge which are just published ; the
two volumes bring the history of France down to
Louis XIV., and are interesting and very learned.

Bingham Mildmay writes from America, where he
has arrived safely.

I suppose you wdll send directions about shipping
Philip, who comes up on Monday the nth to George's
house.

With love to all, and especially to the dear babe,

believe me.

Affectionately yours,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM B. w. c.

Hyde. Park Terrace, Dec. 10th, 1851.

My dear Father,

I send you a line by the hands of Philip,
who trusts himself to the despotism of Louis Napoleon
to-morrow.

I suppose you hear the particulars of the revolution
as well as we do in London. It has of course made
an immense sensation, and all the papers, except I
believe the Morning Post, are violent in their denuncia-

1851] Sale of Tap low. 473

tions of the President. Now is the time for old
Hardinge to bring his great guns into play, as if we
ever are to have an invasion, this is the right sort of
government to make it.

I hear that Mrs. Grote is in Paris, and a letter of
hers describing the first effects of the coup d'etat
appeared in the Times.

The funds recovered a good deal last week in
consequence of the buoyancy of French Rentes, but
have subsided again to 97^ to-day.

I saw the other day a Mr. T on business

connected with Thames Street, who told me that
Taplow was certainly to be sold, and that he had
offered, on behalf of a Mr. Whitlaw (I think), ^^9,200,
for the land round his house. I see by the papers
that the Hill farm is also to be sold which is in that
neighbourhood. This gentleman told me that Lord O.
had borrowed ^^60,000 at 5 per cent, to pay off a
mortgage at 4, and (as he thought), was selling the
place himself. The affair is in the hands of a lawyer
named Harrison.

There is nothing new in my affairs except that I
become daily more convinced of the rascality of Bovill.
I hear nothing of his transactions with the Admiralty
coming to a conclusion. Westhorpe has been abroad
for some months. We have been taken in by a friend
of his — Mr. Smith of Brighton, whom you may perhaps
remember.

I hope you will make acquaintance with some
capitalist in foreign parts anxious to invest in a large
manufacturing establishment, as we arc tircadfuli}- in
want of funds. I can think of no one but old John
Barnard, who is immensely full of money just now,

474 Experhnents with Wheat. [ig^i

and might like to put a great grandson, or some
remote descendant, into so prosperous a concern.

At Shadwell we just managed to pay our expenses
and that is all. We have been making some experi-
ments with the finest English white wheat and foreign
red — and vice versa, the best foreign white and English
red — and, Mr. White says, have succeeded in making
a capital sack of flour ; but to the query, Do we
make a capital profit ? I fear he cannot answer so
satisfactorily.

I suppose you will not see Bougleux. I should like
to know whether he really uses the patent, and what
his success has been.

I have heard nothing of you for some time, but
conclude that all is going on well. If it were not so
expensive, I think I should have come out with Philip
for three weeks or a month. Love to all from your
affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM GEORGE W. CURRIE.

Cornhill, Dec. i6th, 1851.
My dear Father,

I duly received your letter of the 8th from
Genoa. I hope this will find 3'ou arrived at Rome.
Phihp left us the night of the loth, as soon as he
could get his passport from the Foreign Office ; so
I conclude he would reach Rome about the same day
as yourselves. I hope to hear soon, and that change
of air is strengthening the dear babe. I saw Mrs. J.
Scott the other day, who made many inquiries after

i8si]

French Politics. 475

her. To-day I have an invitation from J. S. to go and
shoot woodcocks at Rotherfield, but have written to
dechne.

We are to go to Horsley on the 12th of January
for a few days. Maynard is going there Christmas
Eve.

We dined with the Van de Weyers last night.
Bates was there, and Sturges and the Hibberts,
including Lizzy and her pretender, young Holland,
also Macaulay. Mme. V. de W. had a reception in
the evening — Lady Palmerston and lots of foreigners.
We dined last week with T. Baring. On Thursday
we entertain the Van de Weyers, T. Baring,
Alexander, Q.C., and the Bulwcrs (Sir Henry and
Lady), with venison from Farming Woods. They
have their house full at Farming Woods, and want us
to go there, but I do not think we can manage it.

Nobody knows what to think of the French
business. They really seem to have to choose between
Louis Napoleon and his soldiers, and Cassaudiere and
his rouges, and to be utterl}^ unable to keep up a decent
constitutional government. I hope L. N. will not
remove his troops from Rome, while you are there.
Meanwhile the French funds are over 100 — having
risen 10 per cent, since the cojip d'etat, and Van de
Weyer says this is the real feeling of all people of
property in France. The future, however, is indeed
dark. Thiers, I see, is banished, and every professional
statesman driven away and imprisoned, except the
few who have been frightened into joining the mock
Consultative commission. The slaughter in the streets
at Paris was outrageous and unprovoked ; many people
slain sitting quietly in their apartments on the

476 Letter from George. [1851

Boulevards. Punch has got for the coup d'eiat,
L. N. cutting up the goose that laid the golden eggs,
capitally drawn.

We are to have the new account, Salisbury, &c.,
Railway, about which you wrote to Locke and Lord
Ashburton, and H. Currie has been making interest
with Birchams and S. Herbert, but H. C. says we
must take 100 shares (/^2,ooo when paid up). Lord
Ashburton and S. Herbert are chairman and deputy,
Locke engineer, and Peto contractor, who is to find
the greatest part of the money — when finished at an
outlay of one million. The South Western are to
work it and divide profits.

The Gas Co. have not got their debentures out yet,
and doubt whether they can do so at 4!- per cent.
They ought to get them for that, for the security is
very good.

The Hudson's Bay add 5 per cent, to capital in
February next. H. Currie has not got the contract
for Sydney which the Screw Co. counted on as certain,
having been under-bid. I do not know what they
mean to do about it.

Mr. Palmer of Essex has just been here — a pro-
digious bore. He asked about a small balance here,
which was subscribed to buy a cup, in which the
municipality of Adelaide, N.S.W., were to drink to
the memory of Colonel Light. He says, you said you
would get the cup, and asks if you have got it ? I say
you have not. He asks, will you send me, authority to
choose one ? as he has an opportunity of sending it
out, and will have an inscription put on it. Would
you suggest such inscription ? The balance is /36.
If you will write to me about this, I should be

18513 Letter from George. 477

delighted to undertake the selection of the article, and
will communicate with Palmer.

Canon Wodehousc, with Lady Jane and Alice,
have been staying at old Gurney's house in Lombard
Street, over the shop. Lady Jane came up for medical
advice. Sam Gurney has persuaded Mr. Bates to
take Willy as clerk at B. B. and Co., and has taken
him entirely off his father's hands, offering to maintain
him for six months. He is to lodge at Evy's friend,
Mrs. Mann, at Upper Holloway, out of harm's way ;
and, if he can go on steadily for half a year, Sam
Gurney will do more for him. C. Mills called on
Lady Jane and offered anything he had to give, but
as they would not let him take a cadetship, that is no
good at present. At all events, he has got another
good start, and may be put in the way of supporting
himself. .... Your most affectionate son,

G. W. C.

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS SISTER MARY.

Hyde Park Terrace,

Christmas Day, 1S51.

Many thanks for your letter from Sienna. We
expect in a day or two to hear of your arrival in Rome,
where I hope you will find a tender turkey for to-day's
dinner. At least there are geese, if the breed of those
which saved the Capitol be not extinct.

Maynard, who came to London on Monday, loft me
yesterday for Horslcy, where Mr. IL C. regales him
with a local bird. George, as the head of the family,

478 Charade at Horsley,

[1851

entertains his poor relations in Hyde Park Street —
among whom are Willie Wodehouse and myself. I
was invited to Munden, but did not like to leave the
parish on this festival. However, I shall go there
to-morrow, when they are to have a charade, in which
Lizzie Hibbert and Miss Holland (surnamed Cooey)
perform a scene from the opera of Tancrcdi. The word
is Misconduct ; the first syllable represented by a scene
from the play of Miss in her Teens ; the second by the
opera, and the whole by the trial in Pickwick, where
Serjeant Snubbin is supposed to misconduct Mr. P.'s
case.

As it appeared that the performances at Horsley
were to be given up for want of something to act, I
have compiled a charade, which I believe we shall
perform on the 8th of January. The word is Season;
the first act of which is extracted from Black-eyed
Susan and the second from Guy Majinering. The whole
is represented by an original farce called Mrs. Trotter of
Mount Bunion's debut in London. Evy is to act Black-
eyed Susan and also the part of a sentimental young
lady in the last act. The Horsley girls declined
altogether to act, so that the play was obliged to be
arranged for a very limited number, consisting of
George, Maynard, and myself, and is not as you may
imagine, a very brilliant affair.

Next month there is to be a play at Farming
Woods, in which I am to perform a subordinate part,
I believe. Indeed there seems to be nothing else going
on this year.

My father will see in the paper Lord Palmerston's
retirement from the Cabinet. To-day it is announced
that the seals will be given to Lord Granville at a

,851] Loi'd Granville, Foi'eign Secretary. 479

Privy Council to-morrow. The Times seems to think
that the difficulty has been with Lord John, and not
with Lord Grey, who, it says, has approved of Lord
P.'s policy more than any other member of the
Cabinet ; and that Lord John, by making a young man
and a peer Foreign Secretary, evidently intends to
keep the principal management of the Foreign Office
in his own hands. I hope Philip passed safely through
the disturbed districts of France and has reached you
before this. . . .

My father will hear all the particulars of Cornhill
affairs from Mr. H. C. or John Lawford, so that I have
nothing to tell him. The funds fell slightly at the
news of Lord P.'s resignation.

Sir Henry Buiwer is appointed to Florence, I
believe, and I suppose Mr. Hudson will go to the
United States.

I heard a rumour of the babe's hair being cut off,
but trust it is untrue.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas. Believe me,
my dear Mary,

Your affectionate,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM GEORGE \V. CUKRIE TO HIS FATHER.

London, 2yth December, 1S51.

Pray thank my mother for a letter received this
morning, announcing your arrival at Rome. I hope to
hear that Philip reached it the same or next day.

Henry Currie has been writing to you, also John

480 Lord P aimer stons Resignation. 1851

Lawford, so I have nothing to tell you of things here,
that you do not know. . . .

I have had, and have still, a most horrid cold in
my head ; for which I stayed at home yesterday, and
read two new books, neither worth reading — D' Israeli's
political biography (Lord G. Bentinck) and Head's
Paris book. The Times' review is most bitter and able
on the former.

You will, of course, have heard the news — which
has swallowed up the coup d' Stat and all other minor
phenomena — the secession of Palmerston. It is all in
the dark still ; the Times announcing semi-officially
that it is because he took a line of his own in backing
up Louis Napoleon in his military coup ; and the Post,
equally oracular, declaring that he has been sacrificed
to the continental Powers. I am inclined to believe
the latter, to some extent certainly, combined with
Lord John's determination to have everything his own
way. There have certainly been great remonstrances
from the Continent about the refugees. If Palmy can
make out that he has fallen in this cause, he will be
covered with glory. It is a great pity ; it cannot now
be long before there is a clean sweep, however, of the
wretched remnant of the Whigs. Lord Granville goes
to the Foreign Office, and we hear nothing of new
appointments.

Everybody is in the country Christmassing, We
are to go to Horsley on the 5th, and to have some
acting and dancing there one day in that week.
Bertram is gone to-day to Munden (Hibberts), where
there is a great deal of eating and acting going on.
Ma3mard is at Horsley. My aunt Harriet is to dine
with us on New Year's Day. Willy Wodehouse is

18-2] Ministerial Changes. 481

installed as a clerk at Baring's, where his handwriting
gains him praise. . . .

Your affectionate son,

G. W. CURRIE.

The two following letters were addressed to the Hotel do
Russic, Rome.

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS FATHER.

Hyde Park Terrace,
Saturday, Jan. 315^, 1852.

Having nothing particular to do, and the day
being an average specimen of our charming brumal
climate, I occupy my leisure by encroaching upon
yours, and take advantage, by the force of imagi-
nation, of the clearer skies with which you are
favoured.

We are looking forward with some interest to the
meeting of Parliament on Tuesday next, though it
seems doubtful whether there will be any Ministerial
revelations as to the late occurrences. I hear that it
is not the custom for an ex-employe to explain, unless
his retirement from office be voluntary, which certainly
is not the case of the vivacious Viscount. The Times
this morning announces — as an unimportant change
— the retirement of Lord Broughton de G., and
promotion of Mr. Fox Maule to his place at the
board of Control. The same paper hints that the new
Reform Bill will neither enfranchise nor disenfranchise
any of the present constituencies, that it will increase
some of the smaller boroughs by the aggregation of
FF

482 Politics. [,852

neighbouring towns or districts, lower the qualification
of the ^10 householder to £^, and that of the ^^50
tenant to £2.0. It contains, moreover, a speech of
Sir Robert Peel at the Mayor's dinner at Tamworth,
very violent against the Whigs, and rejoicing that the
Peelite chiefs have refused to join them. He quotes
his father's words : " I never had the honour of their
private friendship, nor have I ever acted with them
politically;" and tells his constituents to bear them
in mind, although I believe they were spoken in
anything but a hostile spirit. He also says that the
time has arrived for a Liberal-Conservative party, and
though he has done nothing as yet, he may still,
&c., &c. Altogether a very absurd exhibition I think,
and highly injudicious.

You will see that Lord Normanby has retired from
his embassy to be succeeded by Lord Cowley. This
appointment has surprised people, as Lord Cowley is
comparatively young in the service. I suppose it has
been done by the Court, who seem to have everything
their own way.

Louis Napoleon's rascalities will make it very
difficult for Lord P. to explain his approval of the 2nd
of December. I hope he will throw it up altogether
and say he was mistaken. The papers (except the
Morning Post) are unanimous against L. N., and it
appears that Louis Philippe's executors have protested
by a letter in the Independance Beige, against the
confiscation of the Orleans property. . . .

The meeting with Swayne and Bovill, of which I
told you, came off on Monday, but, owing to the
stupidity of old Pons and the garrulity of Phillips,
ended in smoke. The former let out that he had

1852]

Tke Corn Market. 48^

never been consulted, and knew nothing about the
course to be taken with S. and B., and the latter was
for giving Bovill three months more to deliver his
accounts in order to make things pleasant to all
parties ! Of course as he was our arbitrator we could
make no objection. Ashlin's examination took place
yesterday; the meeting was adjourned.

The corn market has been very firm lately, as you
have no doubt seen ; the rise being now ccjual to at
least 6s. or 7s. per quarter on all descriptions of wheat.
Last week the foreign arrivals were only 400 qrs., and
no ilour. I have been fully occupied in checking the
ardour of Mr. White, who was for buying largely. We
have got a good stock of wheat — about 2,500 qrs. —
most of it well bought. Flour is up about 5s., but, as
usual, we had to make large sales before the rise.
The first cargoes of this year's wheats have arrived,
and are very inferior in condition. I think the
prospect of the market is upward. It is to be hoped
at least that the annual lamentations of the protec-
tionists at the opening of Parliament will be stopped.
The farmers have a capital crop and are getting 45s.
on an average.

FROM B. \v. c.

Saturday, February i^th, 1852.
My dear Father,

I should have written to you last week had
I not been disabled by a swelling and inflammation in
the cubital joint of my right arm, which has at last
yielded to the united skill of Phillips and Drury, after
giving me a good deal of trouble.

484 Reform Bill.

[1852

The new Reform Bill is published in the papers
this morning, and Mr. Henry Curric is relieved to find
that Guildford is not included in Schedule B,, which
consists of the boroughs that are to be enlarged by the
aggregation of neighbouring districts. I suppose they
will be altered a good deal in committee, as the
Opposition do not seem disposed to throw the measure
out altogether.

In the fashionable world the latest intelligence is
the elopement of Lady Adelaide Vane, aged twenty-
two, and youngest daughter of Lord Londonderry.
The miscreant is the Rev, Law, tutor to the son,
between whom and the young lady there appears to
have been a long attachment,

I had a visit this week from Maynard, who came
up to London to consult the tooth-doctor, but happil}-
was enabled to return to Wells without the loss of any
of his teeth,

I am going to spend to-morrow at Blendon,
Mrs, Oswald Smith's, who has still got two daughters
to marry. The Misses Fitzpatrick are staying with
her. Emmie has been paying a visit to George in
Hyde Park Street. Her sister is with my aunt
Georgiana, who entertains a select circle of spinsters
(whose united ages amount to something incredible),
in Regency Square, Brighton.

The engineers have reopened their factories, so
that Bovill is deprived of that excuse for neglecting
our affairs. Mr. White went down into the country
yesterday to meet Prince Albert at a farmer's near
Reading. I hope he will take the opportunity to
submit a sample to H.R.H, The wheat trade is
rather dull, but there has been no decline in prices.

1S52] Political News. 485

The foreign arrivals are still scanty, and I think the
dulness is attributable to the want of buyers — the
millers having purchased largely within the last month.

Mr. Vernon Smith has taken possession of his new
office, and Fitz is installed as private secretary to the
Minister, and has a charming room overlooking the
Park, with ;^300 a year pour ses menus plahirs, a good
deal more profitable than agriculture, to which he
had been turning his attention. He came up like
Cincinnatus from the plough to serve his country.

George tells me that he has written you full
particulars of the election. It seems that Vernon's
seat is by no means safe against a combined attack of
Tory and Radical. Perhaps Peterborough will suit
him better. It is to be associated with Oundle, which
is in his neighbourhood.

This I remember is Mary's birthday. Pray con-
gratulate her on my behalf. Consols are 97^.
Exchequer bills flat in consequence of a report that the
interest is to be lowered. . . .

Your affectionate son,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM B. W. C. TO RAIKES CURRIE, ESQ.
POSTE RESTANTE, NAPLES.

Cornhill, February 2yd, 1852.

I have this morning received your letter of the 14th
inst. and hasten to reply, though I believe George has
anticipated me in the relation of all the stirring
political events. He sends you the Morning Herald,
with a list of Lord Derby's Government, which I
cannot believe to be authentic. The Duke of North-

486

Prospect of a Dissolution.

[1852

umberland and Lord Malmesbury will be too much
for the public. Of the latter they say he is like a
horse, because he only opens his mouth for corn
(alluding to his protectionist harangues last year).

R. V. S. is very sore on the Ministerial defeat ; not
the less that, in a pecuniary point of view, he is a
considerable loser. His Cabinet account stands about
thus:

Cr.

2)r.
To fees upon taking

office of S. at W. . .
Expenses of re-election.
New state uniform of

Privy Councillor. • .

/■500
400

95
^■995

By about fifteen days

salary, at £'] per day.

Balance. . . •

;f95
900

;f99:

He apprehends a dissolution, and says that if it
takes place it will be immediate. I saw him yesterday,
and he begged me to write to yon upon the urgency
of your return, or, in default of that, of your appointing
some person to act for you in case of an election. If
you do not come home I think it would not be a bad
plan to send us an address in manuscript, which we
could put forth in case of need. Something might be
made of the visit to Rome.

" Electors of Northampton. Compelled by severe
illness (incurred in your service) to absent myself for
a time from my duties in Parliament, I have not lost,
among the corrupting influences of Italy, that love
of your institutions which first won me your confidence.
The nearer view of a system which is based upon a
union of Superstition and Violence has confirmed my
allegiance to these great principles of our constitution,
Civil and Religious Liberty," &c.

1852] Resignation of Ministers. 487

Clap-trap seems all the go now. Lord Palmerston's
Rule Britannia speech on the Militia Bill is a fine
specimen of its success.

As far as I can make out the resignation of Ministers
was unexpected, and only a sudden spirt of Lord
John's. Hayter is much blamed for his negligence
in whipping in. Lord Grey escapes the impending
storm though (as Mrs. V. S. was told by Lady
M. Wood) much to their regret, as his case was
excellent. This does not seem the opinion of the
public, who unanimously condemn his despatch in
recall of Sir H. Smith.

Philip will tell you how he lost the cheque. In
consequence, and on his assurance that he was entitled
to it, I advanced him £^ on your account.

I have agreed to sell part of your biscuit machinery
for /20, which is, I believe, as much as it is worth.
The works at Thames Street are stopped by the con-
tinued strike of the engineers. I see no probability
of an arrangement at present as they are supported
by the contributions of all the other trades, and these
subscriptions are increasing.

I have bought for you the two new volumes of
Lord Mahon's History, as I could not get them from
the library. They treat of the American Revolution
and are better than his former ones.

Lady Teresa Lewis has written a prosy book on
the contemporaries of Lord Chancellor Clarendon.

I have been elected a member of Brooks by
Mr. Hayter's assistance. Love to all.

Yours affectionately,

B. W. CURRIE.

48S Lord Derby s Policy. [ig^j

FROM B. w. c.

Hyde Park Terrace, Fehvnary 28th, 1852.

My dear Father,

Lord Derby made his declaration of policy
last night, while the House of Commons was occupied
with the new writs. As w^as anticipated, he avowed
his constant belief in the advantage of a duty on corn,
but did not propose any change in the present Parlia-
ment. Believing that a dissolution was unadvisable,
he appealed to the Opposition for forbearance and
co-operation in measures of legal and social reform.
He declared against Lord John Russell's Reform Bill ;
and Lord Fitzwilliam, who followed him, said, that
rather than submit to constant changes in their
representative system, the people of this country
would prefer a mild and gentle despotism ! 'Mr. Charles
Villiers gave notice of a motion pledging the House of
Commons to the principles of Free Trade. Yesterday
sixteen new Privy Councillors were sworn in, and the
old Ministers gave up the seals of office. On Monday
the new men take possession. The Exchequer they
call " Benjamin's mess."

Lord Malmesbury's chief qualification for his post
seems to be his intimate friendship with the Prince
President, and (according to the French papers) his
appointment is a proof of the desire of the Queen
to consolidate friendl}' relations with that distinguished
person.

Our friend Lord Hardinge has accepted the
Ordnance, to the disgust, I believe, of the Peelites.

1852] Political Arrangements. 489

I saw him last week at R. V. S'. where he harangued
the company (including Sir David) on the necessity
of exercising the population in the use of great guns.
He has now the charge of these dangerous implements
and will, I hope, be careful.

George had a brilliant party last night, at which
I saw, for the first time since her return, the fascinat-
ing Mdme. Strutt. Wodehouse was there too, in
great jaw, full of Lord Derby's speech. He says it
is a pity that the mantle of Lord Lansdowne has not
fallen upon Lord Granville instead of Lord Grey, who,
he thinks, will be an unpopular leader for the party.
Mr. and Mrs. Reeve were also among the select few.
She has no charms or graces of person, is of a tall
and lanky figure, and in complexion not unlike her
oleaginous spouse. Doubtless his choice was directed
to the treasures of her mind, or else to the baser
accumulations of the pocket.

You will hear of G.'s misfortune at the Traveller's,
The old Captain, who came up to vote for him, is
indignant. It seems that the majority of the candidates
have been black-balled lately.

Yesterday I met Mr. Rebow at Brooks'. He had
been requested to oppose Lord John Manners at
Colchester, but thought it beneath his dignity, after
standing for the County, unless sure of success. Your
happy quotation from the early poems of that noble
Lord,^ has been reproduced, first by Sir B. Hall in a
speech to the electors of Marylebone, and afterwards
by the Morning Chronicle, which sa}'S, "that Lord
J. Manners will be more innocently employed in
clearing away superfluous woods and forests, than

' See p. 19.

490 Visit to No7'lha7npton. [,852

in making way for the restoration of our old nobility
by the destruction of commerce and law."

What do you think of a dissolution ? I cannot
believe that the Whigs and Radicals will leave the
Government alone, and they have the power of forcing
them to a division on several questions. I suppose
it will not take place for a month or six weeks, as there
is some necessary business to be carried through.

We are suffering from a continuance of N.E. winds
of the worst quality. Clouds of dust swept along the
Bayswater road form into eddies and whirlpools in our
porches. Life becomes a questionable advantage.

The Great Central Gas Company's Bill was read
a second time yesterda}^ The ungrateful rascals have
not remunerated my valuable services as Auditor.

Love to all from your affectionate,

Bertram W. Currie.

FROM B. W. C. TO RAIKES CURRIE, ESQ., M.P.
POSTE RESTANTE, FLORENCE.

Cornhill, March lyth, 1852.
My dear Father,

In accordance with your wishes, I paid a
visit yesterday to your constituents at Northampton.
Having taken counsel of Gray Kester, who was
admirably disposed, I called upon George Moore. He
informed me that he was determined not to vote for
you again, and was at that time engaged in finding
an Anti-State-Church candidate to oppose you. When
I asked his reasons, he said that you were no member

1852] -^ discontented Elector. 49 1

at all ; moreover, that you made promises which you
did not perform (instancing some case of a blind boy,
whom \o\\ promised to get admitted to Christ's
Hospital, &c.) ; and when I had replied to these objec-
tions, he said that you were so inconsistent, that he
had heard you pray with one breath, and swear with
another, and when pressed for particulars alleged that

the words were " D n it." I replied, of course,

that in twenty-four years I had never heard you use
an expression of such a nature, and that had I done
so, notwithstanding my filial piety, I should have left
the paternal roof, (S:c. This was rather discouraging
for a start, but my next visit to the Rev. Burnett was
much more satisfactory. He said that in the event
of either your or V. Smith's retirement, he was
pledged to support an Anti-State-Church candidate,
and that either Sir Culling Eardley or Mr. Morley had
been proposed in that sense ; but that as long as the
present members offered themselves, he should support
them. From this gentleman I went to Mr. Joel Edens,
who \vas all right, and then to Frederick Parker, also
friendly. They all agreed that it would be advisable
to put forth a letter, stating that you had no intention
of retiring, and I have accordingly written the
following w^hich I shall send to Gray Kester this
evening.

To the Liberal Electors of Northampton.
Gentlemen,

As I understand there is a report in North-
ampton that Mr. Raikes Currie will not offer himself
for re-election at the end of the present Parliament,

492 Letter to Northampton Electors. [1852

I beg, in his absence, to assure you that it is totally
without foundation. In a letter, which I have just
received from him, he writes, " I decidedly mean in
the present state of affairs to stand and fight." In a
few weeks he will have the honour of addressing you
in person. Meanwhile, I beg you on his behalf, to
give no credit to these designs of the enemy, and to be
assured that your old member will be ready at the
hustings to ask your suffrages in favour of those
principles which for fifteen years have merited your
approval.

Your obedient servant,

B. W. CURRIE.

I have also requested Kester to get a communique.
put in. " We understand that letters have been received
from Mr. R. Currie announcing his speedy return to
England, and containing the gratifying intelligence of
his complete recovery," &c. On the whole, the dis-
position of those I saw was very favourable, and they
appeared confident of success. You will know better
than I do, what their opinions are worth. As to
Moore, I am told that he is not one of the leaders of
public opinion, and it is to be hoped that he will be
deterred from his design by the firm attitude we have
assumed.

I have seen Vardon, who hears from the Fairfaxes,
March 9th, that you are still at Naples. He will write
you on the 19th about the chances of dissolution, when
it is expected that something will be settled. At
present it seems quite uncertain, though the general
opinion is that May will be the earliest time.

1852] speeches in Parliament. 493

You will see the account of the debates on the
15th. Wodehouse made a short speech, at the request
of the Whigs, but was disappointed that there was no
one to answer. Lord Derby was brilliant, and in the
Commons Sir J. Graham most effective.

I spent last Sunday at Horsley with Sir D. Dundas.
He talks of going abroad, as he is to retire from
Parliament in favour of Lord Stafford. Henry Currie
is organizing the Peelite party. He told us at Horsley
that he had said to Charles Wood that if he could be
of any use in giving him advice he should be very
happy, and regretting that he had not recommended
the reduction of the interest on Exchequer Bills which
he said would have been the making of the Ex-
Chancellor. . . .

Ever yours affectionately,

Bertram W. Currie.

Rosas is positively kicked out at Buenos Ayres, and
will probably be here before you.

FROM B. W. C. TO HIS FATHER.

Brooks, March 2yd, 1852.

I have received your letter (14th inst.) this morning.
The course of post from Naples seems to vary from
seven to twelve days.

You will have seen by my last the state of things
at Northampton. Since I wrote, nothing new has
occurred, but I have seen Mr. Dennis, and had a letter
from Kester. The latter had seen Mr. Moore, and
heard several accusations preferred against you, which

494 Ca7tdidates for Parliament. [,852

he sa3^s he will not enter into till your return. The
only report of opposition which I have seen in the
papers is that of Markham, the Tory Attorney who
stood against V. Smith, but this wants confirmation.
Vardon has promised to write about the dissolution.
I can really form no opinion on the subject. The
Whigs, as usual, have become quite truculent in Oppo-
sition, and slander the unfortunate Government in the
most unmeasured terms.

Young Portman is coming forward for Shaftesbury
as a free trader. Henry Currie has issued his ukase
to the electors at Guildford. As yet, his only opponent
is Mr. Thurlow, who was defeated last time, so that
his chance of success is pretty good. Lord Pembroke
has just died in Paris, so that there will be a vacancy
in South Wilts.

Pray tell my mother that I will attend to her
injunctions about domestic affairs. I have already
seen a candidate for the office of butler, but on enquir-
ing of Lord Bateman, with whom he had formerly
lived, I was inclined to reject him. I am also in
relations with a cook who is now premiere dame de la
cuisine to Lady Ailesbury, and strongly recommended
by Lord Foley's chef, but I have not yet had an
interview.

I have been reading the case of Wykoff and Gamble,
which is published in the form of a pamphlet, price
2S. 6d., with a portrait of the principal offender.
Mrs. Grote's name appears repeatedly in the letters of
both parties. On reading the evidence, I am inclined
to think that though it does not clear Wykoff from the
imputation of rascality, it convicts Miss Jane Gamble
of being a tremendous fool, who deserved no better

1852] Defeat and Escape of Rosas. 495

treatment than she met with. Our friend Mrs. Grote
seems to be unfortunate when she meddles with the
love affairs of her friends. You remember the case of
Jenny Lind and Harris. She (Jenny Lind) has at last
reached the lowest abyss of degradation by marrying a
Hamburg Jew pianist.

The girls, Emmie and Mary, arrived yesterday in
Hyde Park Street to spend a week with George. He
entertains them to-morrow with a ball, for which cards
have been issued to the leading members of the hcau
mondc.

We have had an extraordinary run of east winds.
The park is as dry as a brick, and the streets are all
watered copiously to allay the dust.

By the last mails from South America we hear of
the total defeat of Rosas, who, with Manuelita,^ escaped
on board an English man-of-war. Old Mandeville
expects them here directly.

' Whilst these pages were passing through the press the following
paragraph appeared in the Times of Saturday, September 24, 1S9S :
" The death occurred on Saturday last of Mme.Terrero, at her residence
in Belsize Park Gardens, South Hampstead. Manuela de Rosas de
Terrero was born on the 24th of May, 1817. She was the only daughter
of the famous General Rosas (see pp. 254, 264 — 269), who ruled the
Argentine Republic practically as Dictator for more than twenty years
until 1852, when, overthrown by the revolution under Urquiza (p. 290),
he took refuge with his daughter under the English flag. They were
first taken on board the Centaur, Admiral Henderson's flagship, and four
days later her Majesty's ship Conflict conveyed them to this country,
where Lord Palmerston received them cordially. Mme. Terrero was
married in Southampton the same year of her arrival to Don Maximo
Terrero, who at one time represented the Republic of Paraguay as
Consul-General in this country. She leaves two sons, both residing in
England. Tier mother died when Mme. Terrero was a girl, and she
succeeded in doing much to soften the iron rule of her father. She was
noted for her personal courage and for her excellent riding. On one
occasion she rode twenty leagues to a ball given in her honour, and
after arriving danced during the whole night. She was buried at
Southampton in the same grave with her father, General Rosas."

496 Electioneering Measures. [1852

I hear of a marriage which will, I fear, disgust our
friend the Dowager Henley, between her younger son
and a Miss Aldridge, whom you may remember at
Brighton. He cannot be more than twenty-one, and
she — the eldest of a large and impecunious family — is
stated to be twenty-three.

There is a very pretty girl come out in London this
year, whom I last saw at Brighton — Miss Ashworth.
Her mother's character was not, I think, quite satisfac-
tory to my mother, but she seems to have got over
any difficulties of that sort. I hope the world is
becoming less censorious, as I hear that the Duchess
of Bedford is now engaged in whitewashing Lady
Harrington, and has met with great success.

Lady Lilford told me that she had heard from dear
Henry, who was delighted with you. He has published
more of his father's memoirs, very poor stuff.

Roebuck's History of the Whigs is rather amusing,
though probably untrue. It is the case of Lord
Brougham v. the Whigs.

P.S. — We have had a paragraph in the papers
stating that you are about to return from Italy, where
you have been detained for some time by ill-health.
This has alarmed some of the family, who were not
aware of your indisposition.

The advertisement or notice appeared in the Mercury
last week with only one misprint — stand a fight instead
of sta7id and fight. The former looks more bellicose,
and, considering the state of your health, most patriotic.

1852] Letter from George. 497

A day later George wrote :

London, z^th March, 1852.
My dear Father,

Bertram and I both received your letters
from Naples yesterday. I am sorry your weather
there has been bad. If you knew what we have been
suffering from here you would think it superb. For
weeks past we have had a dry, cutting N. Easter,
which has now changed to a hot pestilential E. S. E.
with yellow fog and smoke that might be cut with a
knife. London is more beastly than I remember it,
and influenza and illness of all kinds abundant.

I heard from Vardon yesterday, who is still strongly
of opinion that the dissolution will be before the middle
of May. He says he hopes you will be in Paris by the
third week of April, where you might wait according
to circumstances. Much as we look forward to having
you back again, I cannot advise you to come to this
climate an hour sooner than is necessary.

The new Government seem jogging on respectably;
the funds, &c., are higher than ever. Money is very
abundant and certainly looks as if it would be so
permanently. Mortgages, I believe, doing at 3 per
cent., but still things are not so dull as they have
been.

My partners, whom you say I do not mention, are
flourishing. Mr. I. G. C. pretty well; he is here
to-day, as is also H. C. You heard of the latter
being turned out of his Screw Company. This is
a good business. He has taken to politics, and
means to lead the Peelite party in conjunction with
Gladstone !
GG

498 Letter from George. [1852

Lord Pembroke is just dead, by which S. Herbert
will add to his already immense fortune. Poor old
Foley Wilmot has been killed off by inflammation
of the lungs. Miss Hume is not to marry the
Duke of Newcastle — at least it is off for the present.

Lord Henley's younger brother (quite a youth) is
going to marry the little Miss Aldridge whom you
remember at Brighton !

H. Currie's girls are staying with us for a few days.
Evy gives a dance for them to-night, and has got all
the beauties. Miss Ashworth (who was a child at
Brighton and is the belle of this year). Miss Brandling
(beautiful), Froggie Smith, Lethbridge, Goddards,
Ladies St. Maur, Lady Jane Stanhope, Florence
Compton, Lady Margaret Compton, and other
houres.

The Wodehouses have come back to town.
Florence is looking very pretty, and seems better.
I am afraid Mrs. Alfred Wodehouse is almost in a
hopeless state, although they said she was better.
Mrs. Wodehouse (Anne) has been, and is, laid up with
a broken ancle. "Willy W. is regularly installed as
a clerk at Baring's with a salary of £']0 per annum !

O. Wigram has just been in here and taken
3^10,000 for two months at 3 per cent. We still hold
a large lot of exchequer bills, and by taking in money
on them occasionally (at i per cent.) avoid disturbing
the brokers, who still pay us 2 — but will, no doubt,
reduce us soon.

Bertram will have told you about Northampton.
Dennis was here the other day. There are a few
people headed by one Moore, a shoemaker, who
want to replace you by a dissenter, and have been

1852] Domestic News. 499

agitating for that purpose, but it is only moonshine I
think.

Your cook Wilhams is very " comfortable " in her
new place, so I fear she will not return to you.
Numerous inquiries have been, and are, making for
butler, footman, &c., for you. My mother will be
interested to hear that we have got Mrs. Trundle as
cook for ourselves, who (at a salary of £20) is really
excellent.

Mr. I, G. sold his Sardinians at 93, clearing nearly
13 per cent., and has been buying, I believe, Danish
3 per cents.

Pray excuse this disconnected composition.

I am, with love to all, your most affectionate son,

G. W. CURRIE.

From B. W. C. to Mr. Raikes Currie, addressed to Poste
Restante, Turin, but forwarded thence to Venice.

London, April ^th, 1852.
My dear Father,

George has already acknowledged your
letter from Florence in one he wrote to Milan. I have
nothing fresh to communicate, but write that you may
not be disappointed on application at the Post Office
at Turin.

Philip, who returned from Eton on the 29th ult.
with a friend, has gone to visit Maynard at Wells ; for
which purpose I made him the necessary advances,
and begged Maynard to do the same office when he
left him. His intention is to take Mr. Scott and
Mrs. Fisher on his way to Horsley.

500 Northa7npton Politics. [,35^

Since receiving my mother's orders, I have been
busily engaged in seeing all the houseless butlers and
discharged footmen who present themselves, and
among them I have seen an individual of each genus
— butler, under-butler, and footman — who I think
would suit. I shall direct further inquiries before
concluding anything. I lost a very promising cook on
account of the difficulty presented by Mrs. Sanderson
filling the co-ordinate office of housekeeper, and have
heard of nothing since.

I suppose George told you of the letter he had from
Parker describing the meeting of the district-secretaries
and the passing of resolutions favourable to yourself
and V. S. Since that, I have heard and seen nothing
except a handbill which V. S. showed me, abusing the
banker (who, it stated, could do nothing but make
clever speeches), and damning with faint praise the
Right Honble. Member. Of course it proceeds from
the same quarter as the previous opposition of which
G. Moore is the head, and which appears to be
insignificant in numbers and influence. I am pretty
sure that if there is anything wrong, it may be all put
right by one or two speeches on your return.

Vardon's silence is no doubt to be attributed to the
fact that there is nothing new. The Government have
now declared that they intend that the new Parliament
shall meet for the despatch of business within the
present year, so that the dissolution will probably take
place in May. On Thursday the House adjourns for
the recess.

Electioneering is going on in all parts. Cardwell
has made a capital speech at Liverpool. The address
of Mr. Thurlow, Henry Currie's opponent, is printed.

1852] The coming Election. 501

He shirks protection altogether, as the party evidently
is prepared to do. It is expected that Montague
Chambers, a Radical lawyer, will offer himself for
Guildford.

On Saturday we had a grand performance at the
Crystal Palace — about 70,000 people present to hear
five military bands play God save the Queen. The
sight was very grand, but the building is quite un-
adapted for music.

The East wind continues unabated. The glass,
which has been up at an enormous height, keeps steady,
and I see no hope of change.

Wodehouse has thrown himself into the Whig
ranks, and I saw him calling upon Hayter with Sir
J. Boileau and Lord Albemarle : so I imagine he will
throw over old Edmund if they can get up an
opposition.

George was yesterday elected a member of Brooks'.
There are now a number of Liberal youths in that

institution. I wish they could expunge and ,

who infest it daily.

The Vernons go out of town on Wednesday, and
everybody will do the same for the recess.

I reserve the details of the mill till your return.
Ponsford's stupidity and Bovill's roguery have made a
sad mess of it, I fear. We are still without prospect
of starting it, and have no power of compelling Bovill
to expedite it. The corn-market is again much
depressed.

Ever your affectionate,

Bertram W. Currie.

502 Letter from Venice. [,852

No further letters from George and Bertram to their father
during the remainder of his tour are forthcoming. The
preceding letter from Bertram does not appear to have
reached Venice when Mr. Raikes Currie wrote to his son
Maynard.

Venice, April 20th, 1852.
My dear Maynard,

Your nice kind letter to your mother dated
Wells, gth, and forwarded (by directions from me)
from Turin, got here on the i6th with wonderful
expedition, and we received it as soon as we could
get letters, viz., on Sunday morning the i8th. We
reached this place from Ferrara {via Padua) on
Saturday night the 17th.

We have no other letters from England of at
all the same date ; one from George (via Milan) dated
April 2nd, is our only other letter, but we were so
uncertain, and have so often been obliged to modify
our movements, that this is not to be wondered at.
We have had excellent correspondents, specially in
Bertram, who has usually written most regularly.

We are truly grieved by the intelligence of poor
dear Emma's death.^ We had not heard of it, nor
seen it in the papers, though, from the last accounts,
your mother fully expected it. Her loss appears
irreparable. We must all do what we can for the
poor dear children.

We have been most glad, dear Maynard, to think
of Philip with you at Easter, I am sure you will
have looked after him, and seen him back to Eton,
I suppose about the 24th. I am exceedingly grateful
to Henry Currie for his kindness to you all.

' The Honble. Mrs. Alfred Wodehouse.

1852] S^. Mark's. 503

Our present plan is to leave this to-morrow and
get on as far as we can, say to Desenzano ; next day,
22nd, to Milan, stay there till the afternoon of 25th
and go to Novara, next day to Turin and stay 27th ;
then to Susa, cross the Mont Cenis, 29th, and get on
as far as we can en rotUe to Geneva, where we hope
to be by the ist. Please to fly a letter to us there.

I wrote to you from Florence, and told you, I think,
how Mary's influenza detained us nine days, and
deranged all our plans. She is quite well and has
been enchanted with this place. Old St. Mark's, with
its Barbaric splendour and thoroughly Byzantine
appearance, looks more like a dream or a picture
than a reality of these matter-of-fact days, and all
around is equally quaint and beautiful.

The Babe ^ is delighted with her gondola. She
grows immensely, and to her " partial father," appears
a most delightful companion, always fresh, original,
and full of feeling and fun. . . . She repeats
" Rogers " and Macaulay's Lays, when the perennial
flow of her talk intermits for a few minutes. She
finds herself perfectly at home everywhere, and it was
funny to see her yesterday coolly feeding all the
tame pigeons in the Piazza San Marco, who fly down
in showers from the old buildings around, where, by
ancient custom, their race has been superstitiously
cherished for ages, and they will all but eat out of her
hand. Our Italian servant Domenico (whom she has
named "The Imp") is perfect in his way, and a
great favourite of hers. He is so excellent a servant
that, though he cannot at present speak one word of
English, I think I shall bring him to England. If

• Edith Currie

504 Foreign Servants. [1852

you could instruct and convert him, he would make
you (in my opinion) an invaluable slave. I rescued
him from the filthy drudgery of a Chalons steamer,
and he now looks almost like a gentleman : in manner
he is one, and would I believe follow us to the
Antipodes. I should add, however, that the cautious
" Monarch," ^ who likes him much, thinks him "flighty,"
and " that he would not settle down anywhere ; " as it
is, however, he perpetually amuses us. Linne
(George's paragon) turns out in Italy a thoroughly
poor creature. He is the most nervous, fidgetty
being I ever met with, cannot speak the language
easily, and is a goose. He would do extremely well
to go about Germany with two or three old ladies.
I think he is honest and anxious, to me an exceeding
bore, but packs up well, and does not lose things.

Miss Stewart's pursuit of old frescoes, &c., under
difficulties, Philip will have told you of. She has
been almost driven mad by delight, and has generally
seen some two or three old churches before breakfast.
She is wiry and indefatigable.

Your dear mother (who has been wonderfully well)
has here a sort of dumb cold with headache, but the
weather, though bright, is so bitterly cold again that
this is not surprising.

If you see your brothers, pray thank George for a
very amusing letter to your mother, date 2nd April,
which we had not got when I wrote to him yesterday,
and beg them to write till 28th inclusive to Geneva,
and after that to Paris.

God bless you, dearest M.

With our united love, ever your affectionate father,

R. C.

^ Mrs. Raikes Currie.

1852] Tour in Switzerland. 505

In the summer of 1852, Bertram made a short tour in
Switzerland, the account of which remains in eight letters to
his father. The beginning of the tour was unfortunate, and is
detailed in the first letter dated,

Hotel des Princes, July 2yth.
My dear Father,

As you will perhaps read in your morning
paper at Rickmansworth of a considerable smash on
the South Eastern Railway last night, I hasten to
inform you that I am not among the sufferers, except
to the extent of a moderate " punch on the head,"
and consequent ache. The affair happened thus :
On nearing Tonbridge the rod which connects the
fore and aft wheels of one of the carriages broke, and
made a considerable row and dust, and when we
arrived at the station it was found necessary to take
off the damaged vehicle and tranship its passengers
and luggage. This caused a delay of twenty minutes.
In the meantime a luggage train or pick-up going
towards Dover, expecting our arrival, had moved on
to the up line, and was run into at full tilt by the up
express train about a minute before our arrival. The
effect of this shock was to send one or two of the
trucks on to our line, and as we had no signal and no
time to stop, we also ran bang into them. Both
lines were of course strewed with the wrecks of the
carriages, and all concerned received at the least a
considerable shock. One of the stokers appeared to
be killed ; at least when I saw him he looked very bad.
The passengers, who were few in number, escaped

5o6 Geneva. [1852

with some bad cuts and bruises. We all spent three
hours in a drizzling rain at a small station and of
course did not arrive at Dover till long after our time.
At Calais I found the immense advantage of being
without luggage, as I was the only passenger who got
away by the mail train, which left immediately the
bags were on board, and came at a capital pace,
landing me here at twelve o'clock, about an hour
after which time I am writing, having taken a bath
and finding all my things prepared by the faithful
Dominico. Love to all, not forgetting Us. belles consines
of all ages.

Geneva, July 28th, 1852.

I have just arrived here at half-past six, making
the journey from London in forty-six hours, as I pre-
dicted. Baring, however, has moved off to Vevay, en
route to Chamounix, so that I shall go to the latter
place to-morrow and wait for him.

I left Paris last night at 8.5 p.m., and on arriving at
Dijon was immediately transferred into the diligence,
which now performs the duties of the malle poste, and
landed here in fifteen hours. We were only allowed
twelve minutes stoppage during this time, and the
changing of horses and speed was miraculously quick.
However, one gets tired of sitting fifteen hours in the
same position, particularly when it follows upon seven
hours of railway. There is a fine view of the whole
lake of Geneva on descending the Jura range from
France.

The window from which I write is only divided by
the road from the " arrowy Rhone," which is looking

,852] Vevay. 507

particularly blue. I am about to dine at a table dliote
at half-past seven — a very gentlemanlike hour.

Yesterday I was entertained by M. Arcos, father of
M. Xavier, who has a very comfortable establishment
in the Rue de la Madeleine, and very satisfactory cook.

The bell rings for the 7.30 entertainment, so that
I must leave you for the present, hoping that next
time there will be more to say.

Hotel des Trois Courrones,

Vevay, Aug. ^th, 1852.

I arrived here this afternoon from Martigny
and find no letters. I hope the affaire Ponsford is
settled, and shall not be quite happy in my mind till
I hear that such is the case.

I left Geneva the day after my last letter, for
Chamounix. At St. Martin, where one changes the
carriage for a char, Domenique espied in the yard
le courier de Milord Overstone, and I found him with
wife, daughter, and Count, sitting down to dinner,
I stayed there about three-quarters of an hour while
he held forth upon the state of affairs in England, and
eventually arrived very late in a pouring rain at
Chamounix, where I found Ned Baring established.

The next day we made the ascent of the Montanvert,
and at the table d'hote fell in with Miss Wickham,
travelling with her brother and a good-looking Miss
Markham.* The day following we started to make the
tour of Mont Blanc, which occupies four days. We
were fortunate in the weather, and passed over
some rugged cols. The second night we arrived at

5o8 Courmayeur. [,852

Courmayeur, a watering-place much frequented by
Italians and full of people from Turin. It is opposite
to Chamounix on the other side of Mont Blanc, and
commands a finer view of the mountains, but being
unapproachable from the north, except on foot, is
little frequented. Here we spent a day, and the next
came through Aosta to St. Bernard, where we enjoyed
the hospitality of the holy Fathers, and saw the
dogs, &c. These worthy persons exercise an indis-
criminating charity, so that at supper we found
ourselves in the society of several peasants. The cold
was considerable, and the food very bad, so that
notwithstanding Mr. Albert Smith's pleasing fictions,
I should not recommend the hospice to any one in
search of the comfortable.

On our way to St. Bernard, Domenique again met
with an acquaintance, who, he informed me, was le
Docteur Pantaleone, qui a giieri Mdlle. Edith, et qui dinait
souvent avec M. Currie a Rome.

From the hospice we descended to Martigny, and
thence by carriage and steamer to this place. The
hotel is magnificent, and if the weather improves I
shall stay a few days. Baring will go home on the
gth or loth. In the meantime please send any letter
to the P.O., Geneva, as I fear the smaller places are
without regular communication. Love to all.

Geneva, August 12th, 1852.

Your letter arrived this morning. I had left
directions in Cornhill to send me letters up to the
5th inst. to Vevay, or should have told you my
address. I spent five days agreeably at Vevay,

1852] Monnet 's Hotel. 509

although the weather was generally bad. Monnet's
hotel is excellent and the place beautiful. It is
amusing to watch the changes in the personnel of the
guests, and to sit on the terrace which faces the lake,
in addition to the charming expeditions to Chillon, &c.

On the loth I came here to see Baring off by the
malh poste for Paris. You will probably have met him
before this arrives.

Yesterday I dined with the Wickhams, who have
a country house close by. The day was rainy, so that
I saw nothing of the place, which has no view of the
lake, and does not seem anything particular. Some
young men came in the evening — Lord Andover and
his tutor, Mr. Arnold (son of the great doctor). To-day
I have been walking about the town with Mr. Wickham.
Madame has a bad leg and is unable to walk. The
young man is about to start on an expedition round
Mont Blanc with the above-named youths. My
intention is to go to the Bernese Oberland and stop
at Thun or Interlachen. At the latter please to address
my letters. M. Monnet appears to be intimate with
the whole family, M. Henri Currie et ses jolies
demoiselles et le gros M. Francis, who has a special bed
made up for him. His hotel is crowded, and twenty
or thirty people were sent away daily. The best rooms
were occupied by M. Thiers and M. Roger. The
English I have met are not agreeable, but there were
some young Frenchmen assez bien. The clergy appear
to be moving in large numbers. I counted six on the
steamer.

This place has no remarkable attractions, except
that the cigars are very good, and I shall probably be
off to-morrow if it is fine.

5IO Departure from Geneva. [,852

You tell me nothing of the proceedings at
Northampton, though I hear from Gowran that there
was great enthusiasm.

Old Ponsford is most annoying. My only fear is
that if the place should be burnt down or anything
untoward happens, he might try to get off.

The papers speak of the chance of a bad harvest
in England. I hope this is not the case. It will affect
the money market seriously.

I am going this evening to hear the band play on
the island of J. J. Rousseau, a charming little spot
surrounded by the Rhone, and afterwards to tea with
the Wickhams. The river is unprecedentedly high,
and not so blue as usual in consequence. With love
to all, believe me.

Affectionately yours,

Bertram W. Currie.

Thun, lyth August, 1852.
My dear Father,

Having partaken of a very late dinner,
which makes me afraid of going to bed at my usual
hour, I will alleviate the digestive process by writing
to you. I remained a day at Geneva after my last
letter, and made the acquaintance, at Wickham's villa,
of Mr. Herries (son of the venerable member of Lord
Derby's Cabinet), and also met Alexander Barclay,
descended from the insolvent David, whose paper you
hold. No other inducement, however, presenting itself,
I embarked on Saturday, the 14th, for Lausanne, and

1852] Tkun. 5 1 1

the next morning early, for Yverdun and Neuchatel.
On the Lake of Neuchatel we were overtaken by a
considerable storm, during which I lost my hat, and
most of the passengers their presence of mind. Since
Monday there has been a most fortunate change in the
weather (which is now lovely), and I took advantage
of it to proceed to Berne, which I reached on Monday
evening, having enjoyed from the diligence a most
splendid view of the Bernese Alps, tinged with the
roseate hue, of which one reads so much and sees so
little.

This afternoon I came on here in a one-horse shay,
and am so much pleased with what I have seen, that,
if my impressions are as favourable to-morrow, I shall
stay for a day or two.

At the table dlwte I was recognized by a youth,
lightly bearded, who turned out to be Robert Henley
avec sa dame. She is really a pretty little creature, and
I have no doubt this first act of their matrimonial
existence is agreeable enough. If it were not for the
remaining stages of the drama, I should be disposed
to envy him the possession of such a good-looking
travelling companion. A youth of Oxenford who
accompanies them and is engaged in the harmless
recreation of reading for his little-go, informed me that
Henley had kindly undertaken to coach him !

So the American nodus is considered dif!;7ius xnndice
of Thomas Baring. I think the business had much
better have been left to the regular agents, both
because I believe Crampton to be a much better
diplomat than T. B., and because the effect upon the
Yankees will be to exaggerate the importance of the
affair. At the best it is but a stale imitation of Peel's

5 1 2 Thun. [1852

policy in sending Lord Ashburton to settle the
boundary question.

The establishment in which I am living (Hotel de
Bellevue) consists of five houses, all belonging to the
same proprietor, and all full. Interlachen, I hear, is
still more crowded and cockney. Certainly the snobs
have taken possession of some of the most beautiful
spots in nature.

Dominique gets on capitally. His only weakness
is an excessive care of his person and a consequent
abundance of wardrobe, which somewhat impedes my
movements. At Geneva he found a Colonel Caldwell,
qui avail une grande cave a Rome, and who, I was
therefore not surprised to hear, was tres lie avec M.
Currie.

Thun, August 2$th, 1852.

I received your letter directed to Interlachen, this
morning, having despatched Dominique to search for
it, and to engage a room at the hotel there. This
precaution is absolutely necessary, as every bed in
every inn is engaged, and people are reduced to
sleeping on the floor and other extremities. I am
not magnificently lodged here, my room being 8 feet
by 16. . . . Since I wrote to you our prospects in
respect to weather have been blighted, and for two
days it has rained incessantly, with every chance of
lasting for a month. Our resources under these
circumstances are few. We have what the landlord
calls une bonne musique d'Allemagne, consisting of half
a dozen decayed waiters, who at this moment are
playing Beviam Beviam at a railroad pace, and awfully

i852] Thun. 513

out of tune. Then there is a reading-room with an
old Galignani of last month, Bains chaiids, &c., and
tme chapelle anglaise avec mi ecclesiastique salarie par MM.
les proprietaires de V etablissement . I fancy, however,
that the poor man's salary is paid in kind, and consists
in being allowed the run of the three tables d'hote,
where he is to be met daily performing prodigies with
these carnal weapons, the knife and fork.

The only person of European reputation in the
hotel is Mr. G. F. Young. He has been here a long
time, and is a great authority.

The spirited proprietor of the ecclesiastique, and of
the other attractions of this establishment, has estab-
lished a complete monopoly of plunder in Thun.
The steamboats on the lake, the guides, porters, and
voituriers, all belong to him, and he does not fail to
take advantage of his position and grinds us en vrai
protectionist.

Young Henley and his wife are still here, but
naturally prefer iete-d-tetes to the gay throng of Yankees,
Germans, and Jews.

I am sorry to hear of your troubles in re Bougleux,
and fear that nothing can be done with Ponsford till
the trial is over, though perhaps it would be worth
while to try and get him to sign the deed of dissolu-
tion, as it is evidently unfair that I should continue
to incur liabilities after I have given up all chance of
profit, and no one can foresee when Bower and Bovill
will agree to anything.

I can hardly say what my movements will be. If

this weather goes on I shall make a bolt, but the best

place to direct to will be Lucerne. I have written to

Geneva to have my letters forwarded, but have received

HH

514 Mountaineering. [1852

nothing as yet, so that I am without George's letter
and the Northampton paper about which you speak.
I shall be much interested with the account of the
late Lizzie Hibbert's marriage. I thought of her on
that eventful day, and hope the weather was not quite
so discouraging as it was here.

I am sorry to hear that Taplow is gone for ever.
It is a consolation to think that Grenfell has had to
pay twice as much as it is worth. Perhaps if we have
another 1847 it may come into the market.

Pray thank George for his letter, and Evy for her
intended favour. I will answer the former as soon as
I receive it.

Schweizer Hof, Lucerne, September 2nd, 1852.

I arrived here to-day by the lake from Fluelen,
having left Interlaken on the 30th ult., and crossed
the Grimsel and Furca passes to Hospenthal on the
St. Gothard road. H. Tower was my companion.
We went on foot, hiring a man to carry the carpet
bags, and saw some fine scenery. The weather was
fair, but the expedition was only partially successful.
In the first place, both of us were unwell, and in the
second, we were very unfortunate in the places we
stopped at for the night. Yesterday at Altdorf the
salle a manger was so horribly offensive as to be unten-
able, and we were obliged to have tea (?) in our rooms.
At this moment I am writing under the influence ot
a powerful smell of the kitchen, which almost makes
me sick. At one place on the road we could get
nothing to eat but goat, and at another, 8,000 feet
above the sea, we arrived in a pouring rain and were

i8s2] Lucerne. 5 1 5

almost frozen. In our last expedition we met such a
number of cockneys at the inns, that I hoped, by
avoiding the usual halting-places, to escape from them,
but found their absence by no means compensated us
for our sufferings. Dominique is quite at home since we
arrived at Hospenthal, and points out each inn as the
place where Monsieur took lunch, or Madame admired
the scenery. I thought the descent from St. Gothard
equal to anything in Switzerland, with the advantage
of being seen without trouble.

Mrs. Tower and her daughters came here by the
Berne road (by which I sent my luggage), and are at
a pension where they are done for six francs a day — a
very cheap and pleasant way of living. I shall stay
here till I get rid of my headache and seediness, and
then go to Zurich and Constance, so please write to the
latter place.

Poor old I. G. C. was quite neglected by those
Regans and Gonerils, who derive their subsistence
from his bounty. He was so much disgusted that he
left his wife, &c., at Interlaken, and went off by himself
to Thun. One night, when the people were dancing
in the hotel, young Tower found him in the passage
fallen on the ground and without his shoe! He is now,
I believe, at Geneva, from whence he returns to
England by Basle, while his wife goes on to Italy.
1 told him that he must go and see you at Rickmans-
worth.

Pray thank G. for his letter just received. I am
glad your picture is so successful a likeness.

Do you find Rickmansworth amusing and the
neighbours hospitable ?

I suppose 1 shall go up the Rigi while I am at

5 1 6 Excursions. [1852

Lucerne, on the usual fool's errand, but at present, I
am too bilious to do anything but grumble, for which
this greasy paper affords a good opportunity.

Lucerne, Sept. 6th, 1852.

I have received your letter of the 2nd inst., and
have already written to you once from this place,
where I am still staying, principally on account of my
health, which is not quite restored, and partly to enjoy
the beauties of the lake, and the society of my friends,
Mrs. and the Misses Tower. For the latter purpose
I have moved from the Schweizer Hof to the Pension
de Tivoli, situated on the lake outside the town, where
one is boarded, lodged, &c., with a sitting and bed-
room moyennant the modique sum of nine francs daily.
Hitherto our excursions have been confined to after-
dinner walks, but to-morrow, if fine, we purpose going
to explore the scene of Tell's encounter with Gessler
at Kiissnacht on this lake. To-day does not promise
well for the expedition, as it has poured continuously.

In the course of the week I shall go on to Zurich.
The intelligence about Henry William gave me much
pleasure, and I trust his confidential advisers will press
upon him the necessity of breaking off. I fear his
father will be perhaps over scrupulous.

There is nothing in the way of adventure to tell
you. The life here is tranquil in the extreme, being
confined to driving, rowing, and walking. I went out
fishing this morning with H. Tower, and saw a man
pulled out of the River Reuss, who had drowned
himself. His crucifix was tightly grasped in his right
hand.

i8s2]

Pension near Lucerne. 517

This house is very prettily (though I think not
healthily) situated, and the rooms and grub are fair
enough. Mrs. Tower has a drawing-room on the
first floor, with a balcony commanding the lake, where
we sit ; and we dine together in a room on the ground
floor. I occupy two rooms on the z'"" etage. In front
of the house is a bathing and boat-house, and the
walks are pretty, particularly one to the churchyard,
from which there is a charming view.

I shall be surprised to hear that Thames Street
Mill is really started. The best chance of getting my
affair settled would be, I think, to send for Ponsford
and tell him that you insisted upon it, and make him
at any rate fix a time in writing at which he would
sign the deed.

I should certainly have preferred to act as a tug
to old I. G., had he been going northward at present,
particularly as he was provided with a carriage. He
hired two with horses and voiturier at Basle, for which
he appeared to pay alarmingly. I think you will find
that the old fellow's taste for travelling has been cured
and that he will settle down to Cornhill again.

You do not say in any of your letters how Rick-
mansworth answers your expectations. I hope the
cook is preparing the winter campaign. There is
nothing good to eat here, the only fish being pike.
However it is just dinner-time (six o'clock), and I must
go through the ceremony. With love to all,

Affectionately yours,

B. W. CURRIE.

5i8 Lord Aberdeen s Ministry. [,852

One more letter of this year must be inserted. The date of
the month and year is omitted, but the opening sentence
shows that it was written in the December of 1852, when Lord
Aberdeen formed the Coahtion Ministry of Whigs and PeeUtes,
with Lord John Russell as Foreign Secretary.

Maynard Currie had recently been ordained, and was curate
at Banbury.

FROM MR. RAIKES CURRIE TO HIS SON MAYNARD.

Hyde Park Terrace, Sunday.

My dear Maynard,

Wodehouse is to be Under Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs — immediately under Lord
John Russell — the nicest appointment he could have
had. // the Government last, as Johnny can never
lead the House of Commons and really do the work
of the Foreign Office, this most interesting and
important department will almost fall into the hands
of our industrious and noble friend. Such is the
reward of steady exertion ! I have had something to
do with it.

Dearest Maynard, we have wished for you, thought
of you, and toasted you, and finally you were brought
before us in one of several impromptu charades per-
formed last night by the Adelphi, " Ban-bury." In
the third scene, three curates appeared, purchasing
cakes. Bertram (in your character) explained to the
woman (Mary) that they were not made in the right
way, and pointed out {very didactically), how they
should be made.. One of your brother curates kissed
the shopwoman, and the scene broke up with your
horrified gesture. " New Holland " was another, in

,852] Bertram, Partner at Cornhill. 519

which Bertram enacted a capital imitation of Dr. H.
and Lord Lansdowne.

Can you not come up about the loth, to stay
as many days as you possibly can in that week ?
Parliament does not again meet till February loth, so
perhaps (when we separate) I may soon plan some
departure for Brighton or Paris, so come as soon as
you can.

The dear Monarch has a bad cold which keeps her
to the house.

We have had a good sermon to-day from a
Mr. Hubbard, brother to the Bank Director, who is
living at Aynhoe, a very High Churchman.

Bertram comes to the Banking House as a partner
forthwith, Mr. I. G. giving him a fraction of his share.
He will cease to reside with us at midsummer.

I have a very good account of Philip from Morse.
I wish I could get him a clerkship in the Foreign
Office.

Have you seen Cobb ? Write to me, dearest M., as
fully as may be. I feel, as you well know, deeply
interested about you. Tell me how you feel.

As ever, yours affectionately,

R. C.

INDEX.

Abbott, Sir J., Dinner-party
in Richmond Terrace, II.
231.
Abdy, Mr. T., and family:

Dinner-party in Hyde

Park Terrace, I. 141.
House leased from, I. 8.
Aberdeen, Visit to, II. 140, 141.
Aberdeen, Lord :

Coalition Ministry of
Whi^s and Peelites,
I. 518.
Policy of, I. 377.
Achivas, Visit to, Ixxiv.
Act of Union of Great Britain
and Ireland, Views as to,
I. 86.
Adam, Mr., Secretary to the
Monetary Conference at
Brussels, II. 238, 243, 245.
Adams, Mr., Charge d'Affaires,

Berlin, II. 114.
Adams, Mr. and Mrs. William
Pitt, Acquaintance with, at
Lima, I. 30,315,317,326,328;
xciv, xcvi, xcvii, xcviii, c,
cviii.
Adelaide, Municipality of. Com-
memoration Cup ordered by,
I. 476.
Aden, Visit to, II. 140.
Adolphe , Funeral of, II.

75- . ,

Adventures in Mexico, by Rux-

ton. Comments on, I. 246.
African Squadron, Retention

of. Action of Government as

to, in 1850, I. 341.
Ailesbury, Lady, Fourth of

June Celebration at Eton,

I. 374.

Airlie, Lord :

Accession to Title, I.

294.
Greenwich Party, I. 379.
Aix-la-Chapelle, Visits to, I.

22, 125.
Aix-le-Bains:

Visit of Mr. and Mrs.
Bertram Currie to, II,

157-
Visit of Mr. Raikes Currie
to, I. 399.
Albany, U.S.A., Visit to, cxxvii.
Albemarle, Lord, Call upo^'

Mr. Hayter, I. 501.
Albert, Prince, see Prince Con-
sort.
Albyns, Lease of, by Mr. Raikes
Currie, I. 8, 10, 34, 162,

175-
Alcock, Mr., Division of County
of Surrey represented by, I.

85.

Aldao, General, Story of, Ixxxvi.

Alderson, Mr., Visit of Mr.
Mayuard Currie to, I. 374.

Aldridge, Miss, Marriage to the
Hon. Robert Henley, I. 496,
498.

Alejo, Don, Visit to Cockpit
at Santa Fe, li.

Alexander, Mr., QC, Dinner-
party at Mr. G. Currie's, I.

475-
Alexander, Mr. and Mrs.. Ac-
quaintance with, at Weimar,

I. i5«-
Algiciras, V^isit to, I. 50.
Algiers, Visit of Mr. Laurence

Currie to, II. 279.
Alicante, Visit to, II. 4.

Index.

Allard, Mr., Speech at Inter-
national Monetary Confer-
ence, Brussels, II. 239.

Allison, Senator, United States
Representative at Interna-
tional Monetary Conference,
Brussels, I. 80, II. 235, 244,
247.

Almacks', Balls at, I. 240, 244.

Alsop and Co., Visits to, during
South American travels,
xci, xcix, cvi.

Altdorf, Visit to, I. 514.

Althuser, Herr, Meeting with,
at Brussels, II. 39.

Alvear, Don Diego, and Dona
Carmen de, Acquaintance
with, at Beunos Ayres, xxi,
xxxvi, Ixiv.

Amalgamation of Banking
Businesses :

Glyn, Mills, and Co.,
Amalgamation with
Currie and Co., I. 53.
Scotch Banks, Negotia-
tions as to, 1. 61.

Amazons^ The, Performance of,
II. 280.

Amberieux, Journey past, II.

151-
Amboise, Visit to, II. 183.
Amboy, Visit to, cxxiii.
America :

North America (United
States) :
Books on, by Mackay
and Mrs. TroUope,
Comments on, cxx.
Calfornia, see that title.
Canadian Reciprocity

Bill, I. 412.
Cuban Question, see that

title.
Currency Question, see
that title, subheading
International Confer-
ence at Brussels.
Dissension between Nor-
thern and Southern
States, I. 382, 407,
432.
Fires, Frequency of, cxl.

America {continued) :

Free Trade, Position

with regard to, I.

376.
Hotel-keeping, Profits of,

I. 448.
Indian Summer, Beauty

of, I. 419.
Iron Rails, Export to,

Suggested, I. 393.
Lind, Jenny, Concert

Tour in, I. 405, 412,

414, 437, 448.
Nicaraguan Question, I.

365-
Presidential Message,

New Year, 1846, 1. 197.
Presidents :

Fillmore, Mr., Elec-
tion, I. 382, 394.

Taylor, Mr., Zachary:
Death of, I. 382;
cxxxi, cxxxiii.

Lev6e, I. 358, 359;
cxxvi.
Railway Travelling in,

Discomfort of, I. 391.
Shaker Village, Account

of, cxxxvi.
Society, Government,

&c., Comments on, I.

350, 370, 405, 406, 413,

420 ; cxx, cxxxviii,

cxxxix.
Steamers :

New Line, Record
Passage, I. 413.

Travelling by. Com-
fort of, I. 391.
Travels in. Records of:

Expenditure, I. 320,

354. 370.

Journal, cxvii.

Letters, I. 333.

Memoir, I. 32.

Return, Reason for, I.
443. 447. 450. 456,
458.

(See also Names of
Places visited, as
New York, Washing-
ton, Niagara, &c.)

Index.

America (continued) :

Wheat Exports, I. 431.
Whigs and Democrats,
Dissension between,
I. 432.
Women, Observations
on, I. 370, 389;
cxxxviii.
South America,

Travels in, Records of:
Expenditure, I. 320,

328.
Independence Cele-
brations, xxxiv.
Journal, I.
Letters, I. 221.
Memoir, I. 24.
Winds, Effects on
Health and Comfort,
xxxix.
(See also Names of
Places visited, An-
des, Pampas, Buenos
Ayres, &c.)
Amherst, Father, Article on

Charles Langdale, II. 359.
Ampthill, Visit of Mr. and Mrs.
Kaikes Currie to, I. 434,
446.
Amsterdam, Visit to, I. 52.
Andermatt, Visit to, II. 103.
Anderson, Miss Florence, Mar-
riage of, I. 388.
Anderson, Mr., Voyage on H.M.
Ship Driver proposed, I.
223.
Andes, The, Ride across. Re-
cords of:

Bridge of the Inca,lxxxiv.
Journal, Ixxxii.
Lake among the Moun-
tains, Ixxxvi.
Letters, I. 255, 296, 312.
Memoir, I. 29.
Scenery, Description of,
I. 298, 312; Ixxxii,
Ixxxiv.
Spectacles and mask
worn during, Ixxii,
Ixxiii.
Tax on Passengers,
Ixxxiv.

Andover, Lord, Dinner-party

at Mr. Wickham's, I. 509.
Anglesey, Minnie, Marchioness

of, Visit to, in Paris, II. 162,

163, 204.
Anglo Bank, Vienna, Call on

Count Kinsky at, II. 52, 53.
Annesley, Visit to, II. 119.
Antwerp, Visit to, II. 10, 238.
Aosta, Journey through, I. 508.
Apennines, Ascent of, II. 153.
Apologia of Cardinal Newman,

n-347-
Arano, Don Felipe :

Call on at Buenos Ayres,

xxi.
Temporary Government
by, Ixvii.
Arcos, Family of :

Bank at Santiago, I. 313.
Don Domingo :

Friendship with, at
Buenos Ayres, I. 28,
267, 268 ; XX, xxi,
xxii, xxiii, xxiv,
XXV, xxviii, xxix,
xxxvii, xxxix, xlii,
Ix, Ixii, Ixv, Ixxi,
xcvi.
Meeting with, on Bou-
logne steamer, II.

41-
Don Xavier :
Acquaintance with, at
Santiago, Ixxxvii,
Ixxxviii, Ixxxix.
Father of. Visit to, in
Paris, I. 507.
Entertainment by, dur-
ing visit to Santiago,
I. 29, 299, 313, 322.
Ardlui, Visit to, II. 67.
Arequipa, Visit to, I. 30, 318;

c, ci, cii, ciii.
Arezzo, Visit to and Letters

from, II. 23, 24, 292.
Arico, Visit to, I. 30; xciii,

cv.
Arigoni, Mme., Purchases from,

at Milan, II. 45, 46.
Armeco, Dona Sara, Dance
given by, cvii.

Index.

Armitstead, Mr., Visit to Ha-
warden Castle, 11. 225.

Arnold, Mr. :

Meeting with, at Geneva,

I. 509.
Tutor to Mr. Laurence
Currie, II. 174.

Arnold, Mr. Matthew:

Death of, II. 180, 181.
Letter from, II. 167.

Arrecipo, Visit to, Ixxii.

Arrendondo, Sefior, Acquaint-
ance with, at Buenos Ayres,
XXV, xxviii, xxxix.

Arroyo del Pavon, Visit to,
Ixxii.

Artemino, Visit to, II. 156.

Arth, Visit to, II. gi.

Ashbourne, Visit to, II. 124.

Ashburton, Lord, Chairman of
Railway Company, I. 471,
476.

Ashlin, Mr., Affairs of Exami-
nation, I. 471, 483.

Ashstead Park, Drive in, I. g.

Ashworth, Miss, Debut in
London Society, I. 4g6, 4g8.

Asia, Passage between Liver-
pool and Boston, I. 358.

Aston, Education in house of
Mr. Ward at, I. g.

Astor House, Dinner at, I. 34.

Atlantic, Passage between
Liverpool and New York, I.
358.

Augsburg, Letter from, II. log.

Austen, Mrs., Meeting with, I.
127, 134.

Austen, Miss Jane, Fireplace
at Sandling mentioned by, I.

47-
Australian Government Bill,
Speech on, by Lord Wode-
house, I. 374.
Austria :

Archduke John of. Re-
volutionary Diet at
Frankfort, I. 22.
Financial Position in

1849, I. 301.
Greek Question, 1850, I.
357-

Austria {continued) :

Hungarian War of Inde-
pendence, I. 45, 240,
244, 261, 295, 301, 302,

303-
Italy, War with, I. 231,

240, 284.
Prussia, Rivalry with, I.

403-
Avignon, Visit to and Letters

from, II. 206, 207, 208, 209.
Axenstein, Visit to, proposed,

II. go.
Axenstrasse, Drive along, II.

91-
Ayerst, Dr., Acquaintance with,

at Malvern, II. 15.
Azay-le-Rideau, Visit to, II.

184.
Azzolo, M., Picture copied for

Mr. Currie by, II. 50, 56, 57,

58.

Babini — Dealer in Antiquities,
Milan, II. 45.

Babylonia Hill, Ride to, xiv.

Bahia, Voyage past, iv.

Bakewell, Visit to, II. 122,
123.

Balfour, Mr. A., Views on Cur-
rency Question, I. 71, 81, 108;
II. 310.

Balfour, Mr. H., Illness in Cal-
cutta, I. 306.

Balfour, Mrs., Visit to Bern-
bridge, I. 306.

Balloch, Visit to, II. 67.

Baltimore, Visit to and Letters
from, I. 352, 358, 370, 371;
cxxiv, cxxix, cxxx.

Bambini, Prince, Dress as, for
Fancy Dress Ball, I. 214.

Banbury, Mr. Maynard Currie,
Curate at, I. 518.

Bancroft, Mr., Acquaintance
with, during travels in
United States, I. 32, 340, 346,
347, 414; cxviii, cxx, cxxi,
cxxiii, cxxxi, cxxxiv.

Banff Election, 1893, II, 282.

Bangor, Visit to, II. 139, 140.

Index.

Bank Charter Act : [

Suspension proposed,
during Baring Crisis, I
I. 91.
Views as to, I. 73.
Bank Clerks' Provident Fund,

Donation to, II. 335.
Bank of England :

Baring Crisis, Action in,

I. 91.

Cash Balances at. Cor-
respondence between
Mr. Currie and Sir
T. Farrer as to, II.
277.

Gold Payments, Policy
as to, I. 102.

Indian Debt, Arrange-
ment as to, I. 69, 72 ;
n. 334-
Bank of France :

Crisis in i88g, I. 113.

System as to Payments,

I- 75-
Bankers' Trust, Commission

reduced, II. 283.
Banks:

Clearing Bankers, De-
cline in numbers of,

1.5-
Panics and Crises, su

that title.
Profits, Reductions of,

11.283.
{Sec also names of firms,
as Baring Bros. ; Currie
and Co.; Glyn, Mills,
Currie, and Co., &c.)
Bannavie, Visit to, II. 66.
Bantry, Visit to, II. 326.
Barbe, Mr., Call on, at Cannes,

11.43.
Barbour, Sir David, Irish H-
nance Commission, 1894-6,
II. 301, 302, 304.
Barclay, Mr. :

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing American travels,
I. 349; cxxiii, cxxviii,
cxxxi.
Meeting with, at Geneva,
I. 510.

Barclay and Co., Action in

Baring Crisis, I. 93.
Barden Tower, Visit to, 11.

70.
Bardini — Collector of Objets

d'Art, Florence, II. 295.
Bargello, Visit to, II. 296.
Baring Bros., Firm of:

Crisis in 1890, I. 88, 8g.
Goschen, Mr., Allusion
to in Leeds Speech,

I. 113.

Health of Mr. Currie,

Effect on, II. 202.
Memorandum as to
arrangement of, I.
go, 91.
Draft on, for Expenses
of American Travels,
1.328.
Indian Stock, Conver-
sion, I. 68.
Wodehouse, W., Clerk
at, I. 477, 480, 498.
Baring Family :

Edward, Mr. (afterwards

Lord Kevelstoke) :

American Travels, I.

25,29,240,243,258,

260, 292, 299, 306,

IT^l. 314. 316, 317,

318, 320, 323, 324,

328, 359. 386, 407,

419, 432, 447, 458;

Ixi, Ixxxviii, cxx.

New York, Meeting

with Mr. Currie at,

I- 33. 458-
Peru, Travels in,

with Mr. Currie, I.

29; xciv, xcix.
Berkeley Estate, house
on, purchased by,

II. 187.

Coombe Cottage, lease

of, II. 8.
Deauville, Visit to, II.

15-
European Tours with,

I. 50; II. 1.
Swiss Tour, 1852, I.
506.

Index.

Baring Family {continued) :

Friendship with, I. 24,

43. 89.
Gnaton House, Plymp-

ton, Visit to, II. 68.
Godfather to I. E.

Carrie, II. 8.
Resemblance to Mr.

Currie, I. 407.
Wimbledon, Summer

spent at, I. 44.
Mary, Miss, Marriage of,

II. 3-
Richard, Mr. :

Dinner at Brooks', II.

40.
Switzerland, Visit to,
II. 83, 85.
Thomas, Mr., jun. :
America, Visit to pro-
posed, I. 375.
Maidenhead, Visit to,

II. 3-

Thomas, Mr., sen. :
American Affairs in

1852, I. 511.
Character of, I. 43.
Death of, II. 114.
Dinner-party at Mr.

and Mrs. G. Currie's,

1.475.
Minley, Visit to, II.
26.
Walter, Mr., Letter from,

II. 102.
Windham, Mrs., Visit to
Trouville, II. 15.
Barnard, Mr. J., Investment in
White, Ponsford, and Co.,
suggested, I. 473.
Barnard, Mr. and Mrs., Dinner-
party in Hyde Park Terrace,
I. 141.
Barnard Castle, Visit to, II. 71.
Barnham Broom, Visit to, II.

71.
Barnum, Mr. P., American Tour

with Jenny Lind, I. 405, 412,

414, 437, 448.
Barrington, Visit to, II. 141.
Barrington, Mr., Visit to, at

Vienna, II. 52.

Barry, Sir C, Re-building of

Cliefden, I. 310.
Bartlett, Sir A., Political Ad-
herents of, I. 37.
Barton, Mr., Acquaintance with,
during American travels,
xciv, cxxii.
Basingstoke, Visit to, II. 143.
Basle, Visits to, II. 12, 83,

172.
Bates, Mr. Joshua :

America, Journey to, I.

244.
Dinner at Mr. Van da

Weyer's, I. 475.
Partnership in Baring

Bros., I. 43.
Wodehouse, W., Ap-
pointment as Clerk at
Baring Bros., I. 477.
Bath, Visit to, II. 142.
Bath Easton, Visit to, II. 143.
Bath House, Purchase of, by

Lord Brassey, II. 187.
Batford, Visit to, II. 118.
Bathford, Visit to, II. 143.
Bandriz, Sefior, Visit to, xxxvi.
Bavaria :

Greek Question in i850>

I. 357.
Travels in, I. 54.
Bayonne, Visit to, I. 51.
Beaconsfield, Lord :

Death of, II. 155.
Government of. Allusion
to, in Speech at Na-
tional Liberal Club, L
117.
Beagling at Minley, II. 74.
Beauharnais, Journey past, I.

437-
Beaumaris, Holiday spent near,

I. 7; II. 139.

Becinaut, M., Lying-in-State of
Relative of, II. 251.

Bed, Period of Louis XV., Pur-
chase at Genoa, II. 44.

Beddington Hall, Holidays
spent at, I. 7.

Bedford, Duchess of. Friend-
ship with Lady Harrington»
I. 496.

Index.

Bedingfield, Mr. Raoul, Visit to

Kigi-Kaltbad, II. go.
Beechey, Sir W., Portrait of

Lord Wodehouse, I. 5.
Belaustequi, Senor and Senora,
Acquaintance with, during
South American travels, xix,
xxi, XXV, XXX.
Belcaro, Castle of. Visit to, II.

152.
Belgians, King and Queen of:
International Monetary
Conference, Reception
of Delegates, II. 244.
Weimar, Visit to, I.
172.
Belgium, Journey through, I.

124.
Bell-handle, Bronze, Purchase

at Venice, II. 48.
Belleti — Concert at New York,

I. 414.

Beltrain, Don, Visit to hacienda

of, cv.
Belvedere, Visits to, I. 144, 155,

162.
Benedict — Concert at New

York, I. 414.
Benson oy Bensington, Visit to,

II. 141.

Bergamo, Visit to, II. 46.
Bergen, Comtesse, Marriage

proposed, I. 217.
Bergmann, Mme., Visit to, I.

315-
Berkeley, Bishop, Church of,

at Newport, I. 404 ; cxxxiii.
Berkeley, Col. and Mrs., see,

Wodehouse Family.
Berkeley Castle, Visit to, II.

142.
Berkeley Estate, House on,
purchased by Mr. Baring, II.
187.
Berlin :

Political Crisis in 1848,

I. 217.
Visit to and Letters
from, II. 112, 113,
114.
Berne, Visits to, I. 511 ; II. 106,
108.

Bessborough, Earl of. Theatri-
cals at Farming Woods, I.
40.

Bethune, Mr., House of, at Cal-
cutta, I. 306.

Beutwitz, M., Presentation at
Court of Weimar by, I. 137.

Bevan, Mr. K. C. L.:

Journeys between Brigh-
ton and London, I. 21.
Suspension of Overend
and Gurney, Meeting,
I. 60.

Bideford, Visit to, II. 70.

Biencourt, M. le Comte de, Re-
storation of Azay, II. 184.

Bigge, Col., Dinner-party at
Sir E. Sullivan's, II. 79.

Bi-Metallic Journal, Report of
Speech on Currency Ques-
tion, I. 81.

Bi-Metallism, see Currency
Question.

Birle, M., Presentation at Court
of Weimar by, I. 137.

Birth of Mr. Bertram Currie,
I. I.

Bischoffheim Family, Meeting
with, on journey to Switzer-
land, II. 198.

Biscuit Machinery, Sale of, I.

487- . .

Bismarck, Peace Negotiations

in 1S70, II. 55.
Blacas, M . le Comte de. Chateau

at Usse, II. 185.
Black Peter, Game of, I. 150.
Blachford, Lord, Letters of, II.

346-
Blackdown, Visit to, II. 24.
Blackstone— Political Crisis.

1S50, I. 379.
Blair Athole, Visit to, II. 64.
Blake, Mr., Irish Finance Com-
mission, 1894-6, II. 302.
Blanc, M., Acquaintance with,

I. 22.
Blanco, General :

Invitation to meet, Ixxxix.
Visit to Box of, at Thea-
tre, xci.
Blandford, Visit to, II. 60, 62.

Index.

Blatchford, Mr., Acquaintance

with, in New York, cxviii.
Blendon, Visit to, I. 484.
Blenheim Sale, Pictures by

Rubens purchased at, II.

179.
Bliss, Mr., Acquaintance with,

in New York, cxxi.
Blois, Visit to, II. 182, 183.
Blood, Col., House at Minley

said to have been occupied

by, I. 56.
Bloomfield, Lord and Lady,

Dinner-party at Vienna, II.

52, 53-

Blumenthal, M. and Mme., Visit
to Chalet of, II. 199.

Blunt, Mr. Wilfrid and Lady
Anne.

Letter, II. 366.
Nurse sent out to Mr.
Francis Currie by, II.
198.
Paris, Visit to, II. 76.

Blunt, Mrs., Home at Witley,
I. 428.

Blusu, Member of Revolution-
ary Diet at Frankfort, I. 22.

Bodley, Mr., Church designed
by, II. 294.

Boileau, Mr., Visit to Washing-
ton, I. 36S.

Boileau, Sir J., Call upon Mr.
Hayter, I. 501.

Boileau family, Present at Dere-
ham Ball, I. 433.

Bolivia, Coast and Seaports,
Description of, I. 316.

Bologna, Visit to and Letters
from, II. 148, 287, 288, 289.

Bolsover, Visit to, II. 121.

Bolton Bridge, Visit to, II.
70.

Bombay, Archbishop of, Death
of and Requiem for, II. 187,

349-
Bombay Mail-day, Proposed

alteration, II. 188.
Bombicci, Mme., Visit to, II.

297.
Bonanini, Mme., Visit to, II.

297.

Bonifazzio, Picture by, copied
for Mr, Currie, II. 50, 56,

57. 58-
Bonn, Visit to, II. 38.
Books recommended by Mr.

Raikes Currie, I. 194.
Boone, Mr. :

Sermons of, I. 344.
Spencer, Mrs. Aubrey,
Reference to, I. 348,
349; cxvi.
Borano, Visit to, II. 151.
Bordentown, Visit to, cxxxi.
Bordone, Paris. Picture by,

Purchase of, II. loi, 150.
Borssevain, M., International
Monetary Conference, Brus-
sels, II. 248.
Boscastle, Visit to, II. 69, 70.
Boston :

Rattan Furniture from,

II. 192.
Visit to, I. 32, 381, 388,
411 ; cxxxiv.
Botafogo :

Visit to, vi.

Canoe accident in Bay,

I. 26, 249 ; xiv.
Botzen, Visit to, II. 51.
Bougaud's he CJiristianisme et

Les Temps Presents, II. 354.
Bougleux, M., Question as to

Qse of Patent, I. 474, 513.
Boulogne, Visits to, II. 24,

161.
Bourne, Bishop, Confirmation

by, II, 363.
Bournemouth :

Visits to, II. 60, 61, 62,

144, 212.
Winter of 1884 spent at,
by Mr. I. E. Currie,

II, 161, 162.
Bouverie, Mr. P., Dinner at

Hyde Park Terrace, I. 141.
Bovill, Mr. George, Wheat
Grinding Patent, &c., I. 23.
Agreement as to, I, 445,
Conduct of. Opinion as

to, I. 473.
Deptford Trials, I. 425,

445-

Index.

Bovill, Mr. George {continued) :

Financial Position, I.

393, 427, 437, 445, 450,

482.

Gas Manufacture on

Welsh Coalfields,

Scheme for, I. 241.

Machinery, Mistakes as

to, I. 445.
Mills, building. Delay in,
I. 471, 501.
Bowness, Visit to, II. 126,

127.
Boyle, Miss Mary, Theatricals

at Farming Woods, I. 40.
Boyse, Count, Acquaintance

with, at Weimar, I. 148.
Bracknell,Visit of Mr. Laurence

Currie to, II. 186.
Bradford, Visit to, II. 143.
Bramston, Sir J., Autobio-
graphy of, I. 8.
Brandling, Miss, Present at
Ball given by Mrs. G. Currie,
1.498.
Brassey, Lord, Purchase of

Bath House, II. 187.
Brazil :

Currency of, I. 229.
Emperor of, Visit to

Petropolis, I. 233.
Mines in, I. 248.
Nights, Beauty of, I. 246.
Travels in, Records of,

I. 26, 225 ; V.
{Sec also Names of Places
visited, Rio Janeiro,
Petropolis, &c.)
Brechin, Visit to, I. 49.
Brescia, Visit to, II. 46.
Breughel, Pictures by, II. 95.
Bridge of Allan, Visit to, II.

140.
Brieg, Visit to, II. 105.
Brighton :

Eastern Terrace, House
occupied by M r. Raikes
Currie in, I. 21.
Visits to, I. 305, 465, 467,
469 ; II. S, 16, 159.
Brigstock, Marriage of Mr. G.
Currie at, I. 402.

Brigstock family. Marriage of

Mr. Drummond into, I. 306.
Bristol, Visit to, II. 138.
Bristol, U.S.A., Visit to, cxxx.
British Institution, Speech at,

on Currency Question, I.

104.
Brittany, Tour in, proposed

and abandoned, II. 144,

146.
Broadhead, Mr., Acquaintance

with in New York, cwiii,

cxx.
Bromley, Visit to. I. 470, 471.
Bronzes, Purchase of, II. 48,

49, 73-
Brooks Club :

Bertram Currie, Mr.,

Election, I. 4S7.
George Currie, Mr.,

Election, I. 501.
Letter from, II. 39.
Brooks, Mr., Acquaintance

with, at Washington, cxxv.
Brot, M., Visit to, II. 45.
Brougham, Lord :

Introduction received

from, I. 16.
Villa at Cannes, II. 43.
Brown, Mr. Grant. Visit to, at

Genoa. II. 44.
Brown, T., Tailor at Eton, I.

12.
Bruce, Mr. Charles:

Fane, Mrs. Cecil, Rela-
tionship to, I. 140.
Introduction received
from, I. 357.
Bruderer — Introduction of Mr.

Frey, il. 24S.
Bruges, Journey through, I.

124.
Brunnen, Visit to, II. 91.
Brunow, M. :

Greek Question, 1850, I.

357-
Introduction to. Pro-
posed, I. 213.
Brunton, Mr., Message from,

during Baring Crisis, I. 90.
Bruschetti. M., Collector of
Antiquities, II. 45, 46.

Index.

Brussels :

Dejeuner of Egg-shell
China, Purchased at,

11.243.
Illness at, II. 246, 247,

249.
International Monetary
Conference, sec title
Currency Question.
Lying-in-State, Attend-
ance at Ceremony of,
II. 251.
Visit to, and Letters
from, II. 38, 232, 242.
Bryant, Lady, Journey up

Moselle proposed, I. 410.
Bryant, Mr. W. C, Introduc-
tion to, in New York, cxxi.
Buchanness, Cottage at, II.

140.
Buchfahrt, Visit to, I. 137, 150.
Bude, Visit to. II. 70.
Buena Ventura, Visit to, ex.
Buenos Ayres, Visit to, I. 27,
251 ; xviii, xxix.

Anniversary Celebra-
tion, xxxiv, xli, Ixi,
Ixv.
Arrival, I. 252 ; xviii.
Bath, Price of, xxx.
Climate, I. 255. 270.
Currency, I. 268.
Delay during, I. 262, 275.
Departure, I. 296; Ixvii.
Description of City, I.
27, 264, 272, 278 ;
xviii.
Despotism and Demo-
cracy, I. 254.
Dress, Regulations as to,

I. 253, 269.
Expeditions into Inte-
rior, I. 28, 263, 266,
275» 277; XXV, xli,
xlii.
Return from, I. 291 ; Ix.
Governor, sa Rosas.
Horses:
Abundance of, I. 28,

255-
Description of, I, 287.
Loss of, in Bogs, xxi.

Buenos Ayres (continued):

Hotels and Lodgings, I.
253, 267, 273, 292;
xviii, xix, xx, xxv,
xxxiii, XXXV, Ix, Ixi.
Fire-place, construc-
tion in lodgings,
xxxiii, XXXV, xxxviii.
Illness at, I. 270, 278;

xxi, xxii, xxiv.
Invitation Card, Quaint

wording, I. 265.
Labour or Goods, Diffi-
culty of obtaining,

XXXV.

Letters from, I. 251, 262,
272, 277, 285.

Money, Plentifulness of,
I. 273.

Obispo, Introduction to,
xxii.

Pino, Visit to, and Initia-
tion into life of the
Gauchos, I. 28, 266;
xxv.

Prices at, I. 267.

Quintas, Description of,
xxii.

Revolution in, and Flight
of General Rosas, I.

493-

St. John's Eve Festivi-
ties, xxix.

St. Michael, Archangel,
Feast of, Ixi.

San Pedro's Eve Festivi-
ties, xxxi.

Santa Clara, Feast of,
xU.

Slaughtering Estabhsh-
ments. Visits to, I. 274 ;
xxii, xxxvi.

Social Customs, Charac-
ter of People, &c., I.
264, 273, 274, 276.

Sortija, Description of,
xxxiv.

Theatre and Opera, xix,
xxiii, xxv, xxix, xxx,
xxxii, xxxiv, xxxv,
xxxvii, xxxix, xl, Ixiv,
Ixv, Ixvi.

Index.

Buenos Ayres {continued) :

Whitelock Expedition,
Flags taken from,
xxxiii.
Winds, Influence on
health and comfort,
xxxix.
Women, Description of,
I. 29, 265, 273, 274;
xxix.
Buffalo, Visit to, I. 393 ; cxl.
Buhl Clock at Minley, II.

178.
Building, Taste for, I. 58.

{See also titles Coombe
Warren, and Minley
Manor.)
Bulkeley, Mr., Marriage to Miss

Mary Baring, II. 3.
Bull-fights at Lima, I. 318;

xciv, xcvii.
Buller, Mr. Charles, Political

opinions of, I. 82.
Bulteel family. Meeting with,

at Saltram Races, II. 69.
Bulwell, Visit to, II. 118.
Bulwer, Sir H. and Lady:

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing American travels,
I- 32, 55, 358, 366,
411, 419, 448, 458;
cxxiii, cxxiv, cxxv,
cxxvi, cxxvii, cxxix.
Visit to Canada via
Niagara, I. 430, 431,

435' 436.
Dinner-party at Mr. G.

Currie's, I. 475.
Florence, Appointment

at, I. 479.
Letters, I. 361, 365, 378,

394-
Popularity of, I. 372.

Bunch, Mr., Acquaintance with,
during American travels, cxxi,
cxxxi, cxxxii.

Burdett-Coutts, Miss, Engage-
ment to the Duke of Welling-
ton rumoured, I. 35.

Bureau purchased at Stras-
bourg, II. 54.

Burgos, Visit to, I. 51.

Burlcy-on-the-Hill, Marriage of
Mr. Lawrence Currie at, II.
318.

Burnett, Rev., Interview with,

I. 491.

Burnham Beeches, House of
Mr. and Mrs. Grote at, I. 38,
283.

Burts Morton, Visit to, II. 142.

Bush Hill, House of Mr. Isaac
Currie at, I. 3.

Bust of Mr. Lawrence Currie,

II. 156.

Bustard, Expedition in search

of, I. 154-
Butcher, Mr., Salesman at
White, Ponsford and Co.'s,
I. 242, 257.
Butlin, Mr., Consultation during

last illness, II. 336.
Buxton, Visit to, II. 124.
Buxton family. Dinner at Mrs.

Raikes Currie's, II. 2.
Byron, Lord :

Relics at Newstead

Abbey, II. 119.
Tomb in Hucknell
Church, II. 118.

Cabinet Council held at
Coombe Warren, II. 160.

Cabinets, Italian, Purchase of,
II. 50, 152.

Cabrera — Visit to Homburg,

n.37-
Cadiz, Letter from, II. 4.
Cadogan, Lady Mary, Marriage

to the Rev. M. Currie, II.

"5-
Caen, Visit to, II. 145.
Caernarvon, Visit to, II. 139.
Cagli, Visit to, II. 292.
Calabretta, M. le Due de. Visit

to Saratoga, I. 387.
Calcraft, Mr., Dinner at

Brooks', II. 40.
Calderon, Mme., Acquaintance

with, at Washington, I.

366.
Caldwell, Col., Meeting with,

at Geneva, I. 512.

Index.

California :

Admission as a State of
the Union, I. 369,
407 ; cxxvi.
Gold Discoveries in :
Effects on English

Market, I. 471.
Rush to the Mines, I.
31, 226, 247, 328,

333' 335. 341 ; cxi,
cxii.
Callao, Visit to, I. 29; xciv,

xcvii, cvi, cviii.
Calmady — Sale of Picture by

Sir T. Lawrence, II. 189.
Calthorpe, Miss, Call on, II.

279.
Calthorpe, Mr., Meeting with,

in New York, I. 341.
Cambist, Letter to Times on
Currency Question, 11. 215,
217.
Cambridge :

L. Currie, Mr., Study at,

II. 186, 189.
M. Currie, Rev., Study

at, I. 14.
Raikes Currie, Mr., Visit

to, I. 242.
Trinity Hall, Christmas
Festivities at, I. 65.
Cambridge, U.S.A., Visit to, I.

388 ; cxxxiv.
Camoys, Lord, Visit to Monte

Carlo, II. 206.
Camp Cottage, Wimbledon,

Lease of, I. 44; II. 8, 9.
Campbell, of Stratheden, Oppo-
sition to Hyde Park as a
site for Great Exhibition,
I. 3S4.
Campbell, Capt., Acquaintance
with during American travels,
I. 392, 405, 408, 431 ; cxxxvii,
cxxxviii, cxli.
Campbell, Sir A., Visit to Kim-

berley, I. 424.
Canada, Visit to, I. ^^, 389, 431,

435-
Canadian Government Trea-
sury Bill, Advances made on,
during Baring Crisis, I. 90.

Canadian Reciprocity Bill, I.

412.
Canary Islands, Voyage past, I.
Candlesticks, Silver, Purchase

of, II. 56, 135, 190.
Canford Vicarage, Visit to, II.

144.
Canizzaro House, Wimbledon,

Lease of, I. 34.
Cannes :

Illness of Mr. I. E. Currie

at, II. 160.
Villa Beaulieu, Purchase
by Mr. Raikes Currie,
1.57; n. 48.
Visit to, II. 42.
Canning, Sir R., Attitude to-
wards Russian demands in
1849, I. 301.
Cape Verd Islands, Voyage

past, ii.
Carbery, Lord and Lady :

Farewell to Mr. Currie

at Minley, II. 336.
Visit to, in Ireland, II.
322.
Card well — Liverpool Speech,

I. 500.
Care — Servant at Weimar, I.

147.
Carew family. Seat at Bedding-
ton, I. 7.
Carlisle, Visit to, II. 67, 140.
Carlisle, Lord :

Dinner-parties at Mr.

and Mrs. Raikes Cur-

rie's, I. 259, 379.

Letters of Introduction

from, I. 307.

Carington, Lady, Ball given by,

I. 380.
Carlyle, Mr., Acquaintance
with, at Beunos Ayres, xxxii,
xxxviii.
Carlyle, Mr. T. :

Comments by Mr. Raikes
Currie on works of, I.
426.
Lijfe of Sterling, by, II.
342.
Carmen, Doiia, Acquaintance
with, at Buenos Ayres, xxx.

Index.

Cartagena, Visit to, I. 334 ;
cxiii.

Cary-Elwes, Mr., and Lady
Winefride, Meeting with, at
International Monetary Con-
ference, Brussels, II. 238,

245-
Cass, Mr., Debate in Senate at

Washington, I. 364; cxxvi.
Cassandiere, M., Coup d'etat

1851, I. 475.
Castings, Mr. :

Hawley, house at. Plans

for, II. 189.
Minley Manor, Chapel
at. Work for, II. 181.
Castle Freke, Visit to, II. 324.
Castle Howard, Visit to, I. 170;

II. 71.
Castle Townshend, Drive to,

n. 325-

Castleton, Visit to, II. 125.
Cassel — Call on Mr. Currie at

Brussels, II. 239.
Castlereagh, Lord and Lady,

Visit to Homburg, I. 401.
Catholic Church :

Hierarchy of Rome, Es-
tablishment in Eng-
land, I. 455.
Reception of M r . Bertram
Currie into, II. 346.
Statements set down
by Mr. Currie as to,
11-351.356, 357-
Reception of Mrs. Ber-
tram Currie into.
Congratulations
from Mr. Langdale,

n-359.

Cathray, Mr., Acquaintance
with at Weimar, I. 137, 148,
185.

Celadon Vases at Minley, II.
179.

Chacabuco, Field of. House
near, Ixxxvii.

Chacapoya, Visit to, ciii.

Chaddleworth Church, Mar-
riage at, I. 56.

Chadwick, Mr., Acquaintance
with at Chagres, cxii.

Chagres, Visit to, I. 31, 333.335r

336 ; cxi, cxii.
Chailles, Visit to, I. 324, 326.
Chairs :

Florentine, Purchase of,

II. 152.
Paris Exhibition, Pur-
chase at, II. 146.
Venetian, Purchase of,
II. 48.
Chalfont Park, Visit of Mr. and
Mrs. Raikes Currie to, I. 301.
Chambers, Dr., Consultation,

I. 14.
Chambers, Montague, Candi-
dature at Guildford Election,
I. 501.
Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. :

Belgium, Visit to, I. 416.
Cannes, Visit to, II. 43.
Christmas Party at Tap-
low Court, I. 311.
House lent to Mr. and
Mrs. Bertram Currie
by, II. 41.
Marriage of, I. 3.
Meeting of Miss Young
and Mr. Bertram Cur-
rie at house of, I. 54,
464.
New Year's Day Dinner
at Mr. G. Currie's, I.
480.
Chambord, Comte de. Visit to

Wiesbaden, I. 401.
Chamounix, Visit to, I. 507.
Champlain, Lake, Visit to, I.

3«9-

Chance, Mr., Pictures pur-
chased from, II. 55, 57, 58.

Chandler, Rev. John, Visits to,
at Witley, I. 428; II. 24.

Change Alley, Private door of
Currie and Co.'s Bank in,
I. 18.

Chantcloup, Visit to, II. 1S3.

Chantilly, Visit to, II. 71.

Chaplin, Mr., Views on Cur-
rency Question, I. 104.

Character and Tastes of Mr.
Bertram Currie, I. 11, 12, 14,
21. 53. 54. 58. 81.

Index.

Charades :

Horsley, Party at, I. 478.
Hyde Park Terrace,
Party in, I. 518.
Charco de Agula, Night at,

Ixxii.;
Charles Street, Berkeley Square

Winter spent in, II. 39.
Chatfield, Mr. :

Bulwer, Sir H., Letter

to, I. 361, 365.
Voyage on the Tay, I.
334; cxiii.
Chatsworth, Visit to, II. 123.
Chaworth, Miss Mary :

Home of, at Annesley,

Visit to, II. 119.
House leased from hus-
band of, I. I.
Cheam :

House at. Dower of Miss
Vernon, I. 352,374.
Sale of, I. 379, 451.
Wilton, Mr., Attempt
to re-sell, I. 463.
School at, I. 5, 8, 9.
Childers, Mr., School-
fellow of Mr. Currie's
at, II. 334.
Cheltenham, Visit to, II. 141.
Chenonceaux, Visit to, II. 183,

184.
Chepstow, Visit to, II. 138.
Chest, Carved, Purchase of,

II. 50.
Chest of Drawers, Period of
Napoleon, Purchase of, II.
56.
Chester, Visit to, II. 68, 139.
Chesterfield, Visit to, II. 122.
Chichester, Visit to, II. 144.
Childers, Mr. :

Death of, II. 304, 334. _
Irish Finance Commis-
sion, Chairman of,
I. 86; II. 288, 301,
302.
Draft Proposals, II.

304> 334-
Childers family. Visit to Mr.
and Mrs. Raikes Currie, I.
311. 456.

Chili :

Inhabitants, Description

of, I. 322 ; Ixxxvii.
La Madrid, General,

Flight into, Ixxxv.
Ride to. Preparation for,
&c., I. 28, 29, 264, 292 ;
Ixxix, Ixxx, Ixxxi.
Voyage along Coast of,

I. 316 ; xcii.
{See also names of places
visited — Santiago, &c.)
China ;

Dejeuner of Egg-shell

China, Purchase at

Brussels, II. 243.

Minley, China at, II. 179.

Chincha Islands, Guano supply

from, I. 317.
Chinon, Visit to, II. 185.
Chippewa, Visit to, cxli.
Cholera Outbreaks in 1849 :
London, I. 295, 309.
Paris, I. 257, 259.
Chorillos :

Cala or Fishing-party, I.

30 ; cviii.
Mid-Lent Celebrations,

cvii.
Visit to, I. 30, 318;
xcviii, cvi.
Christ, The Son of the Living

God, Reading, II. 354.
Christchurch, Visit to, II, 144.
Christianity :

Difficulties of. Comments
by Mr. Raikes Currie
on, I. 195.
Discussion between Mr.
Bertram Currie and
priest on board General
Garibaldi, II. 43.
Christmas Festivities :

Trinity Hall, Cambridge,

1,65.
Weimar, I. 199.
Church Questions :

Gorham v. Exeter, I.

344-
Irish Church, Disestab-
lishment, II. 28, 34,
36, 37-

Index.

Church Questions (continued):
Ward, W., Book on the
Oxford Movement, II.
192.
{See also Catholic Church.)
Churchill, Lord Randolph, Pre-
sident of the India Council,
1.63.
Cimiez, Visit to, II. 205.
Citana, Valley of, Ride through,

cv.
City Liberal Club, Unveiling of
Statue of Mr. Gladstone at,

I. 85, 116.

City of London Liberal Asso-
ciation, Chairman of, I. 85.

Clarke, Mr., Meeting with, in
Paris, II. 162.

Clarke, Sir A., Christmas Fes-
tivities at Trinity College, I.
65.

Claverton Down, Drive across,

II. 143-

Clay, Hon. Henry :

Acquaintance with, at

Washington, I. 32,

358; cxxv.
Californian Question, I.

369-

Chorillos, Visit to, xcix.

Speech by, in Washing-
ton Senate, I. 364;
cxxvi.
Clayton, Mr. :

Cuban Question, Action
with reference to, I.

372-
Treaty negotiated with
Sir H. Bulwer, I. 33.
Clerical Career, Legacy con-
ditional on adoption of, I. 14.
Cliefden :

Fire at, I. 308, 309.
Re-building after, I.
310.
Mackenzie, Mr.H., Death

at, I. 282.
Purchase by Duke of
Sutherland, I. 257.
Clifton, Visit to. II. 138.
Clocks, Purchase of, II. 65, 92,
178, 179.

ii

Clovelly, Visit to, II. 70.
Clumber, Visit to, II. 121.
Clutton, H., Building of Minley

Manor, I. 56.
Coal Exchange, Opening of, I.

305-
Cobden, Mr., Speech, I. 411.
Coblentz, Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr., I.

126.
Raikes Currie, Mr., and
family, I. 385, 398.
Cock Tavern, Dinners at, I. 45.
Cockerell, Mr. :

Dinner in Hyde Park

Terrace, I. 141.
Friendship with Mr.

Raikes Currie, I. 21.
Meeting with Mr. Raikes
Currie at Boulogne, L
258.
Coffee and Chocolate Pot, Old

Silver, Bid for, II. 135.
Cohen, Miss, Visit to Cologne,

I- 399-
Coke, Captain, Acquaintance
with during American travels,
I. 341, 392; cxli.
Col de Jumant, Walk to. II.

200.
Cola, Visit to, Iv.
Collet, Sir Mark, Meeting dur-
ing Baring Crisis, I. 92.
Cologne, Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr., I.
125, 126, 127; II. 10,
82.
Raikes Currie, Mr., I.

399-
Colomba, Col. Santa, Acquaint-
ance with, during American

travels, xlvii, liii.
Colonial Disturbances, 1849, I.

308.
Colorado River, Crossing,

Ixxxvi.
Coltman, Mr., Death of, I.

283.
Coltman Family, Dinner-party

in Hyde Park Terrace, I.

140.
Columbaia, Visit to, II. 172.

Index.

Colvile, Sir J. :

Invitation received from,

II. 65.
Visit to Minley Manor,

1-57.
Commode, Period of Louis

XVI., Purchase of, II. 56.
Compton :

Lady Margaret and
Florence, Lady Alwyne
present at Ball given
by Mrs. G. Currie, I.
498.
Lord A., Schoolfellow at
Eton, I. 388.
Concepcion de la China, Visit

to, I. 290.
Conway, Visit to, II. 140.
Cook — Meeting with, at Cob-

lentz, I. 126.
Cookesley, Mr., Master at

Eton, I. 12.
Coombe Cottage, Lease of,

II. 8.
Coombe End, Building by Mr.

B. Mildmay, II. 8.
Coombe Warren :

August, Month of, usually
spent at, after 1878,
II. 147.
Bed, period of Louis XV.,
Purchase for, II.
44.
Books, Purchase of, II.

73-
Building Operations at,
I. 36, 59; II. 8, 9.
Additional Wing, II.

39 > 40.
Alterations, Building
of kitchen, tower,
and orangery, II.

156, 157-

Re-building after Fire,
II. 41, 54.
Furnishing and set-
tling in after, II.
73, 80.
Busts at :

Bronze, II, 72, 73.

Currie, Mr. Laurence,
II. 156, note.

Coombe Warren {continued) :

Chairs and Cabinets,Pur-

chase in Florence,

II. 152.
Chapel, Construction and

Decoration of, II.

73> 115-

Clock, Purchase in Paris,
11.92.

Drawing-room Wall-
lights and Panelling,
11.76, 84.

Fire at, II. 40.

Diary destroyed by, I.

15-

Fire-dogs, Purchase for,
11.49.

Garden gods for Court-
yard at, II. 159.

Garden Seats, II. 15.

Gladstone, Mr., Coombe
lent to ; Cabinet
Council held in din-
ing-room, II. 160.

Indian Nobles and
Princes, Garden-
party to, I. 64.

Irish Finance Commis-
sion, Discussions as
to, held at, II. 307.

Liberal Party of Kings-
ton, Entertainment
to, II. 202.

Painting, II. 281.

Pictures at, II. 56, 58.

Vases, Purchase for, II.
22.

Watering Apparatus for,

n. 73-

Cooper, Currie, and Petre :

Financial position — Re-
tirement of Mr.
Cooper, I, 462, 464.
Introduction of son of
Lord Petre, I. 384.
Cooper's Hill College, Speech
at Prize Distribution and
Foundation of Scholarship,
I. 64; II. 174, 175.
Copiapo, Touched at on
Voyage up Chilian Coast,
xciii.

Index.

Copley, Miss :

Governess to, Engage-
ment by Mrs. Kaikes
Currie proposed, I.
260.
Marriage of, I. 283.
-Copse Hill, Visits to Lord Cot-

tenham at, I. 35.
Coquelin, M., Performance at

Brussels, II. 240, 243.
Coquimbo, Visit to, xciii.
Corcoran, Mr., Acquaintance

with, at Washington, cxxvii.
Corcorado, Ride to, xii.
Cordilleras, Crossing, I. 249,

297, 318 ; Ixxxiv.

Scenery, Description of,
Ixxxiv, Ixxxv, Ixxxvi.
Cordova, Province of, Ride

through, Ixxiii.
Cork, Lord, Dinner at Brooks',

11.40.
Corn Factors, Accounts with

Currie and Co., I. 4.
Corn Laws, Repeal of, I. 39,

196, 202, 207, 209.
Corn Trade, State of, in 1852,

I. 483, 484.
Corn - Grinding Patent, see

White, Ponsford, and Co.
Cornhill, Bank at No. 29, zee

Currie and Co.
Cornwall, Tour in, II. 69.
Cornwall, Rev. A. G., Purchase

of Picture from, II. 94.
Corrientes, Journey to. Pro-
posed, I. 263, 277, 280.
Corry, Mr., Ministerial Crisis,

1850, I. 379.
Cotswold Hills, Drive over, II.

141.
Cottenham, Lord, Visits to, I.

35-

India

Council of India, stv

Council.
Courmayeur, Visit to, I. 508.
Courtney, Mr. :

Eastern Question, Letter

on, II. 344.
Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1892-3,11.261,
281.

Courtney, Mr. (cuiitinued) :

National Review, Dia-
logue in, on Currency
Question, I. 109.
Cowell, Col., Meeting with, I.

124.
Cowley, Lord, Appointment as

Ambassador, I. 482.
Cowley, Lord and Lady :

Frankfort, Visit to, I. 22.
Homburg, Visit to, I.
402, 403.
Cowley, Wellesley, Schoolfellow

of Sir Philip Currie, I. 404.
Cowes, Visit to, II. 144.
Cox, Mr., Acquaintance with,

at Guiaquil, cix.
Crackington Cove, Visit to, II.

70.
Craig, Miss, Acquaintance with,

in New York, cxxxii.
Craigflower. Invitation to, II.

Crampton, Mr., Negotiations as
to American Affairs, 1852, I.

Cranbourne, Visit to, II. 158.

Creator, ami the Creature, The,
Reading, II. 358, 359.

Crescent City, Voya.ge in, I. 336;
cxvi, cxvii.

Cricket on the Hearth, Publica-
tion at Leipsic, I. 211.

Crimean War, Entertainment
to Foreign Legion at Sand-
ling, I. 47, 48.

Croft, Ven., Archdeacon. Anec-
dote of, I. 47.

Cromer, Visit to, I. 3.

Cromer Hall, Visits to, I. 25.

Cronberg, Ruins of, Descrip-
tions of, I. 403, 411.

Cross, Lord, President of the
Council of India, I. 68.

Letter to Mr. Bertram
Currie, II. 201.

Cross-bow Shooting at Wei-
mar, I. 136, 162.

Crucifix for Chapel at Minley,
II. 190, 191.

Cruise of the Falcon, Reading,
II. 342.

Index.

Cruz, D. Tomas Godoy, Ac-
quaintance with, at Mendoza,
Ixxviii.
Crystal Palace :

Erection, I. 452, 457.
Musical Performance at,
I. 501.
Cuban Question, 1850, I. 353,

364-

Settlement, I. 369.

Statement contradict-
ed, I. 372.
Cumberland, Duke of. Refusal
to join Postal Confederation,

I. 183.

Cumming, Miss, Relationship

to Mr. Fenton, I. 436.
Cunard Line :

Direct Passage to New

York, I. 413.
Fastest Passage on re-
cord, I. 358.
Cunliffe, Business with, I. 356.
Cups bought at Chesterfield,

II. 122.
Currency Question :

Balfour, Mr., Views as

to, I. 81.
Bi - Metallic League,
Mansion House

Meeting, I. 81.
Gladstone, Mr., Letters
to Mr. Currie on,
II., 212, 319.
Gold and Silver Com-
mission, 18S7, I- 77-
Gold Standard Defence
Association :
Formation, I. 81.
Gladstone, Mr., Letter,

II. 319.
Harcourt, Sir W.,

Letter, II. 320.
Lefevre, Mr., Papers
written for, II. 309.
Goschen's Proposals :
Correspondence on,

I. 113; II. 212.
Memorandum on, 11.

192.
Harcourt, SirW., Letters,

II. 213, 230, 320.

Currency Question (continued):
House of Commons,
Debate in, II. 309,
310.
Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1892-3, see
that title.
International Monetary
Conference, Brus-
sels, 1892, I. 79 ; II,
226.
American Proposals,
I. So; 11.235,250,
251.
Bores at, II. 248.
France, attitude of, II.

249.
German Delegates, In-
structions to, II.
252.
Gladstone, Mr., Opi-
nion as to neces-
sity for, II. 224.
Houldsworth, Sir W.,
Scheme of, II. 245,
249.
Illness of Mr. Currie
during, II. 246,
247, 249.
Letters :

Descriptions of Con-
ference, &c., writ-
ten by Mr. Bertram
Currie, II. 232,242,
246.
Gladstone, Mr., IL

253-

Goschen, Mr., Let-
ters from, II. 226,
227.

Hankey, T., Letter,
II. 246.

Harcourt, Sir W.,
Letter from, IL
230, 320.

Welby, Sir R., IL
22S, 229.

West, Sir A., II. 252.
Nomination of Mr.
Currie as Dele-
gate, I. 79; II. 226,
227.

Index.

Currency Question (continued) :
Photograph of Dele-
gates, II. 251.
President, M. Monte-
fiore :
Election, II. 233.
Entertainment of
Delegates at The-
atre, II, 239, 240,

243-
Reception by King of
the Belgians, II.
244.
Rothschild, Mr.Alfred:
Nomination as Dele-
gate, II. 229.
Scheme proposed
by, II. 234, 235,

237-
Speeches by Mr.
Currie,II.237,239,
243, 244, 246, 250,

252-
English Version,

Text of, I. 99.
French Version,

Text of, II. 240.
Gladstone, Mr.,

Commendation of,
II. 252,253.
Letters to Newspapers,
I. 81.
Times, Text of Letters
to, I. 113.
London Institution,

Speech at, I. 81,
104.
Money of the Future,
Views as to, I.
76.
National Review, Article

in, I. 77, log.
Views as to generally,
Statements in Me-
moir, I. 73, 77.
Curric and Co., Firm of:

Amalgamation with

Glyn, Mills, and Co.,
I- 52, 53-
Description of Building,
Character of busi-
ness, &c., I. 18.

Currie and Co. (continued) :

Dismantling of No. 29,
Cornhill, Visit of
I. E. Currie previous
to, II. 9.
Dorrien and Co., Ab-
sorption of, I. 18.
Foundation of, I. 3, 4.
Partners in, I. 18, 41.
Position of Mr. Bertram
Currie in :
Clerk, Commencement
of career as, I.
18.
Continental Travels,
Departure on, I.
21.
Partnership, II. i.
Responsible Manage-
ment, Assumption
of, I. 42.
Return after dissolu-
tion of firm of
White, Ponsford,
and Co., I. 41.
Profits, Annual average,

1.42.
Rates of Interest on Bills

of Exchange, I. 42.
(See also title Glyn, Mills,
Currie, and Co.)
Currie Family :

A.H., Mr.. Meeting with,

at Genoa, II. 44.
Bertram. Mrs. (Wife of
Mr. Bertram Currie):
Autumn spent at Little-
hampton. II. 186.
Convent at Roehamp-
ton. Annual visit
to, II. 173.
Conversion and Recep-
tion into Catholic
Church :
Congratulations
from Mr. Lang-
dale, II. 359.
Narrative of Mr.
Currie's Conver-
sion, II. 346.
Deauville, Visit to, IL
14- 15-

Index.

Currie Family {continued) :

England, Wales, and

Scotland, Tours

in, II. 63, 138.

Driving Tours, II.

117, 138, 141, 143.

Honeymoon Travels,

II. 6.
Illness at Minley in

1888, II. 182.

Italy, Tours in, II. 16,

147, 152, 155.

Last visit, II. 172.

Rome, Visits to, II.

16, 155-

Letters from, II. 17,
19, 22, 115, 116.

Letters to, II. 21, 27,
39' 53. 59. 60, 71,
74. 75. 76, 77. 78,
79, 80, 81, 82, 84,
86, 87, 89, 91, 93,
95, 97, 98, 99, lOI,
102, 103, 104, 132,
134, 136, 155, 157,
159, 161, 162, 165,
173, 174, 181, 182,
195, 198, 203, 231,
233, 234, 235, 237,
238, 242, 243, 244,
246, 249, 250, 286,
287, 288, 289, 290,
291, 292, 293, 294,
297. 318, 322, 324,
325, 326, 327, 334,

335. 342. 343-

Marienbad, Visit to,
II. 10, 12.

Marriage, I. 54; II. 6.

Normandy and Brit-
tany, Tour in, II.
144.

Railway Accident dur-
ing journey to
Paris, II. 12.

Religious Prints pur-
chased for, II. 136.

St. Mary Church, near
Torquay, Visit to,
II. 63.

Sketches made on
Holiday Tours :

Currie Family (continued) :

Driving Tour, 1874,
II. 124, 126, 127,
128, 129.
Florence, II. 153.
Genoa, II. 44.
Greta, II. 71.
Venice, II. 150.
Switzerland, Visit to,

II. 173.
Tributes to, from Mr.
Currie during his
last illness, I. 54 ;

II. 339. 351-
Charles, Mr. (Cousin):
Call on, in Scot-
land, II. 64.
East India College
Examination,
Passing, I. 384.
Dorothea Sophia
(Daughter) :
Death of, II. 131.
Littlehampton, Visit
to, II. 78.
Edith, Miss (Sister) see
Damer, Mrs. Dawson.
Emmie, Miss (Cousin) :
Mr. and Mrs. George
Currie, Visit to, I.
484, 495, 498.
Mr. and Mrs. Raikes
Currie, Visit to, I.

454-
Francis Gore, Mr.
(Cousin) :

Bournemouth, Visit to,
II. 144.

Buhl Clock, Negotia-
tions as to pur-
chase of, II. 179.

Burial Place, Wishes
as to, II. 199.

Cambridge, Visit to,
II. 189.

Cannes, Visit to, II.
160.

Coombe, Visit to, II.
116.

Crucifix procured for
Mrs. Currie by,
II. 190.

Index.

Currie Y^sivAy {continued):

Death, and Illness pre-
ceding, II. 195,
196, 197, 198, 199,
200, 201.

Italy, Visits to, II. 155,
156.

Lamarche Races, Visit
to, II. 134-

Last visit to Mr. and
Mrs. Currie, II.

195-

Loire, Castles on, Visit
to, II. 182.

Marienbad, Visit to, II.
II.

Minley,Visit to, II. 195.

Monnet's Hotel used
by, I. 509.

Normandy, Tours in,
II. 9, 13.

Paris, Visits to in, II.
13, 42. 71, 75, 132,
133, 164, 165.

Religious Prints pre-
sented to Mrs.
Currie by, II. 136.

Rigi-Kaltbad, Visit to,
II. 81, 87, 92, 95,
99.

Swiss Tour, 1873, II.
106.

Will made by, II. 198,
199.

Woking, Expedition
to, with Sir Philip
Currie, II. 189.
George, Mr. (Brother) :

Ashlin Meeting, Ap-
pointment as As-
signee, I. 471.

Attentions to Miss
Vernon, I. 342.

Bank (Currie and Co.)
Distaste for Bank-
ing Business, I.
41.
Entrance into, I. 20.
Extra work at, I.

308, 310.
Retirement from, I.
53-

Currie Family {continued) :

Brighton, Visit to. Pro-
posed, I. 462.
Brooks', Election as

member of, I. 501.
Character of, I. 41.
Cheam, House at, Sale

of, I. 451.
Death of, II. 174.
Dinner-parties, I. 475,

477; II. I, 27, 78.
Eastern Travels, I. 20,

21, 188, 190, 196,

210.
Emmie, Miss, and Miss

Mary Currie, Visit

to, I. 484, 495,

498.
Engagement to Miss

Evelyn Vernon, I.

351. 352, 355. 359.
361, 363, 365, 373,

374. 377. 378, 379.
380, 382, 384, 393,
400, 402, 403, 404,
405, 408, 409, 411.

Evening Parties, 1. 345,
489; II. 2.

Executor under Will
of Miss Georgina
Currie, II. 165.

Falmouth, Visit to, I.
283.

Fire at Cliefden, 1. 308,

309-
Honeymoon Travels,

I. 424, 434, 451.

454-
Horsley, Visits to, I.

461, 475, 478, 480.
Hyde Park Street,

House in, I. 396,

451.
Hyde Park Terrace,

House in, I. i.
Investments by, I.

451.
Kimberley, Visits to,

I. 231, 283, 294.
Lansdowne, Lord,

Dinner-party given
by, I. 356.

Index.

Currie Family {continued) :

Letters from, I. i88,
240, 260, 302, 351,
395, 461, 474, 479,

497-

Letters to, L 146, 272.

Marriage, L 40:
Arrangements for
Wedding, L 356,
395, 402, 409, 415,
416.
Ceremony, Letters
describing, L 421,
429.
Presents, L 403,424.

Oxford, "Little Go,"
Reading for, L
160, 182, 184, 189.

Portrait of, I. 5.

Resemblance to Mr.
B. W. Currie as-
serted, L 129, 138.

Ring presented to, by
Miss B L 182.

Sevenoaks, Visit to, L
306.

Taplow Court, Visit to,

I- 305-

Travellers' Club, Can-
didature, L 489.

Weimar, Visit to, I.

15-

Servant to during,
Meeting of Mr.
Bertram Currie
with, I. 138.

Zwierlein, Misses,
Acquaintance with
during, L 140, 141,

147. 151-
George, Hon. Mrs. (Sis-
ter-in-law) :

Illness during Honey-
moon, L 454.

Social Qualifications,
L41.

(See also Vernon, Miss
Evelyn).
Georgina, Miss (Aunt) :

Death of, II. 165.

Marriage, prospective.
Rumours of, 1, 463.

Currie Family (continued) :

Party at Brighton, I.

484.

Georgina, Miss (Cousin) :

Journey to Glyon, II.

199.

Henry, sen. Mr. (Cousin) :

Bank, Partnership in,

I. 18, 53-
Character of, I. 18.
Elections ;
Address to Guildford

Electors, I. 494.
Evelyn, Mr., Support
at, I. 294.
Health of, I. 462.
Monnet's Hotel used

by, I. 509.
Peelite Party, Reorgan-
ization, I. 493, 497.
Railway Account, Ne-
gotiations as to,
I. 471, 476.
Retirement, I. 53.
Scotland, Tour in, I.

283.
Screw Company :
Retirement from, I.

497-
Sydney Contract, I.
476.
Switzerland, Visit to,

I- 373-
Vernon Smith, Dinner-
party given by, I.

374-
Visit to Mr. and Mrs.

Raikes Currie, at

Taplow, I. 301.
Visits to, at Horsley,

I. 19, 451, 454,

461, 475, 477> 478,
480, 493, 499.

Wedding Present to
Mr.George Currie,
I. 403.
Henry William, jun, Mr.
(Cousin) :

Engagement rumour-
ed, I. 373.

Position at Bank, I.

Index.

Currie Family (continued) :
Retirement, I. 41.
Isaac, Mr. (Grandfather):
Character, Business,

&c., I. 3, 5.
Edmonton, House at,

I- 3-
Marriage, I. 5.
Wimpole Street, House
in, I. I.
Isaac, Mrs. (Grand-
motlier) :
Death of, I. 5.
Legacy by, I. 14,
Isaac Edward, Mr. (Son) :
Bank:
Attendance at, in

1883, II. 160.
Entrance into, II.

152.
Visit to old Premises
in Cornhill, II. g.
Beagling at Minley,

11.74.
Birth of, U.S.
Birthdays, II. 16, 130.
Bournemouth, Winter
of 1884 at, II. 161,
162.
Brighton, Visit to, II.

159-
Cannes, Visit to Lord

and LadyWolvcr-

ton at, II. 160.
Coombe, Rooms in

Tower at, II. 157.
Deauville, Visit to, II.

14. 15-

Death of, II. 166.

England, Wales, Scot-
land, Tours in, II.
63, 70. 138, 141,
143-
Letters describing,
II. 117, 120, 122,
124, 126, 128.

Eton, Farewell to, II.
152.

Farnborough, School
at, II. 115.

Germany, Visit to, II.
81.

Currie Family (coH/mw^rf) :

Illness, Attacks of, II.
16, 84, 85, 86, 87,
88, 89, go, g4, gf,
loi, 102, 160, 162,
165, 166.
Italy, Tours in, II. 147,

155-

Letters from, II. 117.

Letters to, II. n6.

Normandy and Brit-
tany, Tour in, 11.
144.

Portrait of, II. 63.

Rigi-Kaltbad, Visit to,
II. 81, 82, 83, 84,
85, 86, 87, 88, 89,
90, g2, g5, 97, gg,
100, loi, 102.
Isaac George, Mr.
(Uncle):

Advance offered to
Mr. Currie, I. 464.

Bank:

Partnership in, I. 18.
Retirement, I. 41.

Health of, I. 356, 374,

385. 397. 452, 497-

Marriage, I. 41.

Sardinians, Sale of,

and purchase of

Danish 3 per

cents., I. 4gg.

Switzerland, Visit to,

I- 515. 517-
Upper Grosvenor
Street, House in,
I. 343, 424, 452,

457-
Wedding Present to
Mr.George Currie,
I. 424.

Isaac George, Mrs.,
Meeting with Ac-
quaintance of, at
Saratoga, I. 387.

J. P., Mr., Meeting during
Baring Crisis, I.
92.

Laurence, Mr. (Son) :
Algiers, Visit to, II.
279.

Index.

Currie Y ■xvcAy {continued) :

Beagling at Minley, II.

74-

Birth of, II. 25.

Bracknell, Ride to, II.
186.

Bust of, II. 156.

Cambridge :

Lodgings in Sidney

Street, II. 186.
Mohi-ud-din, Friend-
ship with, at, II.
181, 186.
Reading for, II. 174,
177.

Death of Mr. Bertram
Currie, Present at,
II. 366, 367.

Donkey purchased for,
II. 144.

Driving Tour, 1877, II.

143-
Elections, 1886, Inter-
est in, II. 173.
Four-in-Hand Driving,

II. 190.
Gladstone, Mr. and

Mrs:
Dinner in Richmond

Terrace, II. 161.
Visits to, at Hawar-

den, II. 222, 317.
Health of, II. 106, 107,

no, 115, 210, 211.
Italy, Tours in, II. 155,

160, 172.
Letters from, II. 207,

210.
Letters to, II. 221, 224,

232, 236, 239, 247,

279, 280, 282, 295.
Malvern, Visit to, II.

142.
Marriage, II. 318.
Memoirs of Mr. Currie

written principally

for, I. 34; II. 337.
Minley, Visits to, II.

335. 342, 343-
Nismes, Illness at, II.

210, 211.
Paris, Visit to, II. 203.

Currie YamAy (conlinucd):

Staff College Ball, In-
vitation to, II. 191.
Switzerland, Visit to,

II. 196.
Tangley School, Visit

to, II. 187.
Tribute to, from Mr.
Currie, during last
illness, II. 339.
Laurence, Mrs. (Daugh-
ter-in-law), Present
at death of Mr. Ber-
tram Currie, II. 366,

367-
Mary, Miss (Cousin) :
Horsley, Visit of Mr.

and Mrs. R. Currie

to, I. 454.
Hyde Park Street,

Visit to Mr. and

Mrs. G. Currie in,

I. 495, 498.
Mary, Miss (Daughter) :

Birth of, II. 12.
Death of, II. 131.
Deauville, Visit to, II.

14.
Letters from, II. 46,

130.
Letters to, from " Zak,"

II. 117, 120, 122,
124, 126, 128.

Marriage of Rev. May-
nard Currie, Pre-
sent at, II. 116.
Scarlet Fever, Attack
of, II. 26.
Mary Sophia,Miss (Sister)

see Deacon, Mrs.
Maynard, Rev. (Brother) :
Banbury, Curacy at,

I. 518.
Barnham Broom, Par-
sonage at, II. 71.
Cambridge, Study at,
I. 242, 301, 307,
342, 426, 434, 456.
Clergyman, Career as :
Account of, I. 14.
Ordination, I. 518.
Death of, II. 174.

Index.

Currie Y^KvXy {continued):

Dentist, Visit to, I. 484.
Eton :
School Life at, I. 14,

214.
Visit to, I. 374.
Executor under Will

of Miss Georgina

Currie, II. 165.
Horsley, Visits to, I.

294, 475, 477, 480.
Hyde Park Terrace,

House in, 1. 1, 231,

416.
Isle of Man, Visit to,

I. 374, 380, 398.
Letters from, I. 169,

170, 398, 468.
Letters to, I. 171, 465,

502, 518.
Marriage, II. 115.
Norfolk, Visits to, I.

424, 429, 433.
Oxford, Visit to, I.

374-
Paris, Visit to, II. 133,

135-
Portrait, I. 5.
Saltwood, Curacy at,

I. 47. 48.
Village Schoolmaster,

Dispute with, I.

48.
Wedding of Mr. G.

Currie, Speech at,

I. 422.

Wells Theological Col-
lege, Study at, I.
468.
Philip, Sir (Brother) :

Beagling at Minley,
11.74.

Birthday, I. 434.

Brighton, Visit to, II.
160.

Constantinople, Re-
turn to, and last
farewell to Mr.
Bertram Currie,

II. 3iS-
Continental Tour pro-
posed, I. 380.

Currie Family (c(^«/?««ft/) :

Dinners at Mr. B. W.

Currie's, II. 78, 80.
Drive with, in Hyde

Park, II. 132.
Eton, School-days at,

I. 170, 186, 342,
416, 448, 452.

Foreign Office, Desire

for post in, I. 519.

Germany, Tour in, I.

399-"
Growth of, I. 307, 417.
Hawley, House at, II.

188, 189, 191, 193.
Health of, II. 97.
Homburg, Visit to, I.

401, 403, 411.
Horsley, Visit to, I.

499-
Italy, Visit to, I. 474.
Letter from, I. 452.
Letters to, II. 1,3.
Lynton, Visit to, II.

8.
Paris, Visit to, II. 41.
Shooting, First Day's

Sport, I. 35.
Wells, Visit to, I. 499,

502.
Windsor, Lord, Visit

to, II. 279.
Raikes, Mr. (Father) :
Bank Charter Act,

1844, Views as to,

1-73.
Bank, Partnership in,

I- 19- 53-

Books recommended
for reading of Mr.
Bertram Currie, I.
194.

Cannes:

Villa Beaulieu, Pur-
chase of, I. 57;

II. 48.
Visit to, II. 42.

Chalfont Park, Visit

to. I. 301.
Character of, I. 19,

57-
Children, I. i, 3, 15.

Index.

Currie Family {continued) :

Death of, I. 82; II.

157-
Farnborough Park,

Lease of, II. 55.
Fire at Cliefden, 1. 308,

309, 310.
Germany, Tour in,

I. 415.
Holland, Tour in, I.

417.
Homburg, Visit to, I.

385-
Horsley, Visit to, I.

451, 454-
Hungarian Struggle,
Interest in, I.

45-
Hyde Park Terrace,

see that title.
Illness of, I. 140, 141.
Italy, Winter in, I.

461.
Kimberley, Visit to, I.

423-

Letters from, I. 139,
194, 229, 242, 256,
282, 285, 293, 300,
307, 310, 325, 354,
355> 360, 373, 377,
383, 385, 398, 400,
409, 418, 421, 423,
426, 443, 450, 465,
502, 518; II. 114.

Letters to, I. 129, 136,
156, 162, 167, 177,
179, 192, 197, 207,
212, 215, 216, 221,
224, 232, 236, 248,
262, 285, 307, 316,
327> 355, 338, 349>
358, 363, 370. 381,
392, 414, 429, 435,
447, 458, 464, 469,
470, 472, 474, 479,
481, 483, 485, 488,
490, 493, 497, 499,
505—518.

Milling Business, In-
vestment in, see
White, Ponsford,
and Co.

Currie Family {continued) :

Minley Manor, Build-
ing of, I. 56.
Northampton :

Dinner at. Speech

at, I. 203, 207.
Election as Member

for, I. 7, 8.
Re-election sought in
event of Disso-
lution in 1852,
I. 486, 490, 496,
497» 498, 500,
510.
Letters to Consti-
tuents from Mr.
Bertram Currie,
I. 491.
Palmerston, Lord, Pre-
sentation Portrait,
I. 378.
Paris, Visits to, I. 256,
259, 261; II. 133,

135-

Political Opinions, I.
81.

Religious Difficulties
and Scepticism,
Comments on
temptations to, I.

195-
Rothschild, Baron,

Nomination at the

Guildhall, I. 19,

283, 285.
Silver Wedding, I.

379-
Speeches, I. ig, 203,

207, 283, 285.
Taplovi' Court, see that

title.
Village Schoolmaster,

Action for false

imprisonment, I.

48.
Raikes, Honble. Mrs.
(Mother):
Character of, I. i.
Death of, I. 2 ; II. 29.
Eton, Visit to, I. 374.
Horsley, Visit to, I.

45 1 > 454-

Index.

Currie Family {continued) :

Kimberley, Visit to, I.

ig6.
Letters from, I. 141,
160, 259, 302, 304,
309, 341, 362, 401,

403, 415, 421, 454.
Letters to, L 123, 126,

131, 149, 151, 154,
158, 161, 173, 175,
181, 185, 200, 203,
209, 232, 245, 277,
295, 322, 326, 336,
345. 352, 368, 390,

404, 406, 419, 441 ;

n. 4, 5, 10, 12, 25.

Norfolk, Visit to, L

424, 429.
Paris, Visit to, L 256,

259, 261.
Russian Towels sent
to, \. 472.
Uxbridge,V'isit to, I, 456.
William, Mr. (Great-
Grandfather), Career
of, I. 4.
Cusco, Visit to, Proposed, \.

318.
Cyprus, Abandonment of. Ob-
jections to, II. 344.

Daily News, Publication of,

I. 210.
Dairy Reform Company, Affair

of, II. 96.
Dalhousie, Lord, Seat in Cabi-
net, Possibility of. I. 196.
Darner, Mrs. Lionel Dawson
(Miss Edith Currie) :

Anecdote of, as a Child,

I. 142.
Cannes, Visit to, II. 43.
German, Study of, I.

3"-
Germany, Travels in, I.

399-
Growth and Health, I.
282, 307, 342, 417,

474. 479-
Horsley, Visit to, I. 451,

454-

Damer, Mrs. (continued) :

Italy, Visits to, I. 461,

503-
Illness during, I. 465,
467, 468, 469, 508.
Visit from I. E. Currie
during, II. 156.
Marriage, II. 70.
Norfolk, Visits in, I. 424,

429.
Paris, Visit to, II. 133.
Visit to, at Canford, II.

144.
Wedding of Mr. George
Currie, Bridesmaid
at. I. 416, 422.
Damer, Rev. Lionel Dawson:
Death of. II. 182.
Marriage to Miss Edith
Currie, II. 70.
Dancing Lessons at Weimar,

I. 139, 142, 149, 161, 176.

Professor, Description of,
I. 147.
Danesfield, Visits to, I. 304 ;

II. 141.

Danish Three Per Cents., Pur-
chase of, I. 499.
Darlington, Visit to, II. 71.
Darnley, Lord, Marriage of, I.

399-
Dartmoor, Visit to. Proposed,

11.68.
Dassin, M.. Copy of Buhl

Clock made by, II. 178.
Dasson, M., Vase ordered from,

II- 135-
Dawson, Captain, Marriage of,

I- 455-
DeTocqueville, Book on French

Revolution of 1848; II. 286.
Deacon, Mr. W. S. :

Letter to, from Mr. Eden,

I. 171.

Marriage with Miss Mary
Sophia Currie, I. 56.
Deacon. Mrs. W. S. (Miss Mary
Sophia Currie) :

Birthdays, I. 213, 485;

II. 29.

Charades at Hyde Park
Terrace, I. 518.

Index.

Deacon, Mrs. (continued):

Comment on Mr. Ber-
tram Currie's Ex-
tended Travels, I.

345-
Cromer, Visit to, I. 3.
Health of, I. 307, 342,

357. 361, 417. 503-
Homburg, Visit to, 1. 400,

402.
Horsley, Visit to, I. 451,

454-
Italy, Tour in, I. 461,

503-
Letters to, I. 366, 439,

477-
Marriage, I. 56.
Minley, Visit to, prevent-
ed by Death of Mat-
thew Arnold, II. 180,
181.
Norfolk, Visit to, I. 424,

429.
Robartes', Mrs., Party
in Hill Street, I.
142.
Wedding of Mr. G. Cur-
rie. Bridesmaid at,
I. 416, 422.
Death of Mr. Currie, II. 368.

Illness preceding, see
title, Illness, sub-
heading Fatal.
Deauville, Visit to, II. 13, 14.
Deedes, Mr., House leased

from, I. 47.
Demidoff, Princess, Dinner-
party ni Paris, I. 256, 261.
Dentist's Bill, Washington,

cxxvii.
Derby, Lord :

Administration, 1S52, I.
485, 488, 493, 497,
500.
Speech, I. 493.
Wensleydale, Lord, Ad-
mission to House of
Lords, Debate on,
I. 20.
Dereham, Ball at, I. 433, 439.
Desaguadero, Posta del, Visit
to, Ixxvi.

Devey, Mr.:

Building Operations for
Mr. Currie, I. 36.
Coombe, II. 8, 40, 41,

73-
Minley, II. 176, 200.
Killarney House, Archi-
tect for, II. 328.
Visits to Mr. Currie, II.

117. 173-
Devonport, Letter written off,

I. 221.
Devonshire, Visits to, II. 68,

70.
Devonshire House, Party at,

I- 355-

Devrient, Emil, Performance
at Dresden, I. 181.

Diaries kept by Mr. Currie :
American Tour, i.
Weimar, I. 15, 123.

Dickens, Mr. Charles:

Cricket on the Hearth^
Publication at Leip-
sic, I. 211.
Daily News, Editorship
of, reported, I. 210.

Dijon, Visits to, II. 24, 211.

Dilke, Sir C, on Character of
Mr. Gladstone, I. 86.

Diplomatic Career proposed for
Mr. Bertram Currie, I. 53.

Distillery Business carried on
by Mr. William Currie, I. 4.

Dives, Mr., Affairs in connec-
tion with White, Ponsford,
and Co., I. 257, 295, 426, 451.

Dogmersfield, Drive to, II. 279.

Domenico, or Dominique, Ser-
vant to Mr. Currie, I. 503,
506, 507, 508, 512, 515.

Don Juan de la Cruz, Post of,
Iviii.

Donop, Mme. de, Acquaintance
with at Weimar, I. 149.

Doo, Nurse, Illness of Miss
Edith Currie. I. 469.

Dorchester, Visit to, II. 61.

Doria, Andrea, Sketch of House
of, 11.44-

Dotesio, Re-opening of Slough
Hotel, I. 142.

Index.

Dorrien and Co. :

Absorption into Currie

and Co., I. i8.
Streatfield, Lawrence,
and Co.'s Account
transferred from, I.
42.
Douglas, Mr. Penton, Debate

in Senate, cxxvi.
Dovedale, Driving Tour

through, II. 124.
Dover, Holidays spent at, I. 8.
Drachenfels, View of, I. 127.
Drake, Electric Lighting at

Minley, II. 282.
Draper, S., Speech at Astor

House, 1. 34.
Dresden, Visit to, I. 174, 177,

179, 182, 183.
Drew, Mr. and Mrs., Visit to

Hawarden Castle, II. 225.
Driver, H.M.S. :

Cruise to Chili and Sand-
wich Islands, I. 323.
Departure from Santi-
ago, I. 313.
Visit to, at Callao, xciv.
Voyage on, I. 25, 221 ; i.
Crossing the Line, iii.
Illness on Board, v.
Letters, I. 221.
Life on Board, ii.
Driving to Town, Practice of

Mr. Currie, II. 176.
Driving Tours in England, II.

117, 141, 143.
Drouet, M., Portrait of Mme.

de Pompadour, II. 57.
Drummond, Mr., Chairman of
Finance Committee of Coun-
cil of India, I. 66.
Drummond, Mr., Marriage of,

I. 306.
Drummond, Mr., Ministerial

Crisis, 1850, I. 379.
Dublin, Visit to, II. 322.
Dublin Review, Article on
Charles Langdale in, II. 359.
Dudley, Lord, Shooting at the

Black Mount, II. 66.
Duer, Mr., Acquaintance with,
in New York, cxviii.

Dumblane :

Erasers of,Burial-ground
of, II. 66.

Visit to. II. 140.
Dumbleton, Mrs., Visit to, II.

143-
Duncan, Mr., Acquaintance

with, during American

Travels, I. 406 ; cxxxvii,

cxxxviii.
Duncombe, Miss, Marriage of,

1.306.
Dundas, Admiral D., Passage

in H.M.S. Driver secured

through, I. 25.
Dundas, Sir David :

Dinner-parties, I. 259,

374, 379-
Mackenzie, Miss, Friend-
ship with, I. 410.
Retirement from Parlia-
ment, I. 493.
Wedding of Mr. G.
Currie :
House offered for
Honeymoon, L
362.
Present to Miss Ver-
non, I. 380.
Dunkeld, Visit to, II. 64.
Dunse, Birth-place of Mr.

William Currie, I. 4.
Duntz, Meeting with at Weimar,

I. 148.

Durham, Lord, Meeting with,

in New York, I. 341.
Durham, Mrs. Dundas, Visit

to, II. 63.
Dutton, Mrs., Visit to Berne,

II. 106.

Eardley, Sir C, Candidature at
Northampton Election, pro-
posed, I. 491.

Eastnor, Lord, Marriage of,
I. 428.

Eastnor Castle, Visit to, II.
16.

Echanaqusia, Anita. Visit to,

XXX.

hidex.

Echaqiie :

Don Bernardo, Message

from, lii.
Don Gregorio :

Dinner with Mr. Currie

at Santa Fe, lii.
House of, occupied by
Mr. Currie, xlviii.
Don Jose Maria, Visit to,

xlvii.
General:

Character of, I. 289.
Visits to xlviii, lii.
Ecuador, Visit to, Proposed, I.

324. 327-
Ecuador^ Voyage in, c, cvi.
Eddis, W., Portrait Group

Painted by, I. 5.
Eden Family :

Arthur, Mr. :

Dinner-party at Mr.

Currie's, II. 78.
Weimar, Visit to, 1. 15,
16, 17, 124.
Fishing Expeditions,

I. 148.
House occupied dur-
ing, I. 145.
Shooting Parties, I.

154. 158.
Tea, Arrangement

as to, I. 133.
Visit to England
during, I. 182, 186,
190, 198, 202, 208,
210.
Ashley, Sir, Member of
the India Council,
1.63.
Captain, Letters from,

I. 231.
Commodore, Court Mar-
tial held by, I. 446.
Edens, Joel, Interview with,

I. 491.
Edensor, Visit to, II. 122, 123.
EdgcumlDe, Mr. C, Journey to

Paris, II. 133.
Edinburgh, Visit to, II. 63.
Edinburgh Review, Article on
Lessing and the German
Poets in, I. 201.

Education of Mr. Bertram

Currie, I. i, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10.
Edwards, Sir Henry, Collection

of, Purchases from, II. 179.
Egerton, Lieut., Meeting with,
on American Travels, I. 389,
397 ; Ixii, Ixiv.
Eglostein, Mme., Introduction

to, I. 133.
Egypt :

Administration of. Views

as to, II. 344.
Visit of Mr. George
Currie to. Proposed,
I. 188, 190.
Ehrenbreitstein, Fortress of,

I. 126.
Eisenach :

Letter from, II. no.
Queen Victoria, Visit to,
I. 172.
Elections, Parliamentary, I. 7,

485; II. 26, 27, 28, 173, 329.
Elgin, Lady, Description of, I.

437-
Elgin, Lord :

Canadian Reciprocity

Bill, I. 412
Policy, Canadian, I. 436.
Visit to, at Toronto, I.

33> 378, 436-
EUenborough, Lord, Seat in

Cabinet rumoured, I. 196.
EUice, Mr. and Mrs. :

House at Invergarry, II.

66.
Parties at Mr. Raikes
Currie, I. 141, 385.
Elliott, Lady L., Marriage of,

I. 311.
Ellis, Mr. Leo, Meeting with, in

Paris, II. 76.
Elvetham, Drive to, II. 279.
Elwes, Mr. Robert, South
American Travels, I. 227,
279 ; vi, xix, Ixxiv.
Engelhardt, Mr., Expulsion

proposed, II. 53.
Engineers' Strike, 185 1-2, I.

484, 487.
Engst, Meeting with, at Weimar,
I. 148.

Index.

Entre Rios, Visit to, I. 28, 290;
xlii, liv.

Army and Arms, Iv.
Description of Country,

liv.
Disturbances in, I. 280.
Meals, Hours of, liv, Iv.
Uncleanly habits of peo-
ple, Ivi.
Epsom, Visit to Dr. Shelley at,

1.9.
Epulone, Ricco, Arrival of. II.

58.
Erfurt, Conspiracy at, I. 206.
Eric, Lake, Passage across, I.

436.
Erroll, Lord and Lady, Visit to,

II. 141.
Estrada, Serior, Acquaintance
with, at Buenos Aj-res, xxxix.
Eton :

Fourth of June Celebra-
tions, I. 258, 374.
Life at, I. 10.
Party at Tutor's House,
Description by Sir
Philip Currie, I.
452.
Etretat, Visit to, II. 9.
Ettersburgh, Visits to, I. 155,

156. 157-
Evans-Freke, Hon. Algernon
and Mrs.

Marriage of, II. 202.
Visit to Algiers, II. 279
note.
Eve of St. Agnes, Reading, II.

364-
Evelyn, Mr.:

Electioneering Contest,
I. 294.

Visit to Horsley, I. 462.
Everett, Mr. :

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing American Trav-
els, I. 388, 408.

Harvard Commemora-
tion, Speech at, I.
32, cxxxiv, cxxxv.

Senator for Massachu-
setts, Appointment
proposed, I. 388.

iii

Exeter, Marquess of. Funeral

of, II. 328.
Exhibition of 185 1 :

American Interest in, I.

448.
Crystal Palace :

Erection, I. 452, 457.
Musical Performance
at, I. 501.
Loyd, Mr. S. J., Work
in connection with,

I- 325-
Site of. Discussion as to,

I. 384.

Eyr, River, Driving Tour by,
II. 126.

Eyre, Father, Ministrations to
Mr. Currie, during last ill-
ness, II. 350, 360, 365, 367.

Failures, see title Panics and

Crises.
Falconnet, M., Visit to Mexico,

1.25.
Falkenstein, View of, I. 411.
Fall River, View of, cxxxiv.
Fane:

Cecil, Mr. and Mrs., Din-
ner-party at Mr.
Raikes Currie's, I.

343-

Miss, Amateur Theatri-
cals at Weimar, I.
199, 203, 206.

Misses, Meeting with, at
Berne, II. 106.

Mrs., and family, Resi-
dence at Weimar, I.

135' 137-
Fanshawe, Captain, Acquaint-
ance with, at Panama, ex.
Fareham, Visit to, II. 143, 144.
Farina, J. M., Visit to, I. 125.
Farming Woods :

Description of, I. 402.
Recess, 1S50, Spent at,
by Mr. Vernon Smith
and family, I. 357.
Theatrical Performances

at, I. 40, 478.
Visit to, I. 395.

Index.

Farming Woods (continued):

Wedding of Mr. George

Currie at, I. 415,

421.

Farnborough Park, Lease of,

by Mr. Raikes Currie, II.

55-

Farnborough School, Educa-
tion of Mr. I. E. Currie at,
II. 115.

Farquhar, Mrs. Harvie, Con-
cert at Mrs. G. R. Smith's,

I- 345-
Farquharson, Miss, Visit to

Rigi-Kaltbad, II. 89.
Farrer, Sir T. (afterwards Lord
Farrer) :

Attainments of, I. 11.
Bank of England, Cash
Balances at. Corres-
pondence as to, II.
277.
Gold and Silver Com-
mission, 1887, I. 77.
Gold Standard Defence
Association, 11. 319.
Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1892-3, II.
258, 261, 281.
Letters on, II. 262,
272.
International Monetary
Conference, Brus-
sels, Nomination as
Delegate proposed,
II. 228, 229, 230.
Irish Finance Commis-
sion, 1894-6, II. 288,
301, 302, 304, 305,

307-
Correspondence as to,
II. 308.
Times, Articles on Cur-
rency Question, I.
109.
Faust, Second Part of, Reading,

I. 201.
Favenza, Dealer in Antiquities,
Purchases from, II. 48, 49,

50-
Favre, Jules, Peace Negotia-
tions, 1870, II. 55.

Fawcett, Professor, Christmas
Festivities at Cambridge, I.

65-
Fazakerley, Mr., Dinner at Mr.

Labouchere's, I. 310.
Fenton, Mr.:

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing American Trav-
els, I. 33, 366, 436;
cxxvii, cxxviii, cxxix.
Banking Account, I.

436.
Call on at Munich, II.
52.
Fernandez, Las de. Visit to, at

Buenos Ayres, Ixiv.
Ferron, Mme., Boarding at
House of, at Kingston, cxiii,
cxvi.
Fiesole, Visits to, II. 153, 172,

296, 297.
Fifurt, Party at, I. 150.
Figueiredo, Mme., Visit to, at

Rome, II. 19,
Fillmore, Mr., President of the

United States, I. 382.
Finch Family :

Sibyl, Miss, Marriage to
Mr.Laurence Currie,
II. 318.
Wynne, Mr. and Mrs. :
Illness of Daughter of,

II. 96.
Visit to Rigi-Kaltbad,
II. 89, 100.
Fire-dogs, Bronze, Purchase of,

II. 48, 49-

Firth, Mr., Chairman, Muni-
cipal Reform League, I. 83.

Fish, Governor, Introduction
to, cxviii.

Fisher, Mr., Landlord of
A thole Arms, II. 64.

Fisher, Mrs., Visit of Mr. Philip
Currie to, I. 499.

Fishing Parties :

Salto del Fraile, cviii.
Scotland, II. 65.
Weimar, I. 168.

Fitzhardinge, Lady, Dinner-
party at Sir E. Sullivan's,
II. 79.

Index.

Fitzpatrick Family :

Miss, Marriage to Cap-
tain Dawson, I. 455.

Misses, Visit to Mrs. Os-
wald Smith, I. 484.

Mr., Heir to Mr. Vernon
Smith, I. 366.

Wedding of Mr. George
Currie, Present at,

I. 402, 416, 422.
Fitz-Roy, Mr., Meeting with, at

Buxton, II. 124.
Flete, Visit to, II. 68.
Florence :

Bertram Currie, Mr. and
Mrs.,Visits to, II. 18,
23, 24, 148, 152, 153,
i55> 157' 172, 293.
Villa Routourlin, Stay
at, II. 160.
Queen Victoria, Visit to,

II. 287, 288, 294.
Raikes Currie, Mr. and

Mrs., Visit to, I. 503.
Fluelen, Visits to, II. gi, 95,

102, 103.
Fontainebleau, Visit to, II.

164.
Forbes, Mr., Dinner-party in

Hyde Park Terrace, I. 141.
Fordyce, Mr., Connection with

Mr. William Currie, I. 4.
Foreign Office, Evening-party

at, II. 80, 81.
Forster Cottage at Chorillas,

xcviii.
Fort Augustus, Visit to, II. 66.
Fortescue, Mr.. Dinner-party

at Mr. and Mrs. Currie's, I.

259-
Foster, Mr. Dereham Ball, I.

433-
Foster, Mr., Dinner-party at

Mr. Currie's, II. 231.
Foster, Mr. Birket, House at

V/itley, II. 24.
Foiiard, Abbe, Lijc of Our

Lord by, II. 354.
Fountains Abbey, Visit to, II.

70.
Fourdeau, Furniture Maker in

Paris, II. 77.

Fowler, Mr.:

Boulogne Steamer, Meet-
ing with, on, II.
41.
Inverness, Meeting with,
at, II. 65.
Foyers, Falls of. Visit to, II.

65-
Fraga, Don R. :

Call on, Iviii.
Letter to, Ixii.
Fragon, Visit to, viii.
France :

Bank of:
Crisis in 1889, I.

US-
Payments, System as
to, I. 75.

Commune, Final Sup-
pression, II. 64.

Financial Position, I.
301.

Greek Question, 1850, I.

357-
Louis Napoleon, Presi-
dent (afterwards
Napoleon III.) :
Coup d'etat, 1.472, 475,

480, 482.
Independent Policy, I.
308.
Palmerston, Lord, Quar-
rels with French
Government, I. 357,

361-
Revolution of 184S, Book

on, by De Tocque-

ville, II. 286.
River Plate Question, I.

326.
Rome, Expedition

against, I. 261, 2S4.
Russia, Relations with,

I. 294, 301.
Stephen, Sir J., Lectures

on, I. 472.
War with Germany, II.

54. 55. 56. 5^-
Franchise, Reduction of. Con-
troversy as to, I. 82.
Francia, Dr., Policy pursued in
Paraguay, I. 263.

Index.

Frank, Dr. :

Minley Lodge, Purchase

from, II. 177.
Riviera, Air of. Views as
to, II. 207.
Frankfort :

Peace Congress at, I.

411.
Riots at, I. 217.
Visits to, I. 22, 128; II.

30 31. 35. 36> 37-
Fraser Family, Burial-place at

Dumblane, II. 66.
Fremantle, Lady, Evening-
party given by,'l. 345.
Fremantle, Mr. :

International Monetary
Conference, Brussels,
II. 227, 234, 245.
World, Article in, II. 236.
Frey, Mr. Cramer, Interna-
tional Monetary' Conference,
Brussels, II. 248.
Freycinet, M. de. Visit to Glyon,

II. 200.
Friedburg, Visit to, II. 33.
Friedrichsdorf, Visit to, II. 32,

37-
Fritsch, Comtesse :

Dinner at Court of

Weimar, I. 138.
Introduction to, I. 133.
Frome, Visit to, II. 143.
Fuller, Messrs., Negotiations
for Amalgamation with, I. 52.
Furca, Visits to, I. 514; II.

104.
Furness Abbey, Visit to, II.
129.

Gairdner, Mr. :

Amalgamation of Bank-
ing Businesses, Pro-
posals, I. 62.
Edinburgh, Meeting with,

at, II. 63.
Glasgow, Call on, at, II.
67.
Gale, Miss, Portrait of, by Sir
Joshua Reynolds, II. 94, loi.
Galway, Lady, Visit to Konig-
stein, I. 411.

Gamble, Miss Jane, Pamphlet
on case of Wykoff and Gam-
ble, I. 494.

Garden-making, Fondness for,
1.58.

Garden-party to Indian Nobles
and Princes, I. 64.

Garibaldi, Return to Monte
Video reported, I. 315.

Garnum, Mr., Acquaintance
with, at Saratoga, I. 387.

Garraway's Coffee House, Pri-
vate door of Currie and Co.'s
Bank, opposite, I. 18.

Gas, Manufacture of, on Welsh
Coal-fields, Bovill's scheme,

I. 241.

Gas Companies :

Great Central Gas Co.'s

Bill, 1852, I. 490.
Shares, Issue, I. 465, 476.
Gascoigne, Col. and Mrs., Din-
ner-party at Mr. Currie's, I.

343-
Gates, Iron, Offered to Mr.

Currie, II. 56, 57.
Gedge, Vermin-killer, I. 284.

294.
General Garibaldi, Voyage on,

II. 43-

Geneva, Letters from, I. 506,

508.
Genoa :

Visits to and Letters
from, I. 465; II. 17,
24, 43, 147, 156.
Wykoff, Chevalier, Af-
fairs of, I. 470.
George, Lake, Visit to. Pro-
posed, I. 389.
Gerard, Mrs., Party given by,

in New York, cxxi.
Germany :

Catholic Movement, L

163.
Innkeepers and Waiters,

I. 127.
Political disorganization,
&c., 1849, 1. 261, 284.
Society, Tone of. Com-
ments on, by Mr.
Raikes Currie, 1. 195.

Index.

Germany (continued) :

Tailors, Charges, I. 130.
Unity proposals, I. 240.
Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr.,
I. 15, 22, 123; II.
10, 51, 81, log.
Letters from Wei-
mar, I. 123.
Raikes Currie, Mr., and
family, I. 356,361,

398,415-
War with France, II. 54,

55> 56, 58-
(Sec also names of Cities,
&c.)
Ghent, Journey through, I. 124.
Ghirlandago, Dominique, Pic-
ture by, in Chapel at Minley,
II. 172.
Gibbs, Mr. :

Baring Crisis, Meeting at

Bank of England, I.

92. '

Pamphlet on Currency

Question, I. 105.

Gibbs and Co. :

Baring Crisis, Action in,

I-93-
Guano Monopoly, Chin-

cha Islands, I. 317.
Representatives of, in
South America, Ac-
quaintance with, c,
ci.
Gibraltar, Visits to, I. 50 ; II. 4.
Giddings, Mr., Acquaintance

with, at Baltimore, cxxix.
Gien Ware, Purchase of, II. 75.
Gifford, Mr., Visit to Horsley,

I- 454-

Giglioli, Dr., Attendance dur-
ing illness of Miss Edith Cur-
rie, I. 466.

Gillford, Lord, Dinner on board
H.M.S. Warrior, II. 60.

Gilliat, Mr., Tobacco holding,
I. 428.

Gilliat, Mr. J. S., Baring Crisis,
Meeting, I. 92.

Gibson, Mr., Journey to Are-
quipa, c.

Ginelli, Sefiora. Ball at Buenos

Ayres, Ixiv.
Girard College, Philadelphia,

Visit to, cxxx.
Girardin, M., Peace Congress

at Frankfort, I. 411.
Girod, Courier to Mr. Raikes

Currie, I. 399.
Giustiniani, Vases, &c., pur-
chased from, II. 22.
Gladstone, Mrs., Letter from,

11.317.
Gladstone, Rt. Hon. W. E. :

Appointments made by,

in 1880, II. 152.
Coombe lent to, in 1884,

II. 160.
Currency Question :
Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1 892-3, Ap-
pointment, I. 69;
II. 280.
International Confer-
ence, Views as to
necessity for, II.
224.
Letters on :
Gold Standard De-
fence Association,
II. 319.
Goschen's Propo-
sals, II. 212.
Speech of Mr. Currie
at International
Conference, II.

253-
Death of Mr. I.E. Currie,

Letter of sympathy,

II. 166.
Dinners at Mr. Currie's

House in Richmond

Terrace, II. 161,

Fourth Administration,
Interview between
Mr. Currie and Mr.
Labouchere as to,
II. 218, 221.

Friendship with, and
views as to charac-
ter of, I. 63, 85.

Home Rule Bill, II. 2S1.

Index.

Gladstone, Rt. Hon. W. E
{continued) :

Homer, Edition of. Pre

sentation to Mr

Currie proposed, \\

174.
Irish Finance Commis

sion, 1894, Appoint

ment, II, 302.
Letters to Mrs. Currie

Preface.
Minley, Visit to, II

285.
Peel Ministry, 1845, I

196.
Peelite Party, Leader

ship proposed, I

497-
Retirement advocated

II. 173.
Richmond Terrace lent
to, in 1885, Letter of
thanlcs, II. 171.
Statue of, at City Liberal
Club, Unveiling, I.
85, 116.
Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr.,

11.225.
Laurence Currie, Mr.,

11.317-
Glasgow, Visit to, II. 67.
Glen Falloch, Visit to, II. 67.
Glencoe, Visit to, II. 66.
Glendore, Drive to, II. 325.
Glengarriff, Visit to, II. 326.
Globe Insurance Society, Mr.
Newmarch, Actuary and
Manager of, I. 96.
Gloucester, Visits to, II. 16,

142.
Glyn Family :

Captain (afterwards Ad-
miral), Visit to, on
board H.M.S. War-
rior, II. 59, 60, 61.
George Carr, Mr., see

Wolverton, Lord.
G. G. Mr., see Wolverton,

Lord.
Harry, Mr., see Wolver-
ton, Lord.

Glyn Family (continued) :

Mrs.,Visit to, at Ranstone

House, II. 62.
P. C, 11.45.
St. Leger, Mr., Retire-
ment from Banking
Business, I. 53.
Glyn, Mills, Currie, and Co.,
Firm of:

Amalgamation Schemes:
Currie and Co., I. 53.
Scotch Banks, Propo-
sals for, I. 61.
Balance Sheet, Publica-
tion of, I. 88.
Banking Jubilee of Mr.
Currie, Gift to Clerks'
Provident Fund, II.

335-

Baring Crisis, Transac-
tions in relation to,
I. 88.

Development of Busi-
ness, I. 88, 96.

Farewell of Mr. Currie
to, II. 336.
Comments on, in Me-
moir, I. 97.

Nev/march, Mr., Position
in, I. 96.

Panic of 1866, Effect on,

1.59.

Partners in, Account of,

.1- 93-
Retirement from, at 60,
Idea relinquished by
Mr. Currie, II. 180.
Glyon, Visit to, and Letters

from, II. 196, 198.
Gnaton House, Plympton, Visit

to, II. 68,
Goddard, Mr., Ministerial Cri-
sis, 1850, I, 379.
Goddard, Misses, Present at
Ball given by Mrs. G, Currie,

I, 498.

Godfrey- Webb, Mr., Dinner-
party at Mr. Raikes Currie's,

II. I.

Godley, Sir Arthur :

Farewell Visit to Mr.
Currie, II. 339.

Index.

Godley, Sir Arthur (continued) :
India Office, Under-
Secretary of State
to, I. 68.
Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1S92-3 :
Account of Mr. Currie's
Work on, II. 257.
Nomination as Mem-
ber of, II. 261.
Letters to, II. 333, 338.
Goethe's Tomb, Visit to, I. 16,

134-
Gold and Silver Commission,

1887, I. 77-
Gold Discoveries, California :
Effect on English Mar-
ket, I. 471.
Rush to the Mines, I.
31, 226, 247, 328,
333. 335. 341; cxi,
cxii.
Gold Standard Defence Asso-
ciation, see Currency Ques-
tion.
Goldschmidt, Mr., Call on, at

Homburg. II. 31.
Gonzales, Don Benito, Ac-
quaintance with, at Mendoza,
Ixxviii, Ixxix, Ixxx, Ixxxi,
Goodrich, Visit to, II. 138.
Gordale, Visit to, II. 126.
Gore. Captain, Acquaintance
with, at Monte Video, I. 27,
250, 252 ; xvi.
Gorgona, Ride to, cxi.
Gorham v. Exeter, Case of, I.

344-
Gorik, James, Servant during
American Travels, Ixvi, Ixxii,
Ixxiii, Ixxxi, Ixxxix, c, cvii,
cxiii, cxi.
Goschen, Mr. :

Baring Crisis, Action in,

I. 91.
Currency Question, see

that title.
National Debt, Reduc-
tion of, Proposals
for, I. 78.
Gosling, Miss, Marriage of, I.
3^0,

Gosling, Mr. R., Dinner-party
in Hyde Park Terrace, I. 141.
Gotha :

Fancy Dress Ball at, I.

214.
Queen Victoria, Visit to,
I. 144, 153.
Gotha, Duke of. Present at

Weimar Concert, I. 208.
Gough Family,Visit to Weimar,

I. 163.
Gough, General, Victory over

the Sikhs in 1849, I. 229.
Goulburn, Mr., Dinner-party
in Hyde Park Terrace, I.
141.
Gower, Lord F., Visit to Clief-

den, I. 310.
Graham, Mr., Visit to, xxxvii.
Graham, Sir J., Debate in

House of Commons, I. 493.
Granada, Visit to, Project aban-
doned. II. 4.
Grand Trunk Railway Com-
pany, Speech of Mr. New-
march at Meeting of, I. 97.
Grange-over-Sands, Visit to, II.

129.
Grant, Mr.:

Acquaintance with, at
Weimar, I. 211, 213.
Meeting with, at Hom-
burg, and Visit to
Frankfort, II. 34, 35,

37-
Grant, Mr. :

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing South American
Travels, xcii, xcvii,
cxxiv, cxxx, cxxxi.
Grant, Mr., Meeting with, on

Boulogne Steamer, II. 41.
Grant, Mr., Trials at Deptford,

I. 425, 446.
Granville, Earl :

Death of, II. 212.
Foreign Secretary, Ap-
pointment as, 1.478,
480.
Speech at National Li-
beral Club, Allusions
to in, I. 1 16.

Index.

Granville, Earl {continued) :

Tangley School, Visit to,
with Mr. Laurence
Currie, II. 187.
Grasse, Visit of Queen Victoria

to, II. 208.
Grassmere, Visit to, II. 128.
Great Cumberland Place,

House in, II. 15.
Great Western Railway, Jour-
ney on before Opening of
Line, I. 10.
Greece, Political Situation in

1850, I. 357.
Green Street, No. 45:

Honeymoon, First days

of, passed at, I. 56.
Lease of, I. 50; II.

2, 8.
Relinquishment, II. 9.
Greene, Mr. B., Transactions
in connection with Baring
Crisis, I. 91, 92.
Greene, Mr. and Lady Lily,
Meeting with, during Inter-
national Monetary Confer-
ence, II. 238, 245.
Greenwich :

Party to, I. 379.
Political Economy Club,
Dinner at, I. 39.
Greffalte — Visit to Homburg, I.

401.
Grenfell, Mr., Purchase of

Taplow Court, I. 514.
Grenfell, Mr. H. R., Baring

Crisis, I. 92.
Grenfell, Mr. Pascoe, Cottage

at Maidenhead, II. 3.
Greta, Sketch of, II. 71.
Grey, Lord :

Letter of Introduction
from, proposed, I.

357-

Ministerial Crisis, 1852,
I. 487, 489.

Palmerston's Policy in
1851, Attitude to-
wards, I. 479.

Political Economy Club,
Dinner at Green-
wich, I. 39.

Grey, Lord {continiitd) :

Wodehouse, Lord, Com-
ments on Political
Position of, I. 489.
Grey, Sir Charles, Visits to,

I- 31. 337; cxiv.
Grimsel Pass, Crossing, I. 514.
Gronow, Mr., Intimacy with

Mr. Murray, II. 34.
Grote, Mr.:

Burnham Beeches,

House at, I. 283.
Character of, I. 37.
Dinner-parties at Taplow

Court, I. 294.
Labouchere, Mr., Din-
ner-party at house
of, I. 310.
Monckton Milnes, Mr.,
Breakfast - party at
house of, I. 283.
Political Opinions, I. 82.
Grote, Mrs. :

Friendship with, I. 37.
Paris :
Coup d'etat. Letter
describing, I. 473.
Lind, Jenny, Visit to,
in, I, 258.
Wykoflf and Gamble,
Case of, I. 494.
Gualiguaychu, River, Crossing,

Ivi, Iviii.
Gualiguaychu, Town of. Visit

to, I. 29, 290; Iviii, lix.
Guano, Supply of, from Chin-

cha Islands, I. 317.
Guardia de la«Esquina, Visit to,

Ixxiii.
Guayaquil, River, Voyage up,

cix.
Guayaquil, Town of, Visit to,

I. 319; cix.
Gubbio, Visit to, and letter

from, II. 291, 292.
Guido, General, Introduction

to, I. 238, 284.
Guildford :

Election, 1852, 1. 494, 501.
Reform Bill, 1851, Non-
inclusion of Town in
Schedule B, I. 484.

Index.

Guinness, A., and Co., Ltd.,
Stock of. Security for ad-
vance to Messrs. Baring, I.
90.
Gull, Dr., Visit to, II. 77.
Gundreda, Bones of. Discovery

at Lewes, I. 187.
Guns:

German, Unsatisfactory
character, I. 155,
158.
Present received at Wei-
mar, I. 162, 165.
Gurdon, Miss Amy and Mr.
Robert, Present at Dereham
Ball, I. 433, 439.
Gurney Family :

Daniel, Mr. :
Daughters of, I. 433.
Visit of Mr. Raikes
Currie to, I. 424.
E., Mr., Negotiations
previous to sus-
pension of Overend,
Gurney, and Co., I.
61.
J. H., Mr., Partner in
firm of Overend,
Gurney, and Co., I.
60.
Miss, Marriage, L 433.
Mr., Ashlin's Meeting,
Appointment as

Trustee, I. 471.
Mr., House in Lombard
Street,Visit of Canon
Wodehouse to, I.

477-

S., Mr., Appointment
procured for Mr.
Willy Wodehouse
by, I. 477.
Gurney, Messrs. :

Business with, I. 356.

Consultation with, as to
acceptance of Bill
on Hambro and Co.,
I. 42.

(Sec also Overend, Gur-
ney, and Co.)
Gurnum, Mr., Acquaintance
with, at Saratogo, cxxxvii.

Haarlem Lake, Fish from, I.
52.

Haddon Hall, Visit to, II.
123.

Hadler — Foreman of Building
Works at Coombe Warren,
II. 40.

Haggerty, Mr. and Mrs., Ac-
quaintance with, during
American Travels, cxix, cxx,
cxxi, cxxii, cxxiii, cxxxvi,
cxxxvii.

Hague, The, Visit to, I. 52.

Hale, Mr., Debate in Senate,
cxxvi.

Hall, Dr., Marriage with Lady
Hood, I. 231.

Hall, Sir B., Speech to Mary-
lebone Electors, I. 489.

Halliday, Sir P., Letter from,
II. 202.

Hambro, Mr. E., Nomination
as Delegate to International
Monetary Conference, pro-
posed, II. 228.

Hambro and Co., Bill on, Rate
of Discount, I. 42.

Hamerton, Mr. P. G., Memoirs
of, Reading, II. 365.

Hamilton, Duke of. Vases
purchased at Sale of, II.
179.

Hamilton, Lord George:

Indian Debt, Arrange-
ment as to, I. 72;

n. 334-
Letter acknowledging
Mr. Currie's Ser-
vices in India Office,

11- 331-
Hamilton, Mr., Acquaintance
with, during South American
Travels, I. 26, 227; vi, xiv.
Hamilton, Sir R. :

Death of, II. 305.
Irish Finance Commis-
sion, 1894-6, II. 301,
302, 304.
Hamilton Place, No. 2, Lease

of, II. 54. 55, 56.
Hankey, Mr. T., Letter on
Currency Question, II. 246.

Index.

Hankey, Mrs. and Miss, Dinner-
party at Sir E. Sullivan's, II.

. 79-

Harcourt, Sir William Vernon :
Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, I. 80.
Currency Question, Let-
ters on :
Gold Standard De-
fence Association,
II. 320.
Goschen's Proposals,

II. 213.
International Confer-
ence, Brussels, II,
230.
Harcourt Buildings, Inner
Temple, Chambers in, I. 44.
Harding, Mr., Catalogue of
Ohjets d'Art prepared by, II.
179.
Hardinge, Lord :

Derby Administration,
Office under, I. 488.
Friendship with, I. 35.
Hardinge, Sir H. and Mr. Ar-
thur, Meeting with, at Eton,
I. 10.
Hardwick Hall, Visit to, II. 120.
Harfleur, Drive through, II.

145-

Harley Street, House in, I. i.

Harman and Co., Failure of, I.
20.

Harper, Miss, Acquaintance
with, at Newport, cxxxiii.

Harpy, H.M.S., Visit to, xxiv.

Harrington, Lady, Friendship
with Duchess of Bedford, I.
496.

Harris, Mr., Engagement to
Jenny Lind, I. 258, 259.

Harrison, Mr., Sale of Taplow
Court, I. 473.

Harrow, lunch with Dr.Vaughan
at, I. 356.

Hartington, Visit to, II. 124.

Hartington, Lord, Seat on In-
dian Council offered to Mr.
Currie by, I, 62.

Hartmann, Mr. and Mrs., Jour-
ney to Paris, II. 132, 133.

Harvard College, Commemo-
ration Day at, I. 32, 381 ;
cxxxiv.
Harvey, Mr. :

Letter from, II. 297.
Speech by Mr. Currie at
International Mone-
tary Conference,
English version sent
to, II. 240, 252.
Hassop House, Church belong-
ing, II. 123.
Hatchell, Mr., Meeting with, at

Naples, II. 21, 22.
Hathersage, Visit to, II. 125.
Hauk, Miss Minnie, Perform-
ance in Faust, II. 27.
Havant, Visit to, II. 143, 144.
Havre, Visit to, II. 145.
Hawarden Castle, Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr., II.

225.
Laurence Currie, Mr.,
II. 224, 317.
Hawley, House of Sir Philip
Currie at, II. 188, 189, 191,

193-
Hawley Estate, addition to

Minley Property, II. 176.
Hawtrey, Dr. :

Fourth of June Celebra-
tions, I. 258, 374.
Registration in Cham-
bers of, at Eton, I. 10.
Hay, Col., Commander of
Regiment in Canada, I. 441,

447-
Hayes, Mr., Party given by, at

Eton, I. 452.
Hayes, Rev. Father, Requiem
Service for Archbishop of
Bombay, II. 188, 349.
Hayter, Mr. :

Brooks' Club, Mr. Currie

proposed by, as

Member, I. 487.

Dinner-party in Hyde

Park Terrace, I. 141.

Resignation of Ministers,

1852, I. 487.
Wodehouse, Lord, Call
upon, I. 501.

Index.

Hayter, Sir W.. and Lady,
Meeting with, at Homburg,
11.36.
Head, Sir E.:

Call on, at Boston, I. 41 1.
Canadian Reciprocity
Bill, I. 412.
Heart Aftection, Rowing re-
linquished owing to, I. 14.
Heatley, Mr. Tod, Purchase of
Ground in Richmond Ter-
race, II. 159.
Heidelberg, Visit to, II. 81, 82.
Hellman, Mr., Acquaintance
with, during South American
Travels, xciii, xcv.
Henbury, Visit to, II. 139.
Henderson, Mr. C:

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing South American
Travels, I. 28, 267 ;
xix, XX, xxiv, XXV,
XXX, xxxvii, xl, xlii,
Ix, Ixii, Ixv, Ixvi,
Ixxi, Ixxix.
Letter received from,

xcvi.
Letter written to, c.
Henley Family:

Hon. R., Marriage, 1. 496,

498, 511, 513.
Lady, Dinner-party at
Miss Hibbert's, I.
469.
Lord, Comments on Mr.
George Currie's
Speech at North-
ampton, I. 260.
Lord and Lady :
Dinner-party at Mr.

Currie's, I. 259.
Greenwich Party, I.

379-
Kimberley, Visit to, I.

424.
Wedding of Mr.George
Currie, Present at,
I. 416.
Henley-on-Thames, Visit to,

II. 141.
Henry, Capt. and Mrs., House
on Blackdown Hill. II. 24.

Herbert, Lady, Visit to Hawar-
den Castle relinquished, II.
225.

Herbert, Mr. S., Deputy-Chair-
man of Railway Company,
I. 476.

Herbert, Sir T., Acquaintance
with, during South American
Travels, I. 252, 292 ; Ixii,
Ixiii, Ixiv.

Hereford, Visits to, II. 16,

138-
Herries, Mr., Meeting with, at

Geneva, I. 510.
Herringstone, Visit to, II. 61.
Hertford, Lord, Intimacy of

Mr. Murray with, II. 34.
Herzig, Dr., Treatment by, at

Marienburg, II. 11.
Hibbert Family :

Dinner-party at Mr. Van

de Weyers, I. 475.
George, Mr.:

Dinner-party at house

of, I. 463.
Hibbert's, Miss, of
Brighton, Dinner-
party, I. 469.
Vernon-Smith's, Mr.,
Dinner-party, I.

374-
Visit to, I. 49.
Lizzie, Miss:
Charades at Munden,

I. 47S.
Marriage, I. 514.
Miss, Dinner-party at
house of, I. 467,
469.
Mr., Meeting with, at

Dresden, I. 181.
Nathaniel, Mr. :

Friendship with, I.

49.
House in Green Street,
II. 2.
R., Mr., Visit of Mr. and
Mrs. R. Currie to, I.
301.
Hicks Beach, Sir Michael. De-
bate on Currency Question,
II. 310.

Index.

Higgins, Col. Gordon, Com-
mandant of Citadel of Que-
bec, I. 441.
High Cliff, Visit to, II. 70.
High Peak Cavern, Visit to, II.

125.
Higinbotham, Don, Concert

given by, Ixiv.
Hildyard, Mr. and Mrs., Visit

to Homburg, I. 401.
Hill, Gardener at Coombe

Warren, II. 40.
Hill, Lord Marcus, Dinner-party
in Hyde Park Terrace, I.
141.
Hill Street :

Death of Mrs. Raikes
Currie at house in,
11.29.
Lease of house in, by
Mr. Bertram Currie,
II. 16, 25, 29.
Hingham, Rev. Maynard Cur-
rie, Rector of, I. 15; II. 174.
History of Prices, by Mr. New-
march, I. 97.
Hitroff, M., Meeting with, in

Paris, II. 163.
Hoare, Mr. C, Lease of Minley,

II. 176.
Hoboken, Visit to, cxxii.
Hobson, Mr., Acquaintance
with, at Valparaiso, xlc, xcii.
Hochheim, Visit to, II. 38.
Hodgson, Mr. K. D,, Suspension
of Overend and Gurney,
Meeting, I. 60.
Hof, Visits to, II. 10.
Hoffman, Stories by, I. 200.
Holland :

Queen of:

Birthday Ball, I. 208.
Jewels possessed by,
I. 212.
Revolution in, I. 176.
Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr.,

1.52.
Raikes Currie, Mr. and
Family, I. 417.
Holland, Dr., Visit to New
York, I. 414.

Holland, Lady, Relationship to
family of Vernon Smith, I.
352.
Holland, Lord, Quotation from,

I. 98.
Holland, Miss, Charades at

Munden, I. 478.
Holland, Mr., Dinner-party at

the Van de Weyers, I. 475.
Holland House, Breakfast-party

at, I. 386.
Holland and Hannen, Messrs.,
Building Operations at Min-
ley, II. 177.
Holmes, Mr. and Mrs., Voyage

to Demerara, I. 308.
Holy Coat of Treves, Crusade
against at Weimar, I. 22, 186,
189, 190, 198.
Holywell, Visit to, II. 138.
Homburg, Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr., I.
22, 214, 361 ; n.
30.
Expenditure in i86g,

11. 36, 37, 38.
Hotel, I. 402, 404.
Lodgings, II. 31.
Necklace, Purchase of,

n- 37-

Roulette, Winnings at,

n-37-.

Raikes Currie, Mr. and
Family, I. 356, 384,
385, 400, 401, 409.
Home Rule Bills:

Irish Finance Commis-
sion resulting from,
II. 302.
Opposition to, II. 2S1.
Homer, Edition of. Gift pro-
posed by Mr. Gladstone, II.
174.
Honeymoon of Mr. Bertram
Currie, I. 56.

Letter written during, II.
6.
Hood, Lady, Marriage to Dr.

Hall, I. 231.
Hood, Mr., Acquaintance with,
during South American Tra-
vels, XXX, Ixi, Ixii.

Index.

Hood, Sir Samuel, first hus-
band of Mrs. Stewart Mac-
kenzie, I. 409.
Hook, Dr., Sermons at Hom-

burg, I. 403.
Hope and Co., Introduction to,

I. 52.
Hornby, Admiral, Acquaintance
with, during South American
Travels, I. 30, 323; xcvii.
Home Parson, House at Wim-
bledon, I. 44.
Horrocks, Lieut., Meeting with,

at Weimar, II. 113.
Horrocks, Mr., and his Brothers:
Absent from Weimar
during Mr. Currie's
Visit in 1873, II. 112.
Acquaintance with dur-
ing stay in Weimar,
in 1845, I. 146, 157,
158.
Amateur Theatricals,

I. 193, igS, 206.
Dresden, Visit to, I.

179.
Fishing Expedition
near Coburg, I.
167.
Militia, Commission in.
Desire for, I. 206.
Shooting Expeditions,
I. 159, 165, 171.
Eton, Visit to, reference
to, I. 173,
Horsham, Visit to, II. 144.
Horsley, Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr., I.

19. 493.
Charades, Christmas

1851, I. 478.
George Currie, Mr. and
Mrs., I. 461, 475,
477, 480.
Maynard Currie, The
Rev., 1.475, 477, 480.
Philip Currie, Sir, I. 499.
Raikes Currie, Mr. and
Mrs., I. 451, 454.
Hoskier, Mr., Baring Crisis,
Proposed investigation of
affairs, I, 91.

Hospenthal, Visits to, I. 514,
515 ; II. 104.

Hotwells, Drive by, II. 139.

Houldsworth, Sir W., Inter-
national Monetary Confer-
ence, Brussels, I. 79; II. 226,
227, 249.

Speech, II. 245.

How-Squier, Mr., Dinner-party
at Mr. Raikes Currie's, II.
I.

Howard, Lady, Party given by,
I. 380.

Howard, Mr. Charles, Meeting
with, at Castle Howard, I.
170.

Howard, Mrs., Meeting with, at
Innsbruck, II. 51.

Howard, Mrs., of Ashstead, I.

9-
Howden, Lord, Locum tenens

for, at Rio Janeiro, I. 250.
Huasco, Visit to, xciii.
Hubbard, Mr., Sermons of, I.

519-
Hucknell, Visit to, II. 118.
Hudson, Mr., Railway Panic,

1849, I- 241, 244.
Hudson, Mr. W., Appointment

in United States, I. 479.
Hudson, Sir J. :

Acquaintance with, dur-
ing South American
Travels, I. 26, 226
227, 245, 249, 250;
vi, xii, xiv, xvi.
Visit to, at Florence, II.
156.
Hudson River:

Crossing, cxviii.
Expedition up, I. 3S1 ;
cxxxii.
Hudson's Bay Company, Addi-
tion to Capital, I. 476.
Hugo, Victor:

Funeral of, II. 166.
House of, II. 163.
Hull Election, Candidature of
Mr. Bertram Currie, I. 54,
81.
Humboldt. Professor, Visit to
Weimar, I. 144.

Index.

Hume, Miss, Engagement to

Duke of Newcastle, I. 498.
Humming-birds, Artificial flow

ers made out of, at Rio, I

247.
Hungarian War of Independ

ence, I. 45, 240, 244, 261, 295

301, 302, 303.
Hunter, Mr., Irish Finance

Commission, 1894-6, H. 302
Huntsmore, Visit of Mr. and

Mrs. Raikes Currie to, I

310.
Hutchins, Mr., Meeting with

at Berlin, II. 107, 113.
Huth and Co., Visit to repre

sentative of, I. 30; xciii, xcv
Hyde Park :

Deer in, I. 2.
Exhibition of 1851, set
that title.
Hyde Park Street, House in,

leased by Mr. George Currie,

I- 378. 396, 451-
Hyde Park Terrace, House in,

leased by Mr. Raikes Currie,

I. I.
Hydra, H.M.S., Dinner with

Captain of, I. 228.

Ibbetson, Lady, Visit to Deau-

ville, II. 15.
Iberia, Voyage of Mr. George

Currie in, I. 188.
Ham Hall, Visit to, II. 124.
Ilbert Bill, Minute on by Sir

H. Maine, I. 65.
Ilkley, Visits to, II. 70, 126.
Illness, Attacks of:

Baring Crisis, Health
affected by, II. 202.
Brussels, Monetary Con-
ference, Illness dur-
ing, II. 246, 247,
249.
Buenos Ayres, I. 270,

278 ; xxi, xxii, xxiv.
Eton, I. 10.
Fatal Illness :

Bank, Farewell to, II.
35^'

Illness, Attacks of (continued) :
Books read during, II.

342, 346, 347, 354,
355, 358, 359, 5^2^
364, 365, 366.

Catholic Church, Con-
version andrecep-
tion into, II. 346.
Statements made by
Mr. Currie as to,
n. 351, 356, 357-

Coombe, Farewell to,
n. 345-

Drives and rides dur-
ing, II. 339, 342,

343, 346, 350, 359-
Extreme Unction and

Holy Communion,
Administration of,
II. 362.
First symptoms of, and
Operation in 1895,

I. 72; II. 3S5-
Improved health

and resumption of
business, II. ^2i3f
334, 335-
Return of disease,

n. 336.

Last act of conscious-
ness, II. 367.
Letters :

Last received, II.

366.
Written by Mr. Cur-
rie, II. 328, 342,

344-

Memoirs written dur-
ing, I. i; II. 337-

Minley,Visit to, during,

li- 342, 343-
Farewell, II. 359.
Way of life during

last weeks, II. 345,

355-
Religious difficulties,
Conversation on,

II. 340.
Retrospection and re-
signation, Written
record of, II. 339.

Termination, II. 368.

Index.

Illness, Attacks of {continutd) :
Visits from friends, II.

339-
Gull, Dr., Consultation

with, II. 77.
Littlehampton, II. 317.
London, II., 212, 483.
Minley, II. 194, 212, 317.
New York, I. 349; cxxii.
Normandy, II. 145, 146.
Rigi Kaltbad, II. 85, 86,
87, 88, 89, 90, 93, 95,
102.
Doctor's Bill, II. 100.
Rio Janeiro, v, vi, vii.
Swiss Tours, I. 515, 516;

II. 105.
Tours, II. 185.
Vals Water prescribed
as remedy, II. 102,
116.
Washington, I. 430.
Weimar, I. 181, 185, 192,
194, 199, 211.
Ilmenau, Expeditions to, I. 16,

168, 216.
Immenstadt, Journey past, II.

log.
In Meinoriam :

Comments on, I. 413.
Reading, II. 364.
Indian Civil Service, Career in,

proposed, I. 53.
Indian Council :

Appointment as Member
of, I. 62 ; II. 155.
Disqualification for
seat in Parliament
following on, I. 83.
Re-appointment, Cor-
respondence as to,
II. 201, 202.
Chairman of Finance
Committee, Appoint-
ment as, I. 68.
Constitution of, I. 62.
Four per cent, stock of
India, Conversion, I.
68.
Presidents of, I. 63, 68.
Reforms attempted, I.
66.

Indian Council (continued) :
Retirement from, I. 72.
Hamilton, Lord Geo.,
Correspondence
with, II. 331.
Speech on occasion of,
II. 329.
Under - Secretaries of

State, I. 66, 68.
Vice-President, Post as,

I. 64.

Indian Currency Committee,
1892-3, I. 69.

Account by Sir Arthur
Godley, of Mr.
Currie's Work on,

II. 257.
Appointment of Mr.

Currie on, I. 69.
Chairman's Memoran-
dum, Comments on,
II. 266.
Gladstone, Mr., Inter-
view with, proposed,
II. 280.
Letters on :

Farrer, Sir T., II. 262,

263, 272.
Kimberley, Lord, II.

260, 261, 263.
Raffalovich,M., II. 272.
Ripon, Marquess of,
II. 270.
Luncheon to Members

of, II. 281.
Memorandum and Note
by Mr. Currie, II.
264, 268.
Parliamentary opposi-
tion. Fears of, II.
280.
Views of Mr. Currie :
Memoirs, Statement

in, I. 71.
Speech on retirement
from Indian Coun-
cil, II. 329, 330.
Indian Debt, Arrangement as
to payment of, I. 72 ; II. 334.
Indian Nobles and Princes,
Garden-party at Coombe, I.
64.

Index.

Indian Summer, Beauty of, I.

419.
Indian Troubles, 1849, I. 229,

241.
Indre, River, Visit to, II.

184.
Influenza, Attack of, II.

212.
Innsbruck, Visit to, II. 51.
Interlachen, Cockney Tourists

at, I. 512, 513, 516.
Inverarnan, Visit to, II. 66.
Invergarry, House of Mr. Ellice

at, II. 66.
Inverness, Visit to, II. 64.
Inveroran, Visit to, II. 66.
Ionian Isles:

Berkeley Wodehouse,
Col., Appointment
in, promised to, I.
258.
Ward, Mr. H. G., Ap-
pointment as High
Commissioner,1. 230,
241.
Iquique, Visit to, xciii.
Irby Family, Acquaintance

with, I. 301.
Ireland :

Act of Union, Views as

to, I. 86.
Church of. Disestablish-
ment :
Debate on, in House
of Lords, II. 34,
36, 37-
Speech advocating, II.
28.
Distress in 1849, Relief
fund,administration,
I. 261, 284.
Financial Relations with
Great Britain, Royal
Commission on, 1894
-6, I. 86.
Appointment of Mr.
Currie on, II. 288,
294, 301.
Articles on, and dis-
cussions of Mr.
Currie's Policy,
II. 364.

Ireland {continued) :
Chairman :
Childers, Mr. :
Appointment, II.

301, 302.
Death, II. 304, 334.
Draft Report by,
11.304, 308, 310,

311-
Farrer, Lord, Ap-
pointment ru-
moured, II. 308,

309-
O'Conor Don, The,
Appointment
proposed, II.
309, 312.
Letters referring to,

II. 308.
Memorandum drawn
up by LordWelby,
II. 302.
Reports drawn up by
Mr. Currie, Lord
Farrer, and Lord
Welby, II. 305.
Home Rule Bill, Opposi-
tion to, II. 281.
Inland Seas, beauty of,

II. 326.
Rate-in-aid of Taxation,

1849, I. 230.
Views on Irish Question,

I. 86.
Visit to, II. 322.
Irisaldo, Senor, Acquaintance
with, at Buenos Ayres, xxxix.
Irving, Henr}-, Acting of, I.

45-
Islay, Peru, Visit to, I. 318; c.
Italy :

Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr.,

I. 51; II. 16, 43,

147, 152, 155, 157,

160, 172, 286.

Last Visits, II. 172,

286.
Letters from Mrs.
Bertram Currie,
describing, II. 17,
19, 22.

Index.

Italy (continued) :

Plan relinquished in

1896, II. 335.
Spring Holidays, II.
147.
Raikes Currie, Mr. and

family, I. 461.
{See also Florence,
Rome, &c.)
War with Austria, I. 231,
240, 284.
Iwerne Minster House, Visit to,

II. 157.
Izaak Walton, The, Drive to, II.
124.

Jackson, Mr., Visit to, cv,
Jamaica :

Bishop of, see Spencer,

Mr. Aubrey.
Visit to, I. 31, 333, 336,
340; cxiii.
Departure, cxvii.
James, Mr., Age of Miss
Schwengler specified by, I.
199.
James and Yallowley, Messrs.,
Partnership with Mr. William
Currie, I. 4.
Jameson, Miss, Visit to Frank-
fort, II. 38.
Jay, Mr., Acquaintance with, at

Washington, cxxvii.
Jerez, Visit to, II. 4.
Jervaulx Abbey, Visit to, II.

71-
Johann, Prince, Son of, placed

at Jesuitical School, I. 166.
John Cockercll, Steamer on the

Rhine, I. 127.
Johnson, Commander, Voyage
with, on H.M.S. Driver, I. 25,
26, 222, 226 ; i.
Letter, I. 246.
Madeira Wine presenta-
tion, I. 225.
Meetings with, subse-
quent to, I. 30, 323;
xciv, xcvii.
Johnson, Miss :

Call on, at Valparaiso,
xcii.

IV

Johnson, Miss (continued):

Voyage on H.M.S. Driver,
I. 221, 222.
Jones, Mr., of Liverpool, Visit

to, I. 8.
Jones, Mr., of Rio Janeiro, Visit
to, I. 237; x.

Daughter of, belle of
Rio, x.
Jones, Mr. Herbert, Marriage

of, I. 433-
Jones, Mrs., pensioner of Miss

Vernon, I. 374.
Jones, Mrs., of New York :

Position in Society, I.
346 ; cxix.
Daughter of, cxxxviii.
Saratoga Visit, I. 387;
cxxxviii.
Jones, Senator, International
Monetary Conference, Brus-
sels, II. 249, 250, 251.
Jones Loyd:

Amalgamation Negotia-
tions with, I. 52.
Irish Distress Relief
Fund, 1849, I. 261,
284.
Journals. Sec Diaries.
Jubilee Procession, 1887, View

of, II. 174.
Juguari, Visit to, lix.
Julienne :

Illness, Fatal, of Mr.
Francis Currie, II.

195. 199-
Paris, Visit to, II. 133.
Rigi-Kaltbad, Visit to, II.

83, 86, 92, 96, 97,

100, lOI.
Son of. Death of, II.

75-
Justo, Servant during crossing
of Cordilleras, Ixxxi, Ixxxiii.

Keats, Miss, Introduction of
Mr. George Currie to.. I 240,
244.

Kegel, Game of, I. 16, 134 147.

Keith, Empire Clock purchased
from, II. 65.

Index.

Keith Falconer, Mr., Meeting
with, at Homburg, II. 31, 36,

38.

Kendal, Visit to, II. 127.

Kenmare, Visit to, II. 327.

Kenmare, Lord, House built
for, at Killarney, I. 36 ; II.
328.

Kennedy, Capt., Marriage, I.
306.

Kensington Gardens,Wall form-
erly enclosing, I. 2.

Kerr, Lord Henry, Estates in-
herited from Lady Suffield,
I. 456.

Kerr, Rev. Father :

Ministrations during
last illness of Mr.
Currie, II. 347, 348,

367-
Requiem Service for
Archbishop of Bom-
bay, II. 188.
Kester. Mr. Gray :

Interview with, I. 490.
Letter from, I. 493.
Keysworth and Seeley, Messrs.,
Negotiations as to use of
White, Ponsford, and Co.'s
Patent, I. 300.
Killarney, Visit to, II. 327.
Killarney House, Description

of, I, 36, 328.
Killiecranliie, Visit to, II. 64.
Killogg, Mr.:

Advice as to Hotels,

cxvii.
Meeting with, in New
York, cxxii.
Kimberley, Visits to :

George Currie, Mr., I.

231.
Raikes Currie, Mr. and
Mrs., I. ig6, 423,

433-
Kimberley, Lord :

Agriculturists and La-
bourei's, Speeches
to, I. 301.
Australian Government
Bill, Speech on, I.
374-

Kimberley, Lord {continued) :

Derby Administration,
Comments on form-
ation of Cabinet, I.
489.

Dereham Ball, I. 433.

Dinner at Mr. Vernon
Smith's, I. 374.

Eminence in House of
Lords, I. 424.

Exeter Agricultural
Meeting, Speech at,

I- 399-

Government supported
by, in 1850, 1. 394.

Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1892-3:
Appointment, I. 6g.
Letters, II. 260, 263.

International Monetary
Conference, Inter-
view with Sir W.
Harcourt, II. 230.

Living presented to Rev.
Maynard Currie by,

1.15-

Maiden Speech in House
of Lords, I. 355.

Navigation Laws, Re-
peal, Debate on, I.

243-
Speech of March 15th,

1852, 1.493.
Taplow Court, Visit to,

I. 283.
Under-Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs,
I. 51S.
Whig Party joined by,

I. 501.
Windsor, Luncheon at,
I. 10.
King, Mr., Visit to Saratoga,

cxxxvii.
King, Mr. Butler, Introduction

to, in New York, cxviii.
King, Mr. Locke, Member for

Surrey, I. 85.
King, Messrs. J. G. and Son,
Acquaintance with Member
of firm of, I. 346; cxviii,
cxxvii.

Index.

King, Mrs., Pew-opener at St.

John's, Paddington, I. 348;

cxvi.
King's Weston, Visit to, II.

139-
Kingston, Jamaica, Visit to,
I. 337; cxiii.

Departure, cxviii.
Description of town, I.

340-
Letters, I. 333, 335.
Kingston, Surrey :

Election, 1868, Speech,

II. 28.
High Steward, Appoint-
ment of Mr. Carrie
as, II. 281.
Speech at Inaugura-
tion, II. 283.
Liberal Club, Members
of. Entertainment at
Coombe, II. 202.
Kingston Lacy, Garden-party

at, relinquishment, II. 144.
Kinsky, Count, Interview with,

at Vienna, II. 52, 53.
Kirby Lonsdale, Visit to, II.

127.
Kirchen, Mr., Consul at Frank-
fort, II. 31.
Kirkland, Sir John, House

leased from, I. 45.
Kirplus, Herr, Leader of Ger-
man Catholic Movement, I.
163.
Klbsterli, Girl killed at, by

blasting operations, II. 85.
Knight, Mr., J6urney to Inver-
ness, II. 64.
Knockers, Bronze, Purchase at

Venice, II. 48.
Konigstein, Visits to :

Bertram Carrie, Mr., I.

411; II. 36.
Raikes Currie and family,
Mr., I. 403.
Kossuth :

Arrival at Southampton,

I. 463.
Envoy of, Acquaintance
of Mr. Raikes Currie
with, I. 285.

Kossuth (continued) :

Russian Government de-
mand as to, I. 301,

303-
Visit to Mr. Raikes Cur-
rie, I. 45, 46.

Kudorf, Visit to, II. 37.

Kiissnacht, Visit to, I. 516.

La Bayada del Parana, Visit to,

I. 290,

La Jaca, Don HippoHto, Visit

to, civ.
La Madrid, General, Flight into

Chili, Ixxxv.
La Ponetta, Visit to, II. 153.
Labalmondiere, Mrs., Visit to
Iwerne Minster House, II.
158.
Labouchere Family :

Dinner-party, I. 310.
Visit to Taplow Court,
I. 311.
Labouchere, Mr. H., Interview
with Mr. Currie as to seat
in Mr. Gladstone's Fourth
Administration, II. 218.

Article in Truth, and cor-
respondence there-
on, II. 218.
Letter from Mr. Labou-
chere, II. 2ig.
Memorandum by Mr.
Carrie, II. 222.
Lachmann, Herr :

German Master to Mr.

Currie, I. 24.
Letter to, I. 161.
Lamarca, Mr., Acquaintance

with, at Valparaiso, xcii.
Lamarche Races, Visit to, II.

Lambert, Mr., Crucifix and
Candlesticks procured from,

II. igo, 192.

Laming, Mr., Dispute with, I.

463-

Landseer, Sir E., Shooting of
dog belonging to, I. 35.

Langdale, Miss, Present at
Recjuiem Service for Arch-
bishop of Bombay, II. 188.

Index.

Langdale, Mr. Charles :

Article on, in Dublin

Review, II. 359.
Illness, II. 27.
Langeais, Visit to, II. 184.
Langford, Lord, Travels with
Mr. George Currie, Question
as to, I. 210.
Lansdowne :

Lady, Wedding-present
to Mr.George Currie,
I. 403.
Marquess of:

Connection with family
of Vernon Smith,
I. 352.
Dinner-party at house

of, I. 356.
Wedding of Mr. George
Currie :
House lent for
honeymoon, I.
424.
Present at, I. 409,
421, 422, 424, 425.
Fifth Marquess of :
Indian Currency Ques-
tion, II. 257.
Lapunto, Mme., Acquaintance

with, at Lima, xciv.
Larrasavel :

Captain F., Acquaint-
ance with, at Buenos
Ayres, xxii, xxxii,
xxxiii.
Pepita, Acquaintance
with, at Buenos
Ayres, xxii, xxv, xxix,
XXX, xxxii, xxxvii,
Ixi.
Larpent, Sir G. H., House at

Roehampton, I. 35.
Lascelles Family, Death of

Members of, at Eton, I. 10.
Lascelles, Mr. and Lady Caro-
line, Dinner with Mr. and
Mrs. Raikes Currie, I. 259.
Latter- Day Pamphlets, Com-
ments on, I. 395.
Launceston, Visit to, II. 6g.
Laurence, Sir T., Picture by,
II. 189.

Lausanne, Visit to, I. 510; II.

197.
Lavezzari, Sig., Purchases from,

II. 46.
Law, Rev., Elopement with

Lady A. Vane, I. 484.
Law, Rev., Picture by Sir

Joshua Reynolds, Sale of,

II. 80, 81.
Lawford, Mr. E., Letter and

Cheque sent to Currie and

Co., I. 464.
Lawford, Mr. J.:

Bank, Position in, I. 18.
Illness, I. 308, 310.
Journey to Ghent, I.

373-
Sugars held in name of,
I. 462.
Lawrence, Mrs. Abbot, Wife of
English Minister at Washing-
ton, I. 406.
Lawrence, Mrs. and Miss,
Meeting with, in Paris, II.
163.
Le Jeune, M., Photograph of

Mr. Currie by, II. 72.
Le Marchant, Mr., Dinner-party

at Mr. Labouchere's, I. 310.
Ledbury, Visit to, II. 16.
Ledru-RolUn, M., Socialist De-
monstrations, 1849, I. 257.
Leech, Mr., Meeting with, at

Coblentz, I. 126.
Leeds :

Goschen, Mr., Speech at,

I. 113 ; II. 216.
Visit to, II. 126.
Lefevre, Mr. Isaac, Grand-
father of Mr. Isaac Currie,

1.3-

Lefevre, Messrs., Business of,
amalgamated with that of
Mr. William Currie, I. 4.

Lefevre, Sir John :

House at Wimbledon,

1.35.

Visit to Mr. Raikes
Currie, I. 196, 301,

305-
Wickham lent to, I. 417,
428.

Index.

Lefevre, Shaw-, Mr. George,

Papers written for Gold Stan-
dard Defence Association,

II. 309.
Legh, Mr. Egerton, Owner of

Bantry House, II. 327.
Legh, Mr. Thomas, Meeting

with, in Paris, II. 162.
Legh, Mr. W. J., Visit to, II.

125.
Leibnitz, Herr, Acquaintance

with, at Weimar, I. 147.
Leipsic :

Bookseller, English
Works pirated bj',
I. 201, 211.
Fair at, I. 176, 180.
Riot at, I. 166, 184.
Visit to, I. 179, 182, 1S3.
Lenox, U.S.A., Visit to, cxxxvi.
Les Avants, Walk to, from

Glyon, II. 200.
Leslie, Rev. Father, Requiem

Service for Archbishop of

Bombay, II. 188.
Lethbridge, Miss, Present at

Ball given by Mrs. George

Currie, I. 498.
Lettsom, Mr., Visit to Weimar

proposed, I. 187.
Letton, Visit of Mrs. R. Currie

to, I. 433.
Leukemeyer, Mme., Call on, in

Paris, II. 204.
Levens, Visit to, II. 127.
Leveson-Gower, Mr. F., Visit

to Hawarden Castle, II.

225.
Lewes, Discovery of Bones of

Gundrcda at, I. 187.
Lewis, Lady Teresa, Book

written by, I. 487.
Lewis, Mr., Acquaintance with,

at Washington, cxxv.
Lewis, Mr. G., Life of Gvcthe

I. 17.
Leyburn, Visit to, II. 70.
Lhuys, Drouyn de, Departure

from London, I. 357.
Lichfield, Visit to, II. 129.
Lichnowsky, Prince, Murder of,

L 217.

Liddell, Mr., Meeting with, at

Vienna, II. 52.
Liddledale, Mr. W., Baring

Crisis, I. 91.
Lieberkuhn, Professor :

Bapt&me at house of, I.

136.
Call on, I. 129.
Disputation with, I. 133.
Li6ge, Journey through, I. 125.
Light, Col., Commemoration

Cup, I. 476.
Lilford, Lord and Lady :

Party at Mrs. Raikes

Currie's, I. 385.
Wedding of Mr. George
Currie, present at,
I. 402, 421, 422.
Lille, Journey through, II. 39.
Lima, Visit to, I. 29, 314 ; xciv,
xcix, cvi, cviii.

Alameda, xciv.
Bull-fight, xciv, xcvii.
Carnival, ciii.
Christmas Eve Celebra-
tions, xciv.
Departure from, I. 328.
Descriptions of Lima,

I. 318; xcv.
Earthquake Shock, xcvi.
Hotels and lodgings at,

xcv, xcvi.
Letters from, I. 314,

316, 322, 326.
Tailor, xcvii.
Women, Comments on,
I. 315, xciv.
Limoges Enamels at Minley,

II. 180.
Lincoln, Visit to, II. 121.
Lind, Jenny :

Engagement to Mr.

Harris, I. 258, 259.
London Concerts, I. 231,

241.
Marriage, I. 495.
Meeting with, at Mrs.
Grote's House, I.

3«-
Tour with Bamum, I.
405, 412, 414, 437,
448.

Ind^x.

Lind, Jenny {continued) :

Weimar, Appearance at,

I. i8, 175, 205, 207,
210.

Linn^, Servant during Italian

Tour, I. 504.
Linstead, Visit to, cxv.
Liquor Bill, 1893, II. 281.
Lisle, Drive through, II. 207.
Littlehampton :

Purchase of houses at,

II. 25, 26, 29.
Visits to, II. 9, 16, 24, 29,

39, 41, 54, 70, 71, 78,
130, 143, 144, 159,
161, 186, 317.
Liverpool :

Cardwell, Speech at, I.

500.
Visit to, II. 140.
Liverpool, Lord, Views on
Currency Question, reference
to, II. 284.
Livingstone, Mrs., Visit to, in

New York, cxxiii.
Llamas, Herd of, arrival at

Arequipa, cii.
Llandudno, Visit to, II. 140.
Loch Lomond, Visit to, II. 67.
Loch Ness, Loch Oich, and
Loch Lochy, Visit to, II.
66.
Loches, Visit to, II. 184.
Locke, Mr., Engineer, I. 476.
Loftus, Mrs., Meeting with, in

Paris, II. 162.
Loire, Castles on. Visit to, II.

182.
Lombard Street, No. 67, see

Glyn, Mills, Currie, and Co.
London :

Dislike of, I. 2.
Political Parties in City,
I. 82.
London, Bishop of, Meeting

with, at Berne, II. 106.
London and North - Western
Railway, Reduction of Com-
mission probable, II. 283.
London and South - Western
Railway, Unpunctuality of,
II. 176.

London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway, Panic of 1866, in-
fluence on, I. 59.

London, City Corporation,
Comments on, I. 83.

London County Council, Crea-
tion of, objects attained by,

I. 83.

London Institution, Speech at,

on Currency Question, I. 81,

104.
Long Island, Visit to, cxxiii.
Longford, Lord, Travels of

Mr. George Currie, question

as to, I. 210.
Longleat, Visit to, II. 143.
Longman, Mr. G. and Miss

Tina, Beagling at Minley,

II. 74.

Lopez, Don Ricardo, Visit to,

Ivi.
Lopez, General, Reception at

New Orleans, I. 369.
Lord Mayor's Procession, 1889,

II. 190.
Lothian, Lord, Property in-
herited by, I. 456.
Louvain, Visit to, I. 124, 140;

II. 82.
Lovering :

Driving Tour, 1874, II.

124.

Scotch Tour, 1871, II. 65.

Lowe, Mr., Reduction of the

Franchise, Views as to, I.

82.

Lowell, New England, Visit to,

cxxxv.
Lowndes Square, Lease of

house in, II, to.
Loyd Family :

Lewis, Mr.,jun., Marriage

of, I. 143, 146.
Lewis, Mr,, sen.. Visits
to, at Overstone, I,

39-

Rise and decline of, I,
40,

Samuel Jones, see Over-
stone, Lord.

William, Mr. Visit to
Overstone, I. 39,

Index.

Lubbock, Sir J. :

Amalgamation Negotia-
tions, I. 52.
International Monetary
Conference, Nomi-
nation as delegate
proposed, II. 228.
Lucerne, Visits to and letters
from, I. 55, 514, 516; II. 83,
96, 97, 102, 173.
Lujan, Visit to, xliii, Ixxi.
Lumley, Mr., Visit to Mr. and

Mrs. Grote, I. 38.
Lurin, Illness of Mr. Baring at,

xcix.
Lushington, Dr., Visit to

Horsley, I. 454.
Liitzen, Journey through, I. 179.
Lyme Park, Visit to, II. 125.
Lymington, Visit to, II. 144.
Lynby, Visit to, II. 118.
Lyndhurst, Visit to, II. 144,

157-

Donkey purchased dur-
ing, II. 158.
Lynton, Visit to, II. 8.
Lyons, Visits to, II. 24, 42, 211,

212.
Lyttleton, Mr. and Mrs. A.,

Visit to Havvarden, II. 225.
Lytton, Earl of:

Call on, in Paris, II. 196.

Letter on death of Mr.

I. E. Currie, II. 168.

Lytton, Robert, Acquaintance

with, during American

Travels, I. 33, 448.

Lyveden :

Lady, regard for, I. 40.
Lord (Robert Vernon
Smith) :
Ampthill, Visit to, I

446.
Brighton, Visit to, I

469. 470-
Cabinet, scat in, I

485, 486.
Daughter of, see Ver

non. Miss Evelyn.
Death, II. 115,
Dinner-party at houFc

of, I. 374.

Lyveden {continued) :

Election of 1852, 1. 485,

486, 500.
Family of, I. 352.
Farming Woods, see

that title.
Northampton Dinner,

Speech at, I. 203.
Party given by, I. 384.
Raikes Currie, Mr.,

Parties at house of,

I- 379. 385-

Russell, Lady John,
Party at house of,
I. 342.

Theatrical perform-
ances at Farming
Woods, I. 40.

Wedding of Miss
Vernon and Mr.
George Currie, I.
421.

Maberly, Col. and Mrs., Visit

to, at Gibraltar, II. 4,
Maberley, Miss, Marriage of,

I. 304.
Mabey, Mr., Sculpture, &c.,
executed by :

Coombe, II. 159.
Minley, II. 178, i8[, 190.
Macaulay, Lord :

Essays, Reading, II. 342.
History of England,
Purchase of, cxvi.
McCrachen, Mr., Picture de-
livered by, II. 57.
Macdonald Family, Greenwich

party, I. 379.
Macdougall — Highland dresses
for children. Purchase from
11.65.
Macdougall, Mr. Justice, Ac-
quaintance with, at Kingston,
cxiv, cxv, cxvi.
McEvoy, Rev. Father, Meeting

with, at Newport, cxxxiii.
Macgrcgor's British Bank :
Prospects of, I. 437.
Swayne and Bovill's
Account, I. 427, 445.

Index.

Mackay, Mrs., Book on America,

cxx.
Mackenzie, Mr. Hay, Death of

I. 282.

Mackenzie, Mrs. and Miss
Stewart :

Dinner - party at Mrs.
Raikes Currie's, I.
446.
Homburg Visit, I. 385,
401, 402, 403, 435.
Verses on, I. 409.
Macleod, Mrs. and the Misses,
Acquaintance with, at Balti-
more, I. 371 ; cxxix, cxxx.
MacMulIen, Rev,, Visit to Rigi-

Kaltbad, II. 88, go.
MacNaughton, Mr. and Mrs. :
Dinner-party, I. 142.
Meeting with, at Calais,
II. 39.
M'Neill, Mr., Financial position

in 1851, I. 462.
Macon, Visit to, II. 151.
McTavish, Miss, Governess, I.

Macvicar, Dr., I. 340, 346, 348 ;

cxix.
Madeira :

Quarantine established,
landing prohibited,
I. 26, 223; i.
Wine, Case of, procured
at, I. 225.
Madrid, Visit to, I. 51 ; II. 4.
Magniac, Mr. and Mrs., Dinner-
party at Mr. George Currie's,

II. 2.

Mahon, Lord, Book on the

American Revolution, I.

487.
Maidenhead, Visit to, II. 3.
Maine, Sir Henry, Member of

the Council of India, I. 64.
Malaga, Visit to, II. 4.
Maiden, Polling at. Election of

1895, II. 329.
Malham Cove and Church,

Visit to, II. 126.
Mallet, Lady, Present on

Speech Day, Cooper's Hill,

II. 175.

Mallet, Sir Louis, Under
Secretary of State to India
Office, I. 66.

Retirement, I. 68.

Malmesbury, Lord, Seat in
Lord Derby's Cabinet, I.
486, 488.

Maltitz, M. and Mme., Acquaint-
ance with, I. 136, 144, 146,
153) 213.

Malton, Visit to, II. 71.

Malvern, Visits to, II. 15, 138,
141. 142, 318.

Manchester Ship Canal Bill,
1893, II. 281.

Mancilla, Mme. and Eduardita,
Acquaintance with, at Buenos
Ayres, xx, xxi, xxii, xxiii, xxx,
xxxi, XXXV.

Manders, Dr., Attendance on
Mr. Currie, II. 194.

Mandeville, Mr. :

Dinner-party at Mr.
Raikes Currie's, I.

343-
Letters of introduction
received from, I. 25,
231, 238, 284.
Manico, Dr., Acquaintance
with, during South American
Travels, I. 233 ; ix, x, xv.
Mann, Herr, Meeting with, at

Leipsic, I. 180.
Mann, Mrs., Lodgings of Mr.W.

Wodehouse, I. 477.
Manners, Lord J. :

Electioneering Contests,

I. 19, 283, 489.
Speech by Mr. Raikes
Currie, Allusion to,
I. 286.
Manning, Cardinal, Life of, II.

334-
Mansfield, Visit to, II. iig.
Mansillas, Visit to, xxv.
Marie , Meeting with, at

Weimar, I. 215.
Marienbad, Visit to, II. 10.
Marino, ^Ime., Acquaintance

with, at Buenos Ayres, xxii.
Markham, Capt., Commander

of H.M.S. Warrior, II. 59.

Index.

Markham, Miss, Meeting with,

at Chamoiinix, I. 507.
Markliam, Miss, Present to

Mr. I. E. Currie, II. 122.
Markham, Mr., Northampton

Election, canditure rumour-
ed, I. 494.
Markliam, Mr., Visit to, at

Chesterfield, II. 122.
Marlow, Visit to, II. 3.
Marriage of Mr.Bertram Currie,

1.54; II- 6.
Marschalle, Countess, Visit to,

I. 136.
Marsdc;!!, Dr., Lease of cottage

from, II. 8.
Marseilles, Visits to, II. 24,

204.
Marshall, Mr., Theatricals at

Weimar, I. 204, 206.
Marshall, Mr., Meeting with,

during American Travels, I.

368, 389; cxxxvii.
Marshall, Mr., Speech by Mr.

Raikes Currie, Comments

on, I. 207.
Marshall, Mrs. John, Call on

Mrs. Currie, II. 3G5.
Martigny, Visit to, I. 508.
Martin, M., Tapestry for Minley

designed by, II. 177.
Martineau, Nliss H., Comments

on speech by Mr. Raikes

Currie, I. 19.
Marx — Necklace purchased

from, II. 37.
Mason, Mr., Partnership with

Cooper, Currie, and Co.

rumoured, I. 464.
Mastra Garcia, Visit to, lix.
Matlock, Visit to, II. 123.
Mathew, Mr., Acquaintance

with, in New York, cxxxi.
Maude, Miss Florence, Mar-
riage, I. 303.
Maule, Col., Commander of

Regiment in Canada, I.

441.
Maule, Mr. Fox, Appointment

on Board of Control, I. 481.
Maury's Hotel, Lima, Visit to,

xcv.

Maxwell, Mr. and family :
Journey with, II. 59.
Meeting at Homburg,

II- 32, 33-
Maxwell, Wright, and Co., Visit

to, I. 228; vii, x.
Mayence, Visits to, I. 126, 128;

II. 10,38.
Mayo, Dr., School at Cheam,

I. 5, 6, 8.
Meade, Hon. Sir Robert, Letter

from, II. 366.
Measles, Attack of, I. 10.
Mechlin, Journey through, I.

124.
Medrana, Visit to, xxx.
Mejos, Don, Secretary of State,

Santa Fd, xlix.
Mellier, Messrs., Decoration of

Minley, II. 177.
Mellish, Mr. :

Introduction received

from, I. 131.
Marschalle, Countess,

related to, I. 136.
Zwierlein Family, Ac-
quainted with, I.

134-
Menai Straits, Holidays near,

I. 7; II. 139, 140.
Mendibuso, Dance at Dona

Ignacias, cvii.
Mendoza, Visit to, I. 29, 297;
Ixxvii.

Alameda, Ixxix.
Casade Ejerciciesespiri-

tuales, Ixxix.
Chamber of. Action as to
Rosas' proposal to
resign, Ixxx.
Dysentery attack, Ixxix,

Ixxx.
Hours for visiting and
taking exercise,

Ixxix.
Passport from Governor,

Ixxxi.
Silk Wormeries, Visit to,

Ixxviii.
Tax on Passengers
across the Andes,
Ixxxiv.

Index,

Mendoza River, Ride along

banks of, Ixxxiii.
Menno, Herr, Chaplain at

Coblentz, I. 126.
Mentmore :

Appointment of May-
nard Currie at, I.

15-

Mentone, Visit to, II. 156,

160.
Merca, Mile., Benefit of, xxxv.
Mercedes, Dance at Uoiia

Ignacia Palacies, cvii.
Merchant of Venice :

Amateur performance at
Weimar, I. 199, 200,
203, 206, 213.
Burlesque at the Olym-
pic, I. 45.
Merea, Mile., Prima Donna,

Buenos Ayres, xxiii.
Meredith Family, Acquaintance

with, at Baltimore, cxxxviii.
Metternich, Prince, Breakfast-
party at Mr. Monckton

Milnes, I. 283.
Mouse, Crossing, on journey to

Weimar, I. 125.
Mexico, Visit to, abandoned,

I. 319, 344.
Micklethwaite, John, Marriage

of, I. 230.
Mid-Surrey Liberal Committee,

Chairmanship, I. 84.
Milan, Visit to, II. 45, 151, 172,

173-
MilanoUos, Appearance at

Weimar, I. 205.
Mildmay :

Bingham, Mr. :
Arrival in America,

I. 472.

Coombe End built by,

II. 8.
Friendship with, I. 89.
Paris, Journey to, II.

132, 133. 134- 136.
Shoreham, Visit to, II.

138. . . ^

Humphrey, Mr., Visit of
Mr.George Currie to,
I. 306.

Mildmay {continued) :

American Travels, I.
359. 389. 397 ; cxxvi.
Milford, Visit to, II. 24.
Militia, Commission in, pro-
posed, 1. 206.
Militia Bill, Speech on, by Lord

Palmerston, I. 487.
Mill, Mr. John Stuart, Death

of, II. 77.
Miller, Mrs. Stair, Party given

by, at New York, cxxi.
Milling Business, set; title White,

Ponsford, and Co.
Mills Family :

A., Mr., Letter from, II.

297.
Amalgamation negotia-
tions with Scotch
Bank, I. 61, 62.
C, Mr. :

Amalgamation over-
tures, I. 53.
Character and career

of, I. 94.
Overend and Gurney,
Suspension, discus-
sion as to, I. 60.
Wodehouse, Mr. W.,
Offer as to, I. 477.
E., Mr., Retirement from
Banking Business,

1.53-

Glyn, Mills, Currie, and

Co., see that title.
Miss, marriage. Rumours
as to, I. 230.
Milnes, Mr. Monckton, Break-
fast-party, I. 283.
Milnes, Mr. R., Reference to, in
book by De Tocqueville, II.
286.
Milnethorpe, Visit to, II.

127.
Miniatures at Minley, II. 180,

280.
Minley Lodge :

Laurence Currie, Mr.,
reading for Cam-
bridge at, II. 177.
Purchase of, II. 177.
Visit to, II. 174.

Index.

Minley Manor:

Building operations at :
Bertram Currie, Mr.,

1-36.56, 59; II- 176,
180.

Raikes Currie, Mr.,
1.56.
Carbery, Lord and Lady,

Visit to, IL 336.
Chapel at :

Altar panelling. Carv-
ing and frieze for,
IL 181, 189, 190, 192.

Altar-cloth, Proposed,
IL 191.

Crucifi.x and Candle-
sticks for, II. 190,
191, 192.

Devey, Mr., Architect
for, 1 1. 202.

Opening by the Bishop
of Portsmouth, 1 1.
202.

Picture forming Altar-
piece, II. 172.

Windows, Moisture
distilled from, IL

195-

Death of Mr. Raikes
Currie at, II. 157.

Decorations, Interior, 1 1.
177, 178.

Electric Lighting, Alter-
ation in, II. 281,
282.

Fire at, II. 55.

Garden and Pleasure-
grounds, II. 178.

Garden Hall, Glass in,
IL 195.

Gladstone, Mr. W. E.,
Visit to, II. 285.

Glass panels and gilt
brackets for draw-
ing-room, II. 280.

Honeymoon of Mr. May-
nard Currie, II. 115.

Illness of Mr. Bertram
Currie at, II. 317,

35". 355-
Illness of Mrs. Bertram
Currie, 1 1. 182.

Minley Manor (coniinued):

Inheritance under will
of Mr. Raikes Currie,
II. 175.
Irish Finance Commis-
sion, Discussion as
to, held at, II. 307.
Last days of Mr. Bertram
Currie at, and fare-
well to, 1 1. 350, 355,

359-
Let on lease, II. 157, 176.
Miniatures at, II. 180,

280.
Marriage of Miss Edith

Currie at, II. 70.
Objects of Art at. Mem-
orandum on, II. 178.
Plants, Inspection, by

Veitch, II. 282.
Portrait of Lord Wode-

house at, I. 5.
Settling down after
building alterations,
IL 180.
Visits to, in lifetime of
Mr. Raikes Currie,
II. 8.9, 74, 141.
Mirehouse, Mr. John, Friend-
ship with, at Eton, I. 170,
171.
Misto, View of, ci.
Mitford, Mr., Visit to Mr. Currie

at Minley, II. 191.
Mitre Tavern, Dinners at, I. 45.
Modanc, Visit to, II. 151,286.
Modena, Prince of. Dinner at

Court of Weimar, I. 138.
Mohi-ud-din, Friendship with
Mr. Laurence Currie at Cam-
bridge, II. 181, 1 86.
Molesworth, Sir Guilford :

International Monetary
Conference, Brussels,
11.243, 245-
Molcsworth, Sir William,

Political opinions, I. 82.
Monetary Question, uc Cur-
rency Question.
Monmouth, Visit to, IL 138.
Monnct's Hotel, Visit to, I. 509.
Mousal Dale, Visit to, 11. 123.

Index.

Monson, Sir E., International
Monetary Conference, Brus-
sel, II. 233, 237, 238.
Montanvert, Ascent of, I. 507.
Monte, Game of, I. 30.
Monte Carlo :

Illness of Mr. Francis
Currie at, II. 195,
196.
Visit to, II. 156, 204.
Monte Senario, Monastery of,

Visit to, II. 172.
Monte Video, Visits to, I. 27,
250, 252 ; xvi.

Description of Town
and Inhabitants,
xvii, xviii.
Montefiore, M., President of
International Monetary Con-
ference, II. 233.

Entertainment at Theatre
given by, 11.239,240,

243-

Montero, Teresita, Party on
St. John's Eve, xxix.

Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs.,
Meeting with, on journey to
Genoa, II. 43.

Montholon, Mme., Acquaint-
ance with, at Washington,
cxxix.

Montmorency, Falls of, I.
441.

Montpelier, Visit to, II. 209.

Montreal, Visit to, I. 389, 431,

435> 439-
Moore, Capt., Visit to Horsley,

I- 454-

Moore, G., Northampton Elec-
tion, Attitude towards Mr.
Raikes Currie, I. 490, 493,
493, 498, 500.

Moquegua, Visit to, civ.

Mor, Don Francisco, Acquaint-
ance with, at Santiago, Ixxxvii.

Morecambe Bay, Visit to, II.
127.

Moreno, D. Ruperto, Journey
with, Ixxvi.

Morier— Death of, I. 231.

Morin, M., Landlord at Lima,
xcv.

Morley, Lady :

Crystal Palace, View of,
from Kent House,
I. 452.
Dinner-party at Mr. G.

Hibbert's I. 463.
Friendship with, I. 49.
Homburg, Visit to, I. 385,
401, 402, 409, 410.
Morley, Mr., Northampton
Election, Candidature pro-
posed, I. 491.
Morley, Mr.John, Irish Finance
Commission, 1894-6, I. 86,
87 ; II. 288, 309, 301, 310.
Morocco, War with Spain,

possibility of, II. 5.
Morpeth, Lord, Meeting with,

at Castle Howard, I. 170.
Morrison, Mr., house and
grounds of. Drive past, II. 126.
Morted' Arthur, Reading, II. 364.
Mortimore, Mr. :

Inquiries in connection
with Leather trade,
I. 241, 372, 390.
Partner in firm of Streat-
field, Laurence, and
Co., I. 43.
Morton, Mr., School at Farn-

borough, II. 115.
Moser, Herr, Performances at

Buenos Ayres, Ixi, Ixiii.
Mosquera, General, Passenger
on board Niieva Granada,
cviii.
Mosquitoes, Persecution by, in

South America, I. 246.
Moss, Mr., Pension, at Petro-

polis, I. 27, 236 ; ix, xi, xiii.
Moulin, Visit to, II. 64.
Mount Edgcumbe, Visit to, II.

68.
Mount Edgcumbe, Lord, Meet-
ing with, at Saltram Races,
11.69.
Mount Felix, Visit to, I. 50,
Mowbray Point, Visit to, II. 70.
Miiller, Dr., Attendance at

Homburg, II. 31.
Munden, Charades at, I. 478,
480.

Index.

Mundesley, Visit to, I. 3.
Munich, Visit to, II. 52.
Municipal Keform, Attitude

towards, I. 83.
Mur, — Acquaintance with, I.

3^3-
Murall, Mile., Meeting with, at

Homburg, II. 35.
Murano Glass-works, Visits to,

II. 50.
Murat, Prince, Acquaintance of
Mr. Kaikes Carrie with, I.
256.
Murray, Mr. :

International Monetary
Conference, Brussels,
II. 227.
Meeting with, at Hom-
burg, II. 33, 34, 35,

37-

Murray, Mr. and Hon. Mrs.
Scott, Acquaintance with, I.
305; II. 141.
Murray, Mr. William:

Amalgamation negotia-
tions conducted by,

1.53-
Ashlin's Meeting, I. 471.
Financial position in
1851, I. 462.
Musgrave, Miss Edith, Death

of, I. 231.
Muskaii, Piickler, Visit to Wei-
mar, I. 173, 178, igo.
Mnsurus, M., Entertainment at

Sandliug, I. 47.
Musters, NIr., Lease of house
from, I. I.

Napier :

Lady, Present at

Cooper's Hill Speech

Day, II. 175.

Sir Charles, Indian War,

1849, I. 25, 241.

Naples, Visit to, II. 20, 21, 22,

23-

Napoleon III. :

Coup d'cHat, I. 472, 475:
Palmerston, Lord,
Attitude towards, \.
480, 482.

Napoleon III. (continued):

Malmesbur}', Lord,

Friendship with, I.
488.

Nar\'aja, Don R., Visits to
fresada of, Ixxvii.

National Debt, reduction. Pro-
posals for, I. 78.

National Review, Article on
Currency Question, I. 77, 109.

Nauheim, Visit to, II. n.

Navigation Laws, Repeal pro-
posed, I. 230, 240, 243, 257.

Naylor and Co., Visit to, I.
228 ; xii.

Naylors, Oxley, and Co., Visit
to, xci, cv.

Necklaces purchased at Hom-
burg, II. 37.

Neerwinder, Plain of. Journey
through, I. 125.

Neil, Fordyce, and Co., Bank-
ing-house of, I. 4.

Netherlands, Queen of, Dinner
at Court of Weimar, I. 176.

Nctsch, Baron, Visit to Eng-
land, I. 161.

Neuchatel, Lake of, Crossing,

I. 511.
Neville, Mr., Marriage of, I.

303-
New England, Rural landscape

in, I. 388.
New Forest, Visit to, II. 143.
New Jersey, Visit to, cxviii,

cxxii.
New Mills, Service in Church

at, II. 125.
New Year's Day Festivities,

W'eimar, I. 197.
New York, Visit to, I. 32, 338;

cxvii, cxxxi.

Aciueduct, Visit to, cxxi.
Astor House, Dinner at,

I- Zl^ 34-
Astor Place Theatre,

cxxii.
Banks, Organization,

Methods of business,

&c., I. 449.
Castle Garden Theatre,

cxxxi.

Index.

New York (continued) :

Church, Position of, I.

347-

Cushman, Miss, Perform-
ance, at Theatre,
cxxiii.

Customs Duties, I. 338.

Dandies, cxx.

Departure, cxxiii, cxxxii.

Description of City, I.
338.

Dutch Aristocracy, Re-
ception given by
member of, I, 346;
cxix.

House formerly occu-
pied by Colonial
Governors, Destruc-
tion of, I. 405.

Hotel, Delmonico's,

cxvii.
Bill at, cxxiii.

Illness, I. 349 ; cxxii.

Judges, Youthfulness of,
cxviii.

Letters written during,

I- 338, 345. 349. 375,
411, 414, 447.
London Bankers, Open-
ing for business in,
suggestion as to, L

449-

Long Island Racecourse,
Visit to, cxxiii.

Niblo's Visit, cxviii.

Oldest family in United
States, Representa-
tive of, cxxiii.

Opera, Visit to, cxviii,
cxx, cxxi.

Plans, dates, &c., I. 319,
320, 324, 328.

St. James' Theatre,
Ethiopian Serena-
ders at, cxix.

Slavery Abolitionists,
Meeting, cxxi.

Society, Manners, &c.,
I. 346, 350, 449,
458 ; cxix, cxx,
cxxix.

Tea Auction, cxviii.

New York (continued):

Trotting Match, I. 349,

350; cxxiii.
Women, Descriptions of,
I. 346, 458 ; cxix.
New York, Bishop of. Suspen-
sion of, I. 347.
Newcastle, Duke of, Engage-
ment to Miss Hume, I. 498.
Newman, Cardinal, Sermons
and Apologia, Reading, II.

347-
Newmarch, Mr. :

Bank Charter Act, 1844,

Views as to, I. 74.
Character and career of,
I. 96.
Newport, U.S.A., Visit to, I.
367 ; cxxxii.

Bathing at, cxxxiii.
Church of Bishop Berke-
ley at, cxxxii.
Description of place and

life, I. 404, 405.
Letters, I. 381, 406.
Spouting Rock, Visit to,
cxxxiii.
Newstead, Visit to, II. 119.
Newton, Lord, Visit to, II. 125
Newton, Mr., Dereham Ball

I. 433.
Niagara, Visit to, I. 33, 392, 431

435; cxl.
Niagara, The, Voyage in, I. 34
Nicaraguan Question, Settle

ment, I. 365.
Nice :

Bertram Currie, Mr.
Visit to, II. 16, 24

43-
Raikes Currie, Mr., and
family. Visit to, I.
362, 365, 461.
Nismes, Visit to, II. 210, 211.
Noel, Rev. Baptist, Visits to

Cheam, I. 8.
Norbury, Lord, Question as to,

I. 209.
Norman, Mr., Bank Charter

Act, Views as to, I. 73.
Norman, Mr. G. W., Visit to,
I. 470, 471.

Index.

Normanby, Lord :

Reception at the Elysde,

I. 256.
Retirement, I. 482.
Normandy, Tours in, II. 9, 13,
14, 144.

Illness during, II. 145,
146.
Norris, Mr. and Mrs., Visit to

Littlehainpton, II. g.
Northampton :

George Cnrrie, Mr.,
Speech at, I.
260.
Raikes Currie, Mr. :
Election as Member,
I. 7, 8.
Dissolution antici-
pated in 1852,
determination to
seek re-election, I.
486, 490, 491, 493,
496, 497. 498, 500,
510.
Speech at, I. 203,
207.
Northumberland, Duke of. Posi-
tion in Lord Derby's Cabinet,

I. 485-
Norwich, Bishop of, Death of,

I. 294, 301.
Nottingham, Visit to, II. 117,

118.
Nueva Granada, Voyage in, cvi,

cviii.
Nugent, Mr., Consul at Arica,

xciii, cv.
Nuremberg, Visit to, I. 179; II.

12, III.

Ober Ammergan Passion Play,

Visit to, I. 55.
Obcrvvesel, Visits to, II. 32, 36,

37-
O 'Conor Don, The, Irish

Finance Commission, 1894-6,

II. 302, 309, 312.
Ogden, Mr., Attorney General,

Isle of Man, I. 398.
Ogilvie, Mr., accession to title

of Lord AirUe, I. 294.

Oldfield, Mr., Acquaintance

with at Baltimore, c,x.\iv.
Olten, Visit to, II. loS.
Olympic, Performance of Mer-

clniiit 0/ Venice, at, I. 45.
One Manifold, References, to by
Mrs. Aubrey Spencer, I. 349;
c.xvi.
Orcher, Drive to, II. 145.
Oribe, Siege of Monte Video,

xvii.
Orkney, Lord :

Lease of Taplow Court

from, I. 343, 362.
Sale of Taplow Court
rumoured, I. 473.
Ormolu Clock, Minley, II. 179.
Orvieto, Visit to, II. 172.
Ossory :

Countess of, Mother of
Miss Vernon, I. 352.
Lord, property of Farm-
ing Woods, I. 396.
Ostend, Visit to, I. 124.
Ouseley, Mr., Expedition up

Parana, Ixviii.
Overend, Gurney, and Co., sus-
pension, I. 60.
Overstone, Lord (S. J. Loyd) :
Bank Charter Act,
Views as to, I. 38,

73. 74-
Character of, I. 38.
Clerks' Christmas Fund,

Contribution to, I.

201.
Concerts to be given by,

I- 375-
Dinner-party at Mr.

Raikes Carrie's, I.

416.
Exhibition, 1851, Work

in connection with,

I- 325-
Letter to, I. 149.
Panic, Action in time of,

I- 95-
Speech, Maiden, in
House of Lords, I.

355-.
St. Martin, Meeting with,
at, I. 507.

Index.

Overstone, Lord (continued) :

Title conferred, and re-
tirement from part-
nership in firm, I.
325. 356; cxvi.
Visits to, I. 39.
Wickham lent to the
Lefevres by, I. 417.
Oxford :

Departure of Mr. George
Currie from, I. 189.
Visit to, II. 141.
Oxford, Bishop of:

Charge to Clergy, I. 468.
Marriage of Mr. Bertram
Currie, Ceremony
performed by, I. 56.
Meeting of Mr. and Mrs.
Raikes Currie with,
I. 310.
Oxford Movement, W. G. Ward
and the, by Mr. Wilfrid Ward,
II. 192.
Oxley, Mr., Acquaintance with,
at Valparaiso, xci.

Pachacamac, Temple of, Visit

to, xcix.
Pacific Steam Navigation Com-
pany, Vessels of, I. 316.
Packe, Mr., Death at Eton, I.

II.
Padua, Visit to, II. 149.
Pain, C, Announcement of
arrival of Russian towels,
I. 472.
Palacies, Doiia Ignacia, Ac-
quaintance with, at Lima,
cvi, cvii.
Palermo, near Buenos Ayres :
Anniversary Celebra-
tions at, Ixii.
Rides and drives to, xxix,
XXX, xxxii, XXXV,
xxxvii, xxxix, xli, Ixi,
Ixiv, Ixv.
Palk, Miss L., Visit to house of,
at Brighton proposed, I. 465.
Pallavicino Family, Villa of,

Visit to, II. 44.
Palmer, Mr., Cup for Municipa-
lity of Adelaide, I. 476.

Palmer, Mr. W., Call on, in

Rome, II. 20.
Palmer, Mrs. Horsley, Break-
fast-party, I. 380.
Palmerston, Lord :

Coup d 'dtat of Napo-
leon III., Attitude
towards, I. 480, 482.
European Politics, 1850,

I. 357, 361.
Militia Bill, Speech on,

I. 487.
Ministerial Crisis, 1850,

I- 378, 379-
Portrait, Presentation, I.

378.
Resignation, I. 478, 480,

481, 487.
Sandling, Entertainment

at, I. 47.
Van de Weyer, Mme.,

Reception by, I.

475,

Vernon Smith, Mr., Party
given by, I. 384.
Pamflete, Visit to, II. 68.
Pampas, Ride across, I. 28, 280,
286, 296 ; Ixxi.

Advice as to way of
travel, &c., xv.

Animal life. Abundance
of, xxviii.

Bridle and riding acces-
sories, Purchase of,
xxxix.

Description of Country,
xxviii.

Dress worn during, 1. 278.

Food, Dishes of the
Gauchos, xxvii.

Gauchos, Life of. Expe-
rience of, on Gover-
nor's estate, I. 28,
266 ; xxvi.

Indians, Danger of incur-
sions of, Ixxiii, Ixxiv,
Ixxv, Ixxvii, Ixxxiii.

Preparations for, Ixv.
Panama :

Silver, despatch of, across
Isthmus, Method of,

Index.

Panama {cuutiitued):

Visit to, I. 31, 319, 327,
333. 334; ex.
Panics and Crises :

Barinfj Brothers, su that

title.
Harman and Co., Failure

of, I. 20.
Letter to Times, Allusions

to in, I. 113.
Overend, Gurney, and

Co., I. 60.
Peto and Betts, I. 59.
Speech on Currency
Question, Reference
to in, I. 105.
Streatfield, Laurence,
and Co., Failure of,
L 42.
Years 1847, ^857, and
1866, Panics in, L
21, 42, 59.
Panmure, Lord, Illness of, L

230.
Paolini, Courier during visit to
Rigi Kaltbad, II. 82, 98, 100.
Paradise of the Chyistian Soul,

Reading, II. 365.
Paraguay :

Capitulation to Urquiza

reported, I. 312.
Manifesto by President,
Ixiv.
Parana, River:

Crossing, I. 290.
Description of, I. 291.
Voyage up, I. 263 ; xlvi.
Parana, Town of. Visit to, liii.
Pardo, Don F., Acquaintance
with, during American Tra-
vels, cviii, ex, cxi.
Parea, Mine. C. de la. Call on,
at Washington, cxxvii, cxxix.
Paris :

Accident during journey

to, II. 12.
American hostesses in,

I. 438.
Busts, purchase propo-
sed, II. 72, 73.
Cholera outbreak, I. 257,
259-

Paris (conliHueU) :

Coup d'etat, I. 472, 475,
480, 482.

Exhibitions, II. 146, 186.

Photograph taken at, II.
72.

Socialist Demonstra-
tions, I. 257, 261.

Visits to

Bertram Currie, Mr,,
I- i5> 438, 506 ;
II. 4, 12, 16, 24, 41,
71,75, 132, 146, 151,
155' 156. 157. 162,
174, 182, 186, 195,
203.
Raikes Currie, Mr. and
Mrs., I. 256, 259,
261.
Paris Bordone, Picture by, II.

lOI.

Parish Councils Bill, 1893, II.

281.
Parker, Mr. P., Interview with,

I. 491.
Parkes, Mr.. Dinner-party at

Mr. Currie's, I. 259, 379.
Parliamentary' candidature :
Hull, I. 54, 81.
Reasons for declining, I.
82.
Parma, Visit to, II. 154.
Parodi, Performance at New

York, I. 448.
Parry, Mr. :

Acquaintance with, at

Weimar, I. 136, 154,

155, 161, 211.

Danish Governess in

family of, I. 154.

Parsons, Miss, Engagement

rumoured, I. 373.
Passeman, Mme., call on, at

Kingston, cxiv.
Passion-Play at Ober Ammer-

sau, I. 55.
Passport received from Gover-
nor Rosas, I. 280, 286, 291,
296, 297.
Pattison, Mr., Death of, I. 283.
Pattle, Miss V., Marriage, I.
428.

Index.

Pau, Honeymoon spent at, 1.56;

II. 6.
Paul, Sir J. D., Journeys between
Brighton and London, I. 21.
Pavia, Visit to, II. 44.
Pavon, Don Manuel, Acquaint-
ance with, at Kingston, cxiii.
Payta, Visit to, cix.
Peacock, Mr. T. L., Quotation

from, I, 49.
Pearse, Mrs. C, Seats for Lord
Mayor's Procession, II. igo.
Pearson, Mrs., and family,
Acquaintance with, during
American Travels, cxxvii,
cxxviii, cxxix, cxxxix.
Peel, Hon. George, Visit to
Florence, II. 296.

Secretary to Committee
for defence of the
Gold standard, I. 81.
Peel, Sir Robert :

Admiration of Mr.Currie

for, I. 63.
Bank Charter Act, 1844,

1-73.
Corn Laws, Repeal of,

Attitude towards, I.

207.
Death of, I. 32, 383, 388.
Ministerial Crisis, 1850,

I. 379-

Resignation, I. 192, 193.

Formation of New

Cabinet, I. 196.

Speeches, I. 19, 210,482.

Trade revival following

on policy of, I. 294.
Windsor, Visit to, I. 13.
Peel, Viscount, Resemblance of

Mr. Currie to, II. 296, note.
Peelite Party, Leadership of
Mr. H. Currie in conjunction
with Mr. Gladstone proposed,
I. 497.
Pejuca, Visit to, xiv.
Pelham, Lady H., Marriage to

Lord Darnley, I. 399.
Pelouse, Madame, Chenon-
ceaux inhabited by, II. 184.
Pembroke, Lord, Death of, I.
494. 498.

Pennell, Mr., Acquaintance with,
during American Travels, I.
33. 37p. 406, 413. 419; cxxvii,
cxxviii, cxxix.
Penrith, Visit to, II. 67.
Penshurst :

Miniatures from, at Min-

ley, II. 180.
Restoration by Mr. De-

vey, I. 36.
Summer spent near, 1. 35.
Pennsylvania Iron-masters, op-
position to importation of
iron, I. 394.
Pepys :

Cary, Miss, Marriage of,

I- 374-
Crowhurst, Mr., Descrip-
tion of, I. 374.
Perceval, Hon. and Rev. A.,
Service performed by, at
Weimar, I. 163.
Pernambuco, Voyage of H.M.S.

Driver^ iv.
Perry, Mr., Consul at Panama :
Visits to :

Panama, I. 31, 324,

328 ; ex.

Venice, II. 48.

Perry, Miss, Acquaintance with,

at Panama, ex, cxi.
Perry, Sir E., Influence in offer
of seat on Indian Council,
I. 62.
Pcrsigny Memoirs, Reading, II.

334-
Peru, Visit to, I. 30, 314.

Books on, Misrepre-
sentations in, xcvii.
Coast and Sea-ports,

Description of, I.

316.
Descriptions of Country,

xcvii, xcix, ci.
Fare and Cooking in

Interior, c, civ,

cvii.
Llamas, Herd of, cii.
Rainfall, ci.
Sand Hillocks, Moving,

ci.
Suspension Bridge, civ.

Index.

Peru {continued) :

Temple of Pachacamac,

Visit to, xcix.
Travels in Interior, c.
{See also Lima, Chorillos,
&c.)
Perugia, Visit to, II. i8, 156.
Peterborough, Visit to, II.

71-

Peto and Betts, Railway Con-
tractors, I. 59, 476.

Petre, Mr., Ball at Homburg,
I. 402.

Petre, Mr. and Mrs. Berney,
Meeting with, at Witton, I.

435-
Petre, Mr. George. Meeting

with, at Frankfort, I. 22.
Petre, Mrs., Visit to Newport,

I. 408.
Petre, Lord :

Cooper, Currie, and Co.,
Connection with, I.
384, 464.
Death of, I. 384.
Milling Business pro-
bably undertaken by
son of, I. 445.
Petrupolis, Visit to, I. 26, 27,
226, 227, 232, 235, 236, 238,
249; vii, viii, xiii.

Description of, ix.
Moss' Hotel, ix, xi, xiii.
Petworth, Visit to, II. 24.
Pfuel, General, Political crisis

at Berlin, I. 218.
Philadelphia, Visit to, I. 353,
375 ; cxxiv, cxxx.

Anniversary of Declara-
tion of Independ-
ence, cxxx.
Departure from, cxxxi.
Description of, I. 376.
Iron and Coal Trade, I.

376-
Public Institutions, Visit
to, cxxx.
Philippe, M., Conjurer, I. 1

142.
Phillips, Mr. Guy, Collection |
of Books purchased from, II.
73- 1

Phillips, Mr. T. :

Homburg, Visit to, I.

385. 399. 401.
Taplow Court, Visit to,
I. 294.
Philosophical Radicals, School

of, I. 82.
Photographs of Mr. Currie, II,

72, 337-
Pickering, Miss, Meeting with,

at Florence, II. 156.
Pickering, Rev. E. H., Master

at Eton, I. 10.
Pierrepoint, Visit of Mr. H.

Currie to, I. 463.
Piglio, Visit to, II. 44.
Pine, Rev., Sermon at Wash-
ington, cxxviii.
Pino, Visit to Governor's Estate

at, I. 28, 266 ; XXV.
Pisa, Visit to, II. 147.
Pistoia, Visits to, II. 153.
Pitlochry, Visit to, II. 64.
Pittsfield, U.S.A., Visit to,

cxxxv, cxxxvii.
Placido, D., Muleteer, Ixxxi,

Ixxxv, Ixxxvi.
Plains of Abraham, Visit to, I.

441, 442.
Plaskow, Mariechen Von, News

of, II. 34.
Plunkctt, Mr., Acquaintance

with, at Saratoga, cxxxvii.
Plympton, Visit to, II. 68.
Pocsi, Visit to, ciii.
Poggibonsi, Visit to, II. 153.
Poins, Mrs., Parties at Petro-

polis, x.
PoHgnac,M. le due de, Acquaint-
ance with, at Homburg, II.

33.35. 38.
Political Economy Club,Dinner

at Greenwich, I. 39.
Political opinions of Mr. Currie,

I. 81.
Polka, Popularity, at Weimar,

I. 201.
Pollen, Mr., Picture shown to

Mr. Currie by, II. So, 81.
Pollington, Lady, Ball at Hom-
burg, I. 402.
Polton House, Visit to, II. 63.

Index.

Pompadour, Mine, Portrait of,

n. 57-

Pompeii, Visit to, II. 22, 23.
Poniatowski, Monument to, I.

180.
Ponsford, Mr., sec White, Pons-

ford, and Co.
Ponsonby, Mr., Marriage oi',

I. 311.
Ponsonb}', Mr. F., Theatrical

Performances at Farming

Woods, I. 40.
Pope of Rome, Establishment

of Hierarchy in England, I.

455-
Port Estrella, Visit to, vii.
Port Skewett, Visit to, II. 138.
Porta de Peratta, Night at,

xlii.
Portarlington, Lord and Lady,

Dinner-party at Danesfield,

I- SOS-
Porter, Most Rev. G., Arch-
bishop of Bombay, Death of
and Requiem Service, II. 187,
188, 349.
Porter, Rev. Father, Author of,

Spiritual Retreats, II. 355.
Portinscale, Visit to, II. 126,

128.
Portland, Visit to, II. 59, 60, 61.
Portland, Duke of, Seat near

Mansfield, II. iig.
Portman, Mrs. L., Party at

Mrs. Raikes Currie's, I. 385.
Portman — Candidature at
Shaftesbury Election, I. 494.
Portraits :

Group — -Maynard, Ber-
tram, and George
Currie, I. 5.
Photographs of Mr.

Currie, II. 72, 337.
Wodehouse, Lord, I. 5.
Portsmouth, Bishop of:

Chapel at Minley, Open-
ing Ceremony, II.
202.
Requiem Service for
Archbishop of Bom-
bay, II. 188.
Posen, Conspiracy at, I. 206.

Post Office Arrangements,

Bombay, Proposed alte-
ration, II. 188.
Sabbatarian Outcry in
1849, I. 303.

Potomac, Falls of, Visits to,
cxxv.

Potter, Mr., Quarrel with Mr.
Sulivan, I. 315, 317; xcvi.

Powell, D., Baring Crisis,
Meeting in connection with,
I. 92.

Powys, Misses, bridesmaids at
Wedding of Mr. George
Currie, I. 416, 422, 430.

Poynters, Drive to, II. 174.

Pratolino, Drive past, II. 172.

Pratt, Furniture purchased
from, II. 56.

Prelude, The, Reading, I. 413.

Prescott, Mr., Introduction to,
proposed, I. 320.

Prescott's History of Peru, Mis-
takes in, xcvii.

Prescott and Cunliffe, Negotia-
tions for Amalgamation with,
1.52.

Priestly, Dr., Meeting with, II.

79-
Prince Consort :

Coal Exchange, Opening

of, I. 305.
Death, II. 8.
Speech, I. 452.
White, Mr., Meeting with,
near Reading, I.
484.
Prince's Gardens, No. 16, lent
to Mr. and Mrs. Currie, II.

Princess Mary, Voyage in, I.

123.
Providence, Visit to, I. 404;

cxxxii.
Prussia :

Austria, Rivalry with, I.

403-
Financial Position, 1849,

I. 301.
Frederic, Prince of,

Rheinberg rebuilt

by, I. 128.

Index.

Prussia {continued) :

George, Prince of, Visit
to Kigi-Kaltbad, II.
87.
King of:
Imperial title refused

by, I. 240.
Weimar, Visit to, I.
161.
Prince of. Visit to Wei-
mar, I. 144.
Princess of, Comments
on Queen Victoria's
Visit to Stolzenfels,

I- 173-

Puckler, Prince, Visit to Wei-
mar Erholung, I. 174.

Puentes, Don Gregorio, Visit
to, at Parana, liv.

Puffin's Island, Boating Expe-
dition to, II. 139.

Pngin, Interview with W. G.
Ward, II. 193.

Puiz, Don Tomas, Call on, at
Santa Y(:, xlix.

Pulzky, M. and Mme., Visits to
Mr. and Mrs. Raikes Curric,
I. 46, 294, 302.

Quebec, Visit to, I. 441, 44S.
Queen Adelaide, Death of, I.

311 ; cvi.
Queen Victoria :

Attack on, in 1850, I.

379-
Bal Costu»u', I. 141,

142.
Florence, Visit to, II.

287, 288, 294.
Germany, Visit to, I. 144,

153. 161. 172-
Grasse, Visit to, II. 208.
Illness, I. 305.
Jubilee, 1887, II. 174.
Marriage, I. 9.
Polka, Disapproval of, I.

202.
Stanhope's Church, Gift
to, II. 287.
Quenlin Dtifuard, Reading, II.

3<'\S. 3f^(>.
Quillota, Visit to, xci.

Raby, Visit to, II. 71.
Radstock Family, Visit to Paris,

I- 434-
Raffalovitch, M. :

Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1892-93, Let-
ter on, II. 272.

International Monetary
Conference, Brus-
sels, II. 237, 240, 245,
248.
Raikes Family :

Francis, Mr., fellow-stu-
dent at Aston, I. g.

George, Mrs., Mother-in-
law of Mr. Ward,
1.9.

Mary, see Curric, Mary
(grandmother).

T. Mr., Intimacy with
Mr. Murray, II. 34.

Walter, Mr., return to
Canada, I. 3f)6.

William, Mr., Father of
Mrs. Isaac Currie,

I- 5-

Railwaj'S :

Accident near Ton-
bridge, I. 505.
Accounts to be placed
with Currie and Co.,
1.471,476.
Journeys to town b)', Dis-
like of Mr. Currie
for, II. 176.
Panic in 1849, I. 241,
244.
Ralli, Mr., Reference to in
Speech on Currency Ques-
tion, I. 106.
Rambouillet, Visit to, II. 163.
Ramsay, Colonel, Visit to Rigi-

Kaltl)ad, II. 86.
Ranston House, Visits to, I.

433; II. 60, 62.
Raphael, Mr. H., Baring Crisis

Settlement, I. 93.
Raritan River, Expedition uji,

cxxiii.
Rathcros, Mr., Ball at Areciuipa,

cii.
Ratisbon, Visit to, II. 12.

Index.

Rattan furniture from Boston,

II. 192.
Ravenna, Visit to, II. 289.
Raynham, Visit of Mrs. Raikes

Curric to, I. 433.
Rebow, Mr., Refusal to oppose

Lord J. Manners at Colclies-

ter, I. 489.
Rebow, Mr. J. G., Marriage of,

I. 2og.

Redleaf, Visit to, I. 35.
Redmond, Mr. John, Irish
Finance Commission, 1894-6,

II. 302.

Reeve, Mr. H., Nickname of, I.

37. 38.
Reeve, Mr. and Mrs., Party
given by Mrs. George Currie,

I. 489.

Reeves, Mr., Acquaintance with,
during American Travels, I.
245 ; vi, xii, xiii.

Reform Bills, 1S51 and 1852, I.
481, 484, 488.

Regal, Mr., Call on, at Cannes,

II. 43.

Reichenhall, Visit to, I. 54.
Reilly, Lieut., Acquaintance

with, at Lima, xciv.
Retford, Visit to, II. 121.
Reuss, River, Man drowned in,

I. 516.
Revelstoke, Lord, see Baring,

Edward.
Revue, des Deux Mondes, Article

on Currency Question, II.

247.
Rex, v., Acquaintance with, at

Weimar, I. 146, 147.
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, Pictures

by, purchased by Mr. Currie :

Gale, Miss, II. 95, loi.

Rumbold, Lady, and

Children, II. So, 81.

Rheinberg, Castle of, View of,

I. 128.
Rhenis, Herr, Acquaintance

with, at Weimar, I. 148.
Rhine Scenery, Comments on,

I. 126.

Rhone Valley, Drive through,

II. 104, 105.

Riccheti, Dealer in Antiquities,

II. 48.
Rice, Miss, Marriage of, I.

303-
Rickmansworth Park, Lease
of, by Mr. Raikes Currie,

I. 45.
Richmond, Surrey:

Honeymoon of Mr.

George Currie at,

1.415,424.
Ladder-gate to Park,

Opening advocated,

II. 40.
Richmond, Yorkshire, Visit to,

II. 71.

Richmond Terrace, Whitehall :
Building Operations at,

I. 36, 59-

Bureau in morning-room.
Purchase of, II. 54.

Freehold ground. Pur-
chase of, by Tod
Heatley and others,

II. 159-
Gladstone, Mr., House

lent to, in 1885, II.
171.

Illness, Fatal, at, II. 359,
360.

Irish Finance Commis-
sion, 1894-6, Dis-
cussions as to, held
in, II. 305, 307.

Pictures, French, II. 40.

Tapestry Chairs and
Screen, II. 146.

Toulmin, Mary, marriage
from, II. 202.
Ridgway, Mrs., Parties given

by, in Paris, I. 429, 438.
Riding :

Fondness for, I. 58.

Tour in Wiltshire and
Dorset, II. 157.
Ridley, Mr., Dereham Ball, I.

433.
Rieti, Dealer in Antiquities, II.

48, 49.
Rigi-Kaltbad. Visit to, II. 81.

Departure from, II. loi,
102.

Index.

Rigi-Kaltbad (continued):

Letters, 11.82,84,86,87,

89. 91 ' 93. 95. 97. 98.
99, loi.
Unhealthincss of, II. 94,
98, 100.
Ri}<i Kulm, Visit of Mr. I. E.

Ciirrie to, II. 93.
Rifji Railway, Journey on, II.

83.
Rigi Scheideck, Ride to, II. 84.
Rif(les, D. M., Dinner given by,

at Buenos Ayres, Ixiii.
Rille Valley, Journey through,

II. 145-
Rimini, Visit to, II. 290.
Rio de las Vacas, Crossing,

Ixxxiv.
Rio Janeiro, Visit to, I. 25, 26,
224 ; V, X.

Aqueduct, Ride along, xi.
British Fleet in Harbour,

I. 250.
Customs House Duty, I.

247, xxxiii.
Departure, Proposed, I.

249.
Descriptions of, I. 225,
226,232, 236, 272 ; V.
Hotels, V, vi, X, xi.
Illness, I. 225, 228 ; v, vi,

vii.
Insanitary Condition, v.
Letters from, I. 224, 236,

245, 248.
Library, Club, &c., xi.
Prices in, I. 245.
Return to, from Petro-

polis, X.
Shops, I. 247.
Society, I. 245.
Women of, I. 272.
Rio Quarto, La Villa del. Visit

to, Ixxiv.
Ripon, Visit to, II. 70.
Ripon, Marquess of, Letter on
Indian Currency Committee,
1892-3, II. 270.
Robartes, Mrs., Party in Hill

Street, I. 142.
Robarts, Mr. A., House at
Wimbledon, I. 35.

Robertson, Mr., Books by, I.
263 ; xcvii.

Robertson, Mr., Dinner-party
at Brighton, I. 469.

Robinson, Mr., Visit to Minley,
II. 191.

Robinson, Sir G., Wedding of
Mr. George Currie, I. 396,
422.

Robson, Mr. C, Performance
by, I. 45.

Kocca I'ros., Commission
offered to, by Overend and
Gurney, I. 60.

Rochefoucault, M. and Mme.,
Acquaintance with, at Wei-
mar, I. 16, 136, 174.

Rodriguez, El Capitain, Ac-
quaintance with, at Santa
Fe, lii.

Roebuck, Mr. :

History of the Whigs,

I. 496.
Speeches in House of
Commons, I. 156,

377-
Roehampton, Convent at. Visit

of Mrs. Currie to, II. 173.
Roger, M., Rooms at Monnet's

Hotel, I. 509.
Rokeby, Visit to, II. 71.
Roland's Castle, I. 127.
Roman, Ride across the

Pampas, Ixxii, Ixxix, Ixxx.
Romanshorn, Visit to, II. 109.
Rome :

French Expedition

against, I. 261, 284.
Visits to, II. 16, iS, 155.
Letters describing, II.
17, 19, 22.
Romero, Pepita, Acquaintance
with, at Buenos Ayres, xl.
Ixiv.
Romsey, Visit to, II. 143.
Ronda, Visit to, I. 50.
Ronge, M., Religious Agitation
by, I. 22, 186, 189, 190,
198.
Roosevelt, Mrs.. Visit to Sharon

Springs, cxxxix.
Rosario, Visit to, xlvi.

Index.

Rosas

Don J. M. de, Governor
of the Argentine
Republic :

Anniversary of Entry
into Buenos Ayres,
Celebration, Ixii.

Autocratic power of,
I. 268.

Character and policy
I. 254; Ixviii, Ixix.
Lamarca, Mr., Dis-
cussion as to,
xcii.
Manuelita, Dofia,
Description of,
Ixvii,

Englishmen, Good
treatment by,

Ixviii.

Entre Rios, inhabitants
of, Attitude to-
wards, Ivi, Ivii.

Estate at Pino, Visit
to, I. 28, 266;

XXV.

Herbert, Sir I., Em-
brace on depar-
ture of, Ixiii.

Interview with, xl.

Introduction to, I. 25,
28 ; XXV.

Passport received

from, I. 278, 280,
286, 291, 296, 297 ;
xl, xliv, Ixvi.

Position in 1850, I.
386. _

Resignation, proposed,
action of Chamber
of Mendoza, Ixxx.

Revolution 1852, Flight
to England, I.

495-
Southern, Mr.,Attitude
towards, I. 250.

Don Juan (son of Gover-
nor Rosas), Visit
to, xxvii.

Doiia Basilea, Meeting
with, at Buenos
Ayi-es, Ixii.

Rosas {continued) :

Doiia Gregoria, Acquain-
tance with, at
Buenos Ayres, I.
265 ; xxxvi, xxxvii,
Ixi.
Doiia Manuelita de
(daughter of

General Rosas) :

Attachment of Mr.
Sothern to, Al-
leged, I. 266.

Description of, I. 266.

Farewell to, Ixvii.

Flight to England,
Marriage, and
Death, Account
taken from Times,

I- 495-
Letter to, I. 313 ; Ixxix.
Visits to, rides with,
&c.; 1.28,254,264,
274, XX, xxi, xxiv,
XXV, xxix, XXX, xxxi,
xxxii, xxxiii, xxxiv,
xxxvi, xxxvii, xxxix,
xl, xli, Ix, Ixi, Ixv,
Ixvii.

Rose, Sir John, Illness of, II. 78.

Rosenheim, Visit to, II. 52.

Ross, County Cork, Drive
through, II. 325.

Ross on the Wye, Visit to, II.

138.
Ross, Mrs., Villa at Settignano,

11.295.
Ross Castle, Killarney, Visit to,

II. 328.
Rotherfield, Visit of Mr. George

Currie to, proposed, I. 475.
Rothschild Family:

A., Miss, Offer to pur-
chase celadon vases,
II. 179.
Alfred, Mr. :

Attitude towards Cur-
rency Question, I.
104.
International Mone-
tary Conference,
Brussels, I. 80 ;
11.229,234,235,237.

Index.

Rothschild Family {continued) :
Anselni, Mr., Invitation

to Mr.RaikcsCurrie,

I. 401.
Baring Crisis, Action of

Firm in, I. 93.
Baron, Candidature for

representation of

City of London in

Parliament, I. 19,

283, 285.
India Stock, Conversion,

I. 68.
Leopold, Mr., Journey to

Paris, II. 198.
Meyer, Baron :

Appointment given to

Mr. MayuardCurrie,

I. 15.

Meeting of Mr. Raikes
Currie with, at
Cologne, I. 399.
Rotterdam, Visit to, I. 52.
Rouen, Visit to, II. 145.
Round, Mr., Visit to Homburg,

I. 402.
Rousi^re, Mme. de la. Costume

for Court Ball, I. 141.
Rousseau, J. J., Island of. Visit

to, I. 510.
Rowley, Miss, Engagement, II.

279.
Rowsley, Visit to, II. 123.
Rubens, Pictures by, II. loi,

179.
Ruckman, Mr., Visit to Shaker

village, cxx.xvi.
Ruden, Mr., Visit to, cix.
Rudolstadt, Visit to, I. 168.
Rumbold, Lady, and children,

Portrait of, II. 80, 81.
Rush, Trial of, I. 231.
Rush, Mrs., Acquaintance with

at Saratoga, I. 387; cxxxvii,

cxxxviii.
Russell, Lord Francis, Visit to

Bueuos Ayrcs, Ix, Ixii, Ixiv.
Russell, Mr. G., Dinner at

Brooks', II. 40.
Russell, ^Ir. James :

Death of, II. 175.
House at Aden, II. 140.

Russell, Lord John :

Foreign (Jflice, Appoint-
ment made in 1851,

I. 479, 480.
Foreign Secretary in

Lord Aberdeen's
Coalition Ministry,
L 518.

Party given by Lady
Russell, I. 342.

Roman Catholic Hier-
archy in England,
Letter on, 1. 455.
Russia :

Austro- Hungarian War,
Attitude during, I.
261, 301, 303.

Emperor Nicholas, Pre-
sent at Review at
Windsor, I. 13.

Empress of, Visit to
Court of Weimar
proposed, I. 176.

England, Relations with,

II. 345-

France, Relations with,

I. 294.
Government Account

with Messrs. Har-
man and Co., I. 20.
Railways, Newspaper
articles on, II. 3.
Russian Towels sent to Mrs.

Currie, I. 472.
Ruxton's Adventures in Mexico,

Comments on, I. 246.
Rynders, Capt., Slavery Aboli-
tionist Meeting, cxxi.

Saalburg, Visit to, II. 34.
Saddleback, Drive past, II. 12S.
Sagan, Princcsse de. Clock

purchased from, II. 178.
St. Bernard, Visit to, I. 50S.
St. Denis, Visit to, II. 72.
St. Germain, Visit to, II. 146,

165.
St. Gothard :

Crossing, I, 515 ; II. 160,

172. 173-
Tunnel, Construction,

II. 103.

Index.

St. James' Park, Last walk in,
II. 3G0.

St. John's, Paddington, Con-
secration ol, I. I.

St. Lawrence, Visit to, pro-
posed, I. 389.

St. Martin, Journey through,
I. 507.

St. Mary Church, near Torquay,
Visit of Mrs. IBertram Currie
to, II. 63, 68.

St. Maur, Ladies, Present at
Ball given by Mrs. G. Currie,
I. 498.

Salisbury, Visit to, II. 143.

Salisbury, &c., Railway, Account
placed with Currie and Co.,
I. 471, 476.

Salisbury, Lord, House belong-
ing to, at Cranbourne, 11.
158.

Salto del Fraile, Fishing-party
at, cviii.

Saltram, Visit to, II. 68, 69.

Saltwood, Curacy of Rev.
Maynard Currie at, I. 47.

Sama, Visit to, cv.

San Antonio de Areco, Visit to,
xliii.

San Gimignano, Visit to, II,

San Isidoro, Visit to, xxxvn,

xxxviii, xl.
San Jose del Morro, Visit to,

Ixxvi.
San Luis, Visit to, I. 297 ; Ixxvi.
San Nicholas, Visit to, xlv.
Sand, Mme. George, Meeting

with de Tocqueville, II. 286.
Sanderson :

Germany, Travels in, I.

399-
Illness of Miss E. Currie
at Genoa, I. 466.
Sandhurst Woods, Ride in, II.

279.
Sandling:

Entertainment to Foreign
Legion for the
Crimea, I. 47, 48.
Lease of house at, I.
46.

Sandwich Islands, Prince of.
Present at Levde of President
of United States, cxxvi.
Sanford, Mr., Intimacy with

Messrs. Baring, I. 8g.
Santa F^, Visit to, I. 28, 289;
xlii, xlvi, xlviii, Ixxii.

Cock-pit, Visit to, li.
Departure from Town of

Santa F(^, liii.
Description of Inhabi-
tants, 1.
Embroidery, Purchase

of, liii.
Friars, Description of, li.
Indians on Frontier,
Policy of Govern-
ment towards, li.
Santa Rosa, Feast of,

liii.
Theatre, xlix.
Women, Description of, 1.
Santa Rosa, Port of. Visit to,

Ixxvii.
Santa Rosa de los Andes, Visit

to, Ixxxvi.
Santo Tome, Crossing, xlviii.
Santiago, Visit to, I. 29, 295,
312 ; Ixxxvii.

Departure from, I. 316.
Description of City, I.

299. 312, 322.
Dulness of life at, Ixxxix.
Letters from, I. 295,

312.
Preparations for ride to,

Ixxix, Ixxx, Ixxxi.
Women, Descriptions of,
I. 322 ; Ixxxviii.
Saratoga, Visit to, I. 32, 33,
386 ; cxxxvii.

Departure, cxxxix.
Fancy Dress Ball, I.

431-
Letter, I. 386.
Society, I. 387 ; cxxxviii.
Women, Description of,

L 389.
Sardinians, Sale of, I. 499.
Sartoris, Mr. :

Acquaintance with, at

Taplow, I. 305.

Index.

Sartoris, Mr., Meeting with, in

Paris, II. 76.

Telegram announcing

death of the Hon.

H. Wodchouse, II.

89.

Sartoris, Mrs. A., Visit to

Iwerne Minster House, II.

158.
Sausage Feast, Weimar Erho-

lung, I. 150.
Savile Row, House of Mrs.

Grote in, I. 37.
SavilUers, M. le Comte de.

House at Bordentown, cxxxi.
Saxon Switzerland, Visit to,

proposed, I. 174.

Idea abandoned, I. 181.
Scarborough, Visit of Mr. and

Mrs. R. Curric to, I. 166,

169.
Scarlet fever. Attack of, at

Eton, I. 10.
Scelliere, Baron, Clock from

Collection of, II. 178.
Schatten Spiel at Weimar, I.

162.
Schielin, Mr., Banker at Venice,

II. 49.
Schiller's Tomb, Visit to, I. 16,

134-
Schleswig-Holstein Question,

I. 217, 241.
Schoik, Mme. Van :

Meeting in Paris, II.

162.
Visit of Mr. Francis
Currie to, at Flor-
ence, II. 156.
Schiitzen Hof, Visit to, II. 34.
Schwalbach, Visit to, II. 36.
Schwarzburg, Visit to, I. 168.
Schwendlcr Family, Acquaint-
ance with, at Weimar, I. 135,
138, 144, 150, 199.
Scotch Banks, Amalgamation

proposals, I. 61.
Scotland, Visit to, I. 49 ; II.

63-
Scott, General, Acquaintance
with, in New York, cxviii,
cxxiii.

Scott, Mr. A. :

Death of, II. 318.

Illness, II. 80, 81.

Visit to Minley proposed,
II. 173.
Scott, Mr. J. W., Death of, II.

115-
Scott, Mr. and Mrs. :

Message to, I. 192.
Visit of Mr. Philip Currie

to, I. 474, 475, 499.
Visit to Taplow Court,
I. 301.
Screen, Tapestry, Purchase of,

II. 146.
Screw Company :

Retirement of Mr. H.

Currie from, I. 497.
Sydney Contract, I. 476.
Scrope, Mr., Visit of Mr. Eden

to, I. 198.
Seaforth, Lord, Father of Mrs.

Stewart Mackenzie, I. 409.
Seebach, Capt., Acquaintance
with, at Weimar, I. 137, 146,
14S.
Seeley and Co., Overtures for
partnership in White, Pons-
ford, and Co., I. 295.
Seelisburg, Expedition to, II.

98.
Selwyn, Mr., Marriage of, 1. 283.
Senior, Mr. and Mrs., Dinner
in Hyde Park Terrace, I.
141.
Serquigny, Visit to, II. 145.
Settignano, Drive to, II. 295.
Settle, Visit to, II. 126.
Seulberg, Drive to, II. 32.
Severn, River, Crossing, II. 138.
Seville, Visit to, I. 51 ; II. 4.
Sexton, Mr., Irish Finance
Commission, 1894-6, II. 302,

304-
Seymer, Mr. C. Ker, Meeting

with, at Brussels, II. 235, 236,

238, 240, 245, 247.
Seymour, Mr., Anecdote of, II.

244.
Shaftesbury Election, I. 494.
Shafto, Mr., Visit of Mr. Eden

to, I. 198.

Index.

Shaker Village, Visit to, I. 32;

cxxxvi.
Sharon, Visit to, I. 32, 389, 390;

cxxxix.
Shaw, Mr., Acquaintance with,

at Sharon Springs, cxxxix.
Shaw - Lefevre, Mr. George,
Paper written for Gold
Standard Defence Associa-
tion, II. 309.
Sheen, Visits to Mr. Joshua

Bates at, I. 43.
Sheffield, Visit to, II. 124, 125.
Shelburne, Lord and Lady :

Presents to Mr. George
Currie and Miss
Vernon, I. 403.
Vernon Smith's, Mr.,

Party at, I. 384.
Wedding of Mr. George
Currie, present at,
I. 402.
Shelley, Dr., Visit to, I. 9.
Shenectady, Visit to, cxxxix.
Shepherd, Miss, School at

Netting Hill, I. 6.
Shepherd, Sir S., Tutor recom-
mended by, I. 2.
Sherwood Forest, Drive

through, II. 121.
Shoolbred, J. and Co. :

Coombe Warren, Work

at, II. 80.
Hamilton Place, House
in. Work at, II. 55.
Shooting at Weimar, su

Weimar.
Shoreham, Visit to, II. 138.
Shrewsbury, Visit to, II. 139.
Sidney, Lord and Lady, Ball

at Homburg, I. 402.
Siegfried, M., owner of Chateau

of Langeais, II. 185.
Siena, Visit to, II. 152.
Sierra de Cordova, Crossing,

Ixxv.
Sierre, Visit to, II. 105.
Silver Question, see Currency

Question.
Silver Tray, Pots, and Sugar-
basin, Purchase at Venice,
II. 48.

Silver Wedding of Mr. and Mrs.
Raikes Currie, I. 379.

Simpson, Mr., Water Supply
for White and Ponsford's
Mill, I. 425.

Sinclair, Lord, Visit to Marien-
bad, II. 12.

Singleton, Mr. J., Engagement
of, II. 279.

Sixtieth Birthday, Improved
health, activity, and interest
in business subsequent to,
II. 180.

Skene, Mr., Acquaintance with,
at Saratoga, cxxxviii.

Skiddaw, Drive past, II. 128.

Skindle, Mr., Visit to, at Maiden-
head, II. 3.

Skipton, Visits to, II. 70, 126.

Skipworth,Capt., Acquaintance
with, during South American
Travels, I. 245, 249, 250; vii,
xii, xiii.

Slaines Castle, Visit to, II. 141.

Slaughtering Establishments,
Buenos Ayres, Visits to, I.
274 ; xxii, xxxvi.

Slough, Visits to, I. 10, 141.

Smith, Mr., Marriage of, I. 304.

Smith, Mr., Tory Candidate
for Westminster, 1868, II. 27.

Smith, Mr., Transactions of
White, Ponsford, and Co.
with, I. 473.

Smith, Abel, Mr., House at
Woodhall, I. 9.

Smith, Adelaide, Miss, Ac-
quaintance with, at Washing-
ton, I. 370; cxxviii, cxxix.

Smith, Babiugton, Mr., Secre-
tary to International Mone-
tary Conference, II. 235, 240.

Smith, Col., Acquaintance with,
at Chagres, I. 336.

Smith, Eric, Mr. and Mrs.,
Meeting with, at Concert, I.

345-
Smith, " Froggie : "

Ball at Mrs. G, Currie's,

I. 498.
Dinner at Lord Wigram's,
I. 469.

Index.

Siiiitli, Mr. G. R.:

Concert at house of, I.

345-
Marriage of half-sister,
I. 304.
Sinitli, H., Sir, Recall of. 1. 487.
Smith, J. A., Mr.:

Meeting of Mr. and Mrs.
G. Currie with, in
Paris, I. 434.
Parliamentary Secretary
to the Treasury, Ap-
pointment rumoured,
I. 230.
Smith, Oswald, Mrs. :

Dinner at Lord Wig-
ram's, I. 469.
Visit to, at Blendon, I.
484.
Smith, Robert, Mr., House at
Cheam belonging to, I.
352.
Smith, Sydney, Rev., Daughter
of, wife of Mr, N. Hibbert,
1.49.
Smith, Vernon, Mr., sec Lyve-

den, Lord.
Smith, Payne, and Co., Baring

Crisis, Settlement, L 93.
Soden, Visit to, II. 36.
Somerley Park, Ride to, II.

i5«-
Sorrento, Visit to, II, 22, 23.
Soule, Mr., Debate in Senate,

cxxvi.
South America, zee America.
South Australian Companies,

Business done by, I. 451.
South Pari<, Residence of Lord

Hardinge, I. 35.
Southampton, Visit to, II. 143,

144.
Southern, Mr. :

Acquaintance with, at
Buenos Ayrcs, I. 27,
253, 279; xviii, XX,
xxi, xxii, xxxviii,
xxxix, xl, xli, Ix, Ixi,
Ixxi, Ixxxix.
Anniversary of Entry
into Buenos Ayies,
Celebration, Ixii.

Southern, Mr. {conlinucd):

Armistice during Siege
of Monte Video,
xvii.

Attachment to Dona
Manuelita Rosas
alleged, I. 266.

Convention formulated
by, I. 292.

Description of, I. 249.

Governor of Buenos
Ayres, Attitude to-
wards, I. 269.

Letters to, I. 312, 314;
xcvi.

Servant engaged from,
I. 296.
Southern Cross, Disappoint-
ment with, I. 246.
Spain :

Cuban Question, sec that
title.

Travels in, I. 50; II.

i,_4-
War with Morocco, Pos-
sibiUty of, II. 5.
Spanish, Study of, I. 26, 223,
228, 249, 255, 270, 368; II.
xix, XX, Ix, Ixxi.
Speeches by Mr. Bertram Currie:
Cooper's Hill Prize Dis-
tribution, I. 64; II.

175-
Currency Question :
London Institution, I.

81, 104.
International Mone-
tary Conference,
Brussels, Text of
Speech, I. 99; II.
240.
Gladstone Statue, Un-
veiling, I. 116.
India Council, Retire-
ment from, II. 329.
Kingston, High Steward
of. Inauguration as,
11.283.
Spence, Mr., jun.. Tour in Italy

with. II. 286.
Spence, Mr., sen.. Visit to, at
Fiesole, II. 297.

Index.

Spencer, Dr. Aubrey, Bishop of
Jamaica :

New York, Visit to, I.
349 ; cxxi, cxxii,
cxxiii, cxxvii.
Visit to, in Jamaica, I. 31,
337; 348; cxiv, cxv,
cxvi.
Spezzia, Visit to, II. 17, 18.
Spider, H.M.S., I. 248, 251 ; xv,

xvi.
Spiegel, M., Chamberlain, Court

of Weimar, I. 137.
Spiritual Retreats, by Father

Porter, Reading, II. 355.
Spoleto, Visit to, II. 23, 24.
Sport, Indifference to, I. 58.
Spring Holidays, Substitution

for Autumn, II. 147.
Springfield, U.S.A., Visit to,

cxxxii, cxxxv.
Staff College Ball, II. 191.
Stafford, Visit to, II. 129.
Stafford, Mr. Augustus, M.P.,
Theatricals at Farming
Woods, I. 40.
Stafford, Lord :

Marriage of, I. 258.
Retirement of Sir D.
Dundas in favour of,

I- 493-
Stag Hunt at Ilmenau, I. 216.
Stanfield, Mrs. C, Evening-
party given by, I. 345.
Stanhope, Lad}' J., Ball given

by Mrs. G. Currie, I. 498.
Stanhope, Mr. :
Church :

Painting for, II. 294.
Queen Victoria's gift
to, II. 287.
Visits to, in Italy, II.
i55> 297.
Stanley, Bishop :

Death of, I. 294, 301.
Visit to Windsor Castle,

I. 13-
Stanley, Lord, Formation of

Cabinet rumoured, I. 230,

240.
Stanley, Miss, Visit to Rigi-

Kaltbad, II. 88, 89, 90.

Stanley, Mr., Visit to Quito

and Jamaica, I. 323.
Stanley, Mrs. John, Elysee

Reception, I. 256.
Stanley, Sir H. M., Marriage to

Miss Tennant, II. 193.
Steffanoni, Mme., Performance

in New York, cxviii.
Stelden, Visit to, II. 37.
Stephen, Sir J. :

House at Wimbledon, I.

35-
Lectures on French His-
tory, I. 472.
Sterling, Life of, by Carlyle,

Reading, II. 342.
Stern, Viscount, Visit to Monte

Carlo, II. 206.
Stewart, Miss, Governess in
family of Mr. and Mrs. Raikes
Currie, I. 260, 342, 461, 504.
Stewart, Sir D., Visit to Minley,

II. igi, 192.
Stirling, Visit to, II. 140.
Stockbridge, Visit to, II, 143.
Stoddart, Mr., Wine purchased

from, I. 224.
Stoke, Visit to, II. 139.
Stolzenfels, Visit of Queen Vic-
toria to, I. 161, 173.
Stone, Mr., Visit to, in New

York, cxix.
Stoney Cross, Visit to, II. 143.
Stopford, Captain, Acquaint-
ance with, at Lima, xcvi,
xcvii.
Stopford Family, Present at
Wedding of Mr. G. Currie, I.
402, 416.
Strachey, General :

Indian Currency Ques-
tion, II. 257, 258,
261.
International Monetary
Conference, II. 227,
234. 235, 240, 243,
247.
Strachey, Lady, Cooper's Hill

Speech Day, II. 175.
Strasburg, Visit to, II. 54.
Stratford-on-Avon, Visit to, II.
142.

hidex.

Strauss, Herr, Visit to London,

I. 241.
Streatfield, Laurence, and Co.,

Failure of, L 42.
Strid. The, Visit to, IL 70.
Strutt, Mr. and Mrs. :

Dinner-party {^iven by,

L 142.
Party at Mrs. G. Currie's,
L 489.
Strzelecki, Count Paul :
Death of, H. 115.
Dinner - party at Mr.
Raikes Currie's, L

45-
Irish Distress in 1849,
Relief Fund admi-
nistration, L 262,
284.
Visits to Taplow Court,
L 294, 301, 305.
Stuart-Wortley :

Mr., Meeting with, at

Niagara, L 392; cxli.

Lady Emmeline, Journey

to California, L 341.

Stubbs, Mr., Acquaintance with

at Arequipa, ci, cii, ciii.
Stufa Family, Marriage of mem-
ber of, n. 297.
Stump Oratoy, Comments on,

I- 395-
Sturgis, Mr. and Mrs. :

Ball at Walton, IL 2.
Dinner at Mr. Van dc

Weyer's, I. 475.
Friendship with, I. 50.
Sturt, Mr., Political Crisis, 1850,

I- 379-
Suffield, Dowager Lady, Death

of, I. 456.
Suffield, Lady, Visit to Trou-

ville, II. 15.
Sugar-basin, Silver, Purchase

at Venice, II. 4S.
Sugden, Sage, and Co., Failure

of, I. 431.
Sulivan, Mr. :

Meeting with, at Lima,

xciv.
Quarrel with Mr. Putter,
I- 315. 317; ■''cvi.

Sullivan, Sir E.

Dinner with, II. 78, 79.
Riding Tour, II. 157.
Visits to Minley, II. 191,
192, 194.
Farewell, II. 339.
Sumner, Mr. Charles, Acquaint-
ance with, during American
Travels, I. 32, 407; cxxxiii.
Surco, Visit to, xcix.
Surrey, Political Parties in, I.

84.
Sutherland, Duke of:

Lease of Hamilton Place

from, II. 54.
Purchase of Cliefden, I,

257-

Sutherland, Sir T., Irish Fi-
nance Commission, 1894-6,
II. 302, 304.

Sutton, Miss Manners, Mar-
riage with Archdeacon Croft,

I. 47-
Swaledale, Drive through, II.

71-
Swayne and Bovill, Financial
position of, I. 427, 445, 470.
482 {sec also Bovill).
Switzerland, Visits to, I. 51, 461,
505 ; II. 83, 102, 172, 196.
Cockney Travellers, I.

512, 515-
Hotels, Discomforts of,
II. 105.
Sykes — Ball given by, I. 242.
Syracuse, Visit to, cxl.
Syria, Travels of Mr. G. Currie
in, I. 188, igo.

Taconi, Visit to, cxxxi.
Tacua, Visit to, I. 30.
Taena, Visit to, ciii, cv.
Tai^us, Voyage of Mr. George

Currie in, 1. iSS.
Talbot, Mgr., Visit to, at Rome,

II. 22.
Talurias, Dance at Dona I.

Palacies, cvii.
Tambo, The, Arrival at, ci.
Tambroni, Clotilda, Portrait at

Boulogne, II. 148.

Index.

Tamworth, Speecli by Sir K.

Peel at, I. 482.
Tangley School, Visit of Mr.

Laurence Carrie and Lord

Granville to, IL 187.
Tapestry chairs and screen,

Purchase of, IL 146.
Tapia, D.J. B., Courier during

ride across Pampas, Ixvii,

Ixxii, Ixxvi, Ixxvii, xcii.
Taplow Court :

Departure from, and sale
of effects, L 361, 362,

374-
Lease of, by Mr. Raikes
Currie, L 257, 260,
261, 282, 285, 305,
3". 343>356, 439-
Sale of, L 473, 514.
Tarascon, Visit to, IL 209.
Tay, Voyage on, I. 334; cxiii.
Tayler, E., Portrait of Mr. I.E.

Currie by, II. 63.
Taylor, Lady, Cooper's Hill

Speech Day, II. 175.
Taylor, Mr. Bayard, Poem by,
recited at Harvard Commem-
oration, cxxxv.
Taylor, Miss Virginia, Acquaint-
ance with, cxxv.
Taylor, Mr. Zachary, President
of United States :

Death of, I. 32, 382 ; cxxxi,

cxxxiii.
Levu by, I. 358, 359;
cxxvi.
Tea Auctions :

East India Company, I.

94.
New York, cxviii.

Tell's Chapel, Visit to propo-
sed, II. go.
Temple, The Chambers in, I.

44. 50-

Temple of Pachacamac, Visit
to, xcix.

Temple and Co., Failure of, I.
462.

Tennant, Miss Dorothy, Mar-
riage, II. 193.

Tennyson, Lord, Poetry of, I.
413; 11.364.

Teresita, Scnorita, Flowers pre-
sented to, xxiv.
Terrero, Mme., Death of, I.

495-

Terriss, Miss E., Performance
in The. Amazons, II. 281.

Tewkesbury, Visits to, II. i5,
141.

Texas, Boundaries of. Fixing, I.
407.

Thackeray, Mr. W. M., Descrip-
tion of Life at Weimar, I. 17.

Theatricals, Amateur :

Farming Woods, I, 40,

.478.
Weimar, I. igg, 200,203,
206, 213.
Thiers, M. :

Banishment, I. 475.
Louvre, Collection at, 1 1.

163.
Lucerne, Visit to, II, 83.
Monnet's Hotel, Room

at, I. 509.
Rigi-Kaltbad, Visit to,
II. 85, 88, 91, 109.
Thompson, Mr., Acquaintance

with, at Weimar, I. 148
Thorburn, Mr., Portrait of Miss

Evelyn Vernon, I. 384, 385.
Thoresby, Visit to, II. 121.
Thorn, Mrs., Ball given by, in

Paris, I. 438.
Thorn Hill, Visit to, II. 143.
Thun, Letters from, I. 510,512.
Thun, Count, Letter to, I. 181.
Thun, Miss, German governess,

L 307, 311.
Thuringian Forest, Expeditions

in, I. 168, 215.
Thurlow, Mr., Electioneering

Speech, 1852, I. 500,
Tibbets, Miss, Marriage to Dr.

Hall, I. 231.
Tichborne Trial, II. 67.
Ticknor, Mr. G., Introduction

to, proposed, I. 344.
Ticknor's Spanish Literature,

I. 354, 428.
Tierney, Mr. George, Friend-
ship with Mr. Nathaniel
Hibbert, I. 49.

Index.

Times :

Attitude towards Cur-
rency Question, II.

309-
" Cambist's " Letter on
Currency Question,
II. 215, 217.
Letter from Mr. Currie
on Currency Ques-
tion, I. 113 ; II. 216.
Tintagel, Visit to, II. 69.
Tintern, Visit to, II. 138.
Tirado, M., Call on, in New

York, cxix.
Tirard, M., International
Monetary Conference, 1. 103;
II. 235, 240, 248, 249.
Tirlemont, Journey through, I.

125.
Tissington, Visit to, II. 124.
Titicaca, Lake, Visit to, pro-
posed, I. 318.
Tito, Visit to, civ.
Toronto, Visit to, I. 33, 389,

43i> 436.
Tory Party, Forecast of Irish

Policy of, I. 87.
Totoral, Posta do. Visit to, Ixxiv.
Toulmin, Mary, see Carbery,

Lady.
Touraine, Visit to, II. 182.
Tours, Visit to, II. 182.

Illness, II. 185.
Tower, Mr. H., Alpine Expedi-
tion with, I. 514.
Tower, Mr. and Lady Sophia,
Acquaintance of Mr. Raikes
Currie with, I. 306, 310.
Tower, Mrs. and the Misses,
Visit to Lucerne, I. 516,

517-

Traveller's Club, Candidature
of Mr. G. Currie, I. 489.

Travis, Dr., English Physician
at Nice, I. 454.

Tray, Silver, Purchase at
Venice, II. 48.

Treib, Visit to, II. 98.

Trenton Falls, I. 391, 392;
cxl.

Tricca Sig., Bust of Mr. Laur-
ence Currie by, II. 156.

vi

Trigoyen, Don Bernardo and
Dona Carmen, Acquaintance
with, at Mendoza, I. 313;
Ixxviii, Ixxix, Ixxxi.

Trinity Hall, Cambridge,
Christmas Festivities, I. 65.

Tritton, Mr., Paper on Currency
Question, I. 104.

TroUope, Mrs., Book on
America, cxx.

Trotting NIatches :

Baltimore, cxxx.
New York, I. 349, 350;
cxxiii.

Trouville, Visit to, II. 9, 13,

145-
Troy, U.S.A., Visit to, cxxxvii.
Trundle, Mrs., Cook, I. 499.
Truth :

Currency Question, Mr.
Currie's views on,
Comments in, II.
247.
Gladstone, Mr., Fourth
Administration of
Interview between
Mr. Currie and Mr.
Labouchere, II. 218.
Tschudi's Peru, Comments on,

xcvii.
Tufnell, Miss, Visit to Iwerne

Minster House, II. 158.
Tufnell, Mr.:

Political Crisis, 1850, I.

380.
Secretary to the Admir-
alty, Appointment
rumoured, I. 230.
Tufnell, Mrs., Visit to Ranston

House, II. 62.
Tunno, Misses, Acquaintance

with, I. 305.
Tupper, Mrs., Manageress of
Beach Hotel, Littlehampton,

II. 9.

Tupungato, View of, Ixxxiv.
Turin, Visits to and letters

from, II. 147, 151, 152. 154,

155, 286.
Turkey, Flight of Hungarian

Patriots to, 1. 303.
Tutors to Mr. Currie, 1. 2, g.

Index.

Two Voices, The, Reading, II.

364-
Tyndrum, Visit to, II, 66.
Tyrrell, Sir J., Political position,

1845, I- 193-

Uchumayo, Valley of, cl.
Udina, M., Dealer in Anti-
quities, II. 49, 50, 56, 57.
Ugastache, Serior, Acquintance
with, at Buenos Ayres, xix,
xxii.
United States, see America,

North.
Upper Brook Street, House in,
purchased by Aunt of Mr.
Currie, I. 343.
Upper Grosvenor Street, House
in, purchased by Mr. I. G.
Currie, I. 424, 452, 457.
Upton-on-Severn, Visit to, II.

16.
Urbino, Visit to and letters

from, II. 290, 291, 292.
Urquiza, General :

Character of, I. 290 ; Ivi.
Paraguay, Capitulation
of, reported, I. 312.
Rosas, General, Defeat

of, I. 495-
Uncivil treatment of
Mr. Currie during
travels in Entre
Rios, Ivi, Ivii.
Uruguay, Visit to, Ivi.
Uruguay, River, Voyage on, I.

291 ; lix.
Uspallata, Visit to, 1. 29; Ixxxii.
Ussd, Visit to, II. 185.
Utah, Territorial Government,

Bill for, I. 407.
Utica, Visit to, I. 389, 392 ;
cxxxix.

Vallaurie, Visit to, II. 43.
Vallombroso, Due de. Villa at

Cannes, II. 43.
Valparaiso, Visit to, I. 29, 322 ;

Ixxxix.

Passport secured, xcii.

Vals Water remedy prescribed,

II. 102, 116.
Van den Berg, Herr, Inter-
national Monetary Confer-
ence, II. 248.
Van de Weyer, M. and Mme. :
Dinner-parties:
George Currie, Mr.,

I- 475-
Raikes Currie, Mr., I.

379. 385-
Eton, Fourth of June
Celebration, I. 374.
Vane, Lady A., Elopement, I.

484.
Vardon, Mr. :

Dinner-party at house

of, I. 342.
Election prospects, 1852,
I. 492, 497, 500.
" Varmin," Mr., Repeal of Corn

Laws, support of, I. 202.
Vasco deGama, Injury by storm,

in Rio Harbour, xii.
Vases :

Celadon, at Minley, II.

179.
Paris, Purchase at, II.

135-
Vallaurie, Purchase at,
11.43.
Vaucluse, Drive to, II. 207.
Vaughan, Dr., Lunch with, at

Harrow, I. 356.
Vaux, Lord, House of, near

Bagshot, I. 379.
Veitch, Mr., Inspection of

plants, at Minley, II. 282.
Venice, Visits to :

IBertram Currie, Mr., II.

47, 149.
Raikes Currie, Mr., I.
502.
VentimigHa, Visit to, II. 156.
Vernet Family, Acquaintance
with, at Buenos Ayres, xxv,
xxxvii, xl.
Vernon Family :

Evelyn, Miss :
Attentions of Mr. G.
Currie to, I. 342.
Description of, I. 378.

Index.

Vernon F"atnily (continued) :

Engagement to Mr. G.
Currie, I. 351,352,
355. 359. 361, 363.
365. 373. 374. 377.
37S. 379. 3^0. 3^2.
384. 385. 393. 400,
401, 402, 404, 405,
408, 409, 411, 415.
Lansdowne, Lord,
Dinner-party at
house of, I. 356.
Portrait by Thorburn,

I. 384. 385.
Wedding :

Arrangements for,

I. 402, 415.
Ceremony, I. 421,

422, 423.
Presents, 1.380,403.
Fitzpatrick, Mr. :

Brighton Visit, I. 470.
Secretary to Mr.
Vernon Smith, I.
485.
Wedding of Mr. G.
Currie, Present at,
I. 422.
Gowran, Mr. :

Theatrical Perform-
ances, at Farming
Woods, I. 40.
Visit to London, IL 58.
Wedding of Mr. G.
Currie, Speech at,
L 422.
Gowran, Mrs., Visit to

Venice, IL 149.
Monuments at Bake-
well, IL 122.
Vernon, Lord, Engagement

rumoured, II. 163.
Vernon Smith, Mr.,sffi Lyveden,

Lord.
Verona, Visit to, II. 46, 51,

150.
Veronese, Paul, Picture by,

purchase proposed, II. 46.
Versailles, Visit to, II. 71, 77,

134, 146, 163. 174.
Verviers Railway Station,
Letter from, I. 123.

Vevay, Visits to, I. 507, 508;
II. 104, 106.

Vezin, Mr., Acquaintance with,
at Philadelphia, cxxx.

Vicentio, V., Mines in the
Andes, Ixxxii.

Vicenza, Visit to, II. 150.

Vienna, Visit to, II. 52, 53.

Viesch, Letter from, II. 103.

Villaneuvas, Dance at Dona
Ignacia Palacies, cvii.

Villas, Erection of, Modern
tendency, I. 36.

ViUiers, Mr. C. :

Political Economy Club
at Greenwich, I. 39.
Speech on Free Trade,
I. 48S.

Vilvaso, Don Vasa, Acquaint-
ance with, during South
American Travels. Iv, Ivii.

Vincent, Mr., Dinner-parties at
Mr. Raikes Currie's, I. 141,

259-
Vincent, Sir H., Political

Adherents of, I. 37.
Vincent, Mrs. Louisa, Illness

and death, at Littlehampton,

II. 9.
Vincent. W.. Luncheon at

Hamilton Place. II. 79.
Vinciliato, Visit to, II. 296, 297.
Virginia Water, Expedition to,

II. 141.
Vischer, P., Shrine by, II. in.
Visiting Cards, Weimar eti-
quette, I. 145.
Vitznau, Visit to, II. 83, 90.
Viviani, Dr., Illness of Miss E.

Currie, at Genoa, I. 466.
Vogel, Dr., Opinion on Mr.

Currie's illness at Weimar,

I. 199.

Waddilove, Lieut., Acquaint-
ance with, at Buenos Ayres,

XXX.

Waldegrave, Lady, Ball given

by. I. 380.
Waldron, Mr.. Acquaintance

with, Ixxviii, Ixxix.

Index.

Wales, Visit to, in 1875, II.

139-
Wallner, Herr, Meeting with,

at Leipsic, I. 180.
Walsh, Archbishop, Views on

Currency Question, I. 104.
Walton, Ballat, II. 2.
Waumeuse, M., Bed purchased

from, II. 44.
Warburton, Mr. G., Dinner-
party in Hyde Park Terrace,

I. 140.
Ward, Mr., Acquaintance with,

at I slay, c.
Ward, Mr., Luncheon at

Fiesole, II. 297.
Ward, Mr., Pupilage under, I.

9-

Ward, Miss Mary, Marriage

of, I. 306.
Ward, Sir H., High Commis-
sioner of the Ionian Isles,
I. 230, 241, 258, 343.
Ward, Mr. W., Book on the

Oxford Movement, II. 192.
Warminster, Visit to, II. 143.
Warre, Mr. F. :

Brussels, Visit to, II. 245.
Ranston House, Visit to,
II. 62.
Warrior, H.M.S., Visit to, II.

59, 60, 61.
Washington, Visit to, I. 32, 349,
358 ; cxxiv.

Debates in Senate and
House of Represen-
tatives, 1.364; cxxvi.
Dentist's Bill, cxxvii.
Departure from, cxxix.
Description of, I. 366.
Illness, I. 430.
Letters, I. 358, 363, 366,

368, 419, 429.
Library of the Capitol,

cxxvii.
Men of, Description of,

I. 420.
Potomac, Falls of, Visit

to, cxxv.
President's Levee, cxxvi.
Washington Monument, Balti-
more, cxxx.

Water Souch6, Expedition in

search of, I. 52.
Watering apparatus for

Coombe, II. 73.
Webb, Mr., Call on, at Cannes,

11.43.
Webb, Mr. R., Visit to, at

Milford, II. 24.
Webster, Mr. Daniel:

Acquaintance with, at
Washington, I. 32,
320, 358; cxxvi.
Secretary of State, Ap-
pointment as, I. 382,
388.
Speech in Senate, I. 364.
Weggis, Visit to, II. 90, 91.
Wegner, Frl., Marriage to Mr.

Grant, II. 34.
Weimar, Visits to, I. 15,22, 129,
215; II. 112.

Banker, Letter of credit

to, I. 135, 141.
Cemetery, Visit to, I.

134-
Christmas Festivities, I.

199.
Court :

Dress at, I. 130.
Dulness of Entertain-
ments, I. 197, 199.
Grand Duchess :
Appearance and

Manners, I. 137.
Ems, Visit to, I. 144,

157, 160.
Jewels, Splendour of,
I. 212.
Grand Duke :

Belvedere, Summer
Residence at, I.
144.
Visit of Mr.
Currie to, I.
155, 161.
Birthday Celebra-
tions, Balls, &c., I.
202, 208, 209, 212.
Carlsbad, Visit to,

I. 144, 157.
Dinners given by,
I. 211, 215.

Index.

Weimar {continued) :

Ems, Visit to, I. 147,

153-
Entertainment of

Mr. Currie by, I.

16.
Glimpse of, in 1873,

II. 113-
Theatre, Private,
Refusal of use of,
I. 193.
Introduction at, I. 16,

136, 137-
Prince of:

Ball given by, I.
208.

Birthday, I. 156.

Dejeuner Dausant,
I. 157.

Dinner, I. 159.

New Year's Day
Festivities, I. 197.

Visits of Mr. Currie
to, I. 16, 155, 216.
Royal Visitors, Pro-
posed, I. 176.
Theatre Etiquette, I.

17-
Diary, Loss of, I. 15,

123.
Diet at, I. 211.
Erholung:
Charges for admission,

I. 167.
Foundation of. Com-
memoration, I.
174.
Sausage Feast at, I.

ISO-
Visits to, I. 137, 147,

149, 150, 155, 172.
Expenditure during, I.

130, 138, 142, 151,

164, 183.
Fair, I. 159, 174.
Guns, Purchase of, 1. 155.

158-
Heat, Excessive, I. 157.
Holy Coat of Treves,

Crusade against,

I. 22, 186, 189, 190,

198.

Weimar (continued) :

Houses occupied by Mr.
Currie, I. 15, 22,
145, 146, 178.
Journey to :
Cost of, I. 130.
Letters describing, I.
123.
Letters, I. 129, 131, 136,
143, 146, 149, 151,
154, 156, 161, 162,

167, 173. 175. 177.
181, 185, 192, 197,
200, 203, 207, 209,
212.
Visit in 1848, Letter
written during, I.
215, 216.
Library, I. 157.
Life during, General
description of, I.
15. 156.
Officers, German :
Acquaintance with, I.

147.
Dispute with, I. 185.
New Year's Day Festi-
vities, I. 197.
Return from, postpone-
ment, I. 192, 194,
210.
Shooting :

Annual Festival, 1. 172.
Cross-Bow, I. 136, 162.
Decay of, shooting
given up to pea-
sants, I. 216.
Expeditions, I. 154,
158, 159, 165, 171,
175, 216.
Vermin, Curious
methods of killing,
I. 136.
Social Customs, Prudery

of, I. 213.
Streets, Description of,

I. 145.
Theatre :

Charges at, I. 139, 167.
Visits to, I. 135, 136,
147, 153, 156. 174,
175, 202.

Index.

Weimar (continued) :

Visiting Cards, Etiquette

as to, I. 145.
Wool Market, Visit to,

I. 154.
Zwierlein Family, see
that title.
Weissenborn, Dr., German
Master at Weimar, I. 16.
Character, &c., I. 135.
Correspondence with
Mr. Raikes Currie,
I. 160, 295, 302.
Expenditure of Mr.
Bertram Currie, cal-
culations as to, I.
139, 165, 167.
German lessons, I. 16,
134, 156, 160, 201.
Charges for, 1. 139, 140,
142, 145.
Health of, I. 148.
Introduction to, I. 129.
Lodgings procured by,

I. 178.

Visits to, in 1848, I.
216.

Walks with, I. 135, 137.
Weissnacht, Visit to, II. 36.
Welby, Lord :

Gold Standard Defence
Association, II. 319.

Indian Currency Com-
mittee, 1892-3, II.
261, 272, 280.

International Monetary
Conference, Letters,

II. 228, 229.

Irish Finance Commis-
sion, 1894-6, 11.288,
301, 302, 304, 305,
307, 308, 309, 310,
312.
Memorandum on, II.
302.
Wellesley, Marquis, Death of,

I. 13.
Wellington, Duke of, Marriage,

I. 35.
Wells :

Maynard Currie, Rev.,
Study at, I. 14, 468.

Wells (continued) :

Philip Currie, Mr., Visit
to, I. 499, 502.
Wells, Mr., House at Redleaf,

1.35.

Wensleydale, Lord, Admission

to House of Lords, Dispute

as to, I. 19.
Wertheimar, Mr., Purchases

from, II. 179.
West, Sir A., Letters from, II.

220, 252.
West Horsley Place, see

Horsley.
West Point, Visit to, I. 381;

cxxxii.
Westhope, Mr., Absence abroad,

I. 473-
Westminster School, Boat-

Races, I. 162, 170.
Weston, Mr., Acquaintance

with, in New York, cxxii.
Wetmore, Mrs., Acquaintance
with, during American
Travels, cxxxviii, cxxxix.
Weyland, Mr., Marriage, I. 380.
Weymouth, Visit to, II. 59.
Wheat Grinding Patent, see
titles Bovill and White, Pons-
ford, and Co.
Wheatley, Mr., R.A., Pictures

by, II. 57.
Whish — , Victory over Sikhs in

1849, I. 230.
White, Mr., Visit to Estancia

of, xxvii.
White, Mr. H., Visit of Mr.
Laurence Currie to, II. 186.
White, Ponsford, and Co. :

Account of formation of

firm and investment

in, by Mr. Currie,

I. 23, 24.

Agreement as to Bovill's

Patent, I. 445.
Bovill, Mr., see that title.
Character of partners :
Ponsford, Mr., I. 445.
White, Mr., I. 444,

451-
Coffer-dam, Construc-
tion, I. 231, 295.

Index.

White, Ponsford, and Co.
(continued ) :

Condition of affairs, 1850,
1851, and 1852, I.

443. 447. 450. 470.
507, 510, 513, 517.

Dissolution of partner-
ship, I. 41.

Experiments with wheat,
I. 474.

Funds, Necessity for, I.

473-
Grinding begun, I. 384,

389-
Hydraulics, Delays in
connection with, I.

425-
Mill, building, &c., I. 241,
257, 261, 284, 295,
311, 321, 344, 350,
356, 360, 374. 380,
393. 397. 418, 427,
443-
Delay in, I. 484, 487,

501.
Valuations, I. 243, 257,
471.
Prince Consort, Meeting
with Mr.White, near
Reading, I. 484.
Seeley and Co., Over-
tures for partner-
ship, I. 295, 300.
South American Connec-
tion, Possibilities of,
I. 239.
Wheat Exports for
America, Informa-
tion as to, I. 431.
Whitehall, House in, see Rich-
mond Terrace.
Whitehaven, Visit to. II. 129.
Whitehead, Mr.T.,06/Ws d'Arl

acquired from, II. 179, 180.
Whitlaw, Mr., Offer to purchase
Taplow Court reported, I.

473-
Whittingstall, Mr., Loan to,

I. 451.
Whymper, Mr.. Vacation-party

with Mr. Maynard Currie,

I. 342.

Wickham, Visits to, I. 38, 428.
Wickham Family, Meeting with,

on Swiss Tour, I. 507, 509,

510.
Wigan, Mrs., Visit to Homburg,

II. 32.
Wigram, Lord, Dinner with, at

Brighton, I. 469.
Wigram, Mr. O., Transactions

with Currie's Bank, I. 498.
Wigram, Mr. and Mrs. :
Court Ball, I. 142.
Meeting with, at the
Opera, II. 27.
Wilcox, Miss, Acquaintance

with, at Saratoga, cxxxviii.
Wilde — , Appointment as Lord

Keeper, I. 386.
WiUiam IV., Death of, I. 7.
Williams, Miss, Governess, I. 2.
WilUams, Mr., Visit to house

belonging to, II. 61.
Williams Family, House near

Beaumaris, I. 7.
Williamson, Mr., Meeting with,

I. 124.
Willing, Mr., Father of Mrs.

Ridgway, I. 438.
Wilmot, Mr. Foley, Death of,

I. 498.

Wilson, Mr. and Mrs., Call on,

at Weimar, II. 112.
Wilson, Sir R., International

Monetary Conference, I. 80;

II. 228, 233, 234, 235, 245.
Wimbledon :

Canizarro House, Lease
of, by Mr. Raikes
Currie, I. 34.

Cottage at. Lease of, by
Mr. Bertram Currie,
I. 44, 49; II. 3.

8, 9-
Wimpole Street, House of

Grand-parents in, I. i.
Winchilsea, Lord :

Letter to the Times, I.

303-
Marriage to Miss Rice,
I. 303.
Windermere, Visit to, II. 127,
128.

Index.

Windham, Mrs. C, Visit to

Coombe, II. ii6.
Windsor :

Liberal Party, Repre-
sentative at, I. i86.
Review and Banquet at,

I. 13.
Visit to, I. 10.
Wingfield Castle, Visit to, II.

123.
Winsley, Visits to, II. 143.
Winthrop, Mr., Acquaintance
with, at Washington, I. 32;
cxxv.
Wiseman, Dr., Letter on Roman
Catholic Hierarchy in Eng-
land, I. 455.
Witley :

House of Birket Foster

at, II. 24.
Visit of Mr.Raikes Currie
to, I. 428.
Witton :

Home of Grand-parents,

1.3-
Visit of Mrs. R. Currie
to, I. 433.
Witton, Mr. D., Purchase of
Cheam House, I. 451.

Attempt to re-sell, I.

463-
Wivenhoe, Visit of Mr. and Mrs.

R. Currie to, I. 434.
Wodehouse Family :

A., Hon. and Rev., Death

of, I. 218.
A., Hon., Mrs. :
Death of, I. 502.
Greenwich Party, I.

379-
Illness, I. 498.
Visit to Hyde Park
Terrace, I. 375, 380.
Alice, Miss, Visit to

London, I. 477.
Armine, Hon. :
Illness, II. 96, 97.
Marriage of Rev. May-
nard Currie, Present
at, II. 116.
Berkeley, Hon., Col. and
Mrs. :

Wodehouse Family (coM<t»Me<i):
Boulogne, Visit to, I.

258.
Corsica, Visit to, I.

343. 362.
Ionian Isles, Appoint-
ment in, promised
to, I. 258, 343.
Canon, Visit to London,

I. 477.
Charlotte, Laura, Lady,

Death of, I. 156.
Edmond, Mrs. :
Chapel at Minley, Visit

to, II. 192.
New room, II. 193.
Visit to, II. 342, 344.
Edward, Hon., Capt.
(afterwards Admi-
ral), Visit to, 1.424.
Harriett, Hon., ztc

Chambers, Mrs.
Henry, Hon. :

Illness and death, 11.

89, 102.
Paris Embassy, Posi-
tion in, II. 55, 56, 58.
Jane, Lady, Visit to

London, I. 477.
John,Lord,see Kimberley,

Lord.
John, Lord :

Upper Brook Street,
House in, I. 343.
Laura, Miss, Visit to
Coombe Warren, II.
116.
Lucy, Miss, Dinner-
party in Hyde Park
Terrace, I. 141.
Mrs. :

Broken ankle, I. 498.
Neighbour in Green
Street, II. 3.
Portrait of first Lord

Wodehouse, I. 5.
William, Mr. :

Christmas Dinner-
party at Mr. G.
Currie's, I. 478.
Clerk at Baring Bros.,
I. 477, 480, 498.

Index.

Wokingham, Visit to, II. 141.

Wolf, Professor, Meeting with,
at Weimar, I. 149.

Wolfe, James, Monument to,
I. 442.

Wolff, Dr., Visits to Cheam,
1.8.

Wolff, Mr., Irish Finance Com-
mission, II. 302.

Wolff, Gebriider, Call on, at
Frankfort, II. 36.

Wollaton, Visit to, II. 118.

Wolfskael, Mme. de. Acquaint-
ance with, at Weimar, I. 149,

158.
Wolverton :

George Carr Glyn, First
Lord :

Alderman, Office of,
Dissuasion from un-
dertaking, I. 84.

Character and Career,
I. 94.

Death, II. 115.

Globe Insurance
Society founded by,
1.96.

Visit to, II. 62.
George Grenfell Glyn,
Second Lord :

Appointment as As-
signee in Ashlin's
affairs, I. 471.

Character of, I. 61.

Death of, II. 175.

Homburg, Visit to, I.

385-
House in Carlton

Gardens, II. 55.
Overend and Gurney,

Suspension of, I.
60.
Speech by Mr. Currie,

Allusion to, in, I.

116.
Visit to Mr. Currie, II.

159-
Visit of Mr. I . E. Currie

to, at Cannes, II.

160.
Visit to, at Iwerne, II.

157-

Wolverton (continued):

Visit to, at Ranstone
House, II. 62.
Harry, Third Lord :
Death of, II. 181. 182.
Electioneering
Speeches, II. 173.
Lord and Lady, Visit of
Mr. I. E. Currie to,
at Cannes, II. 160.
Woodall, Rev. Father, Visit to,

at Settle, II. 127.
Woodhall, Fishing at, I. 9.
Wootton-under-Edge, Visit to,

II. 142.
Worcester, England, Visit to,

II. 16, 138.
Worcester, U.S.,Visit to, cxxxii.
Worcestershire Beacon, Cross-
ing, II. 138.
Wordsworth's Prelude, Reading,

I. 413.

Worksop, Visit to, II. 120.
Worms, Herr, Imprisonment of

Austrian Rittmeister, II. 32.
Wright, Mr., Acquaintance with,

during American Travels, I.

237, 371 ; vii, X, xi, xii, cxxiv,

cxxix.
Wroughton, Mrs. :

Letter from, II. 139.
Visit to Coombe, II. 116.
Wiirzburg, Visit to, II. 10.
WycHffe, Visit to, II. 71.
Wye River, Expedition down,

II. 138.

Wykoff, Chevalier, Affair at

Genoa, I. 470.
Wykoff and Gamble, Pamphlet

on case of, I. 494.
Wyse, Miss, Visit to Rigi-Kalt-

bad, II. 91.

York, Visits to :

Bertram Currie, Mr., II.

63. 71-
Raikes Currie, Mr., I.
169, 170.
Yorkshire, Tour in, 11. 70.
Yorke. Mrs., and family, Visit
to Homburg, I. 401.

Index.

Yorke, Mr. and Lady Lilian,

Visit to Minley, IL igi.
Young, Miss Caroline :

First Meeting with Mr.
Bertram Carrie, L
464.
Marriage to Mr. Bertram
Currie, \. 54 ; IL 6.
{Su also Currie, Mrs.
Bertram.)
Young, Lady :

Betrothal, Visit to scene

of, IL 140.
Character of, I. 55.
Illness and death of, II.

62.
Letters to, II. 17, 19, 22.
Visit to, II. 8.
Young, Mr. G. F., Meeting with,

at Thun, I. 513.
Young, Sir C. L., Death of, II.

175-
Young, Sir W. L., Father of

Mrs. Bertram Currie, I. 54.
Yverdun, Visit to, I. 511.

Ziegesar, Baron von. Chamber-
lain, Court of Weimar, I.

153-
Ziegesar, Mile. :

Acquaintance with, at

Weimar, L 158, 163,

178.

News of, as Mariechen

von Plaskow, II. 34.

Zihager Family, Occupants of

Mr. Zwierlein's house, I. 146.

Zikagi, Baron, Absence from

Weimar, I. 134.
Zug, Lake, Visit to, II. 91.
Zurich, Visit to, II. 108.
Zwierlein Family :

Arrangements as to
boarding with, at
Weimar, I. 15, 129,
130, 131, 141, 142,
145, 151, 152.
Departure from, I. 177.
Dinner-party, I. 149.
Herr:

Description of, I. 143.
Meeting with, in 1873,
II. 112.
House of, Situation, I.

145-

Madame, I. 130, 132, 144.

Misses:
Acquaintance of Mr.
George Currie with,
I. 135, 140, 141, 147,

151-
Call on Miss Therese

(Mrs. Wilson), in

1873, IL 112.
Comments on, in letter

from Mr. Raikes

Currie, I. 140.
Dancing-lessons wdth,

I. 149.
Descriptions of, I. 15,

129, 130, 132, 143,

151-

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