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rest content with the splendid recollections of our new
foreign friend touching the Tuillieries, Vallombrosa,
Florence and the "Eternal City;" towers, temples,
kingdoms, and the glorious achievements of art and
science, which crowded the auspicious realms through
which he had roamed. The burning thirst which pos-
sessed me to see those affecting scenes, was no ways
allayed by studying the witchery of M. Stael's Italy, or
the mystery of Mrs. Radcliffe's Udolpho: I had no
other view of earthly bliss at that time, than to find
myself on the "lilied fields of France;" and that the
stern dominion of Napoleon made such a consummation
to be in some respects impossible, only added to the
intensity of boyish desire, already sufficiently exalted.
The precious soil of the most christian kingdóm, was
not then to be trodden by every Englishman who might
possess time and inclination for that object, for in those
days it was said of Napoleon and his dominions,

"France like a Turkish haram, was close shut,
Crouching thy sad and iron yoke beneath,

And gloomy dungeons were the hapless lot

Of gallant foes, heart break, and nameless death.
And patriot breasts of France, desponding heav'd,
And mourn'd fair freedom's lily trodden down;
Till universal rule thine eye conceiv'd,

And pois'd the foremost swoop at England's crown.”

The lapse of years, however, and tougher work than

playing at cricket in

college garden, somewhat

dissipated the intoxicating illusions of youth; neverthe

less I have always felt a predominant desire to visit. foreign parts, and chiefly those consecrated by history and civilization; so that it was with a considerable feeling of hope, and even exultation, that I found Providence had so adjusted my affairs in the spring of that it seemed not an improper step to gratify this early founded predilection.

Having been alone during the excursion, I employed sometimes the spare evenings in noting down what had struck my fancy in the course of the day, in the stream of novelty which ran continually before the eyes: and found on returning to my native land that I had amassed a moderate cargo of first impressions, which indeed forms the stock of the present sheets. It may be asked, where lies the use of recording those ephemeral images that pass through the mind on the sight of new things; which can contain little else than a false estimate concerning them, to be corrected by a more minute investigation, and steadier inspection: second thoughts are best, we are accustomed to say, and there is danger in trusting to those sudden conclusions, which experience shews to prove on most occasions a fertile source of mistake and mischief. But perhaps it may be justly replied, that the error lies more in giving to first impressions undue weight, while we exercise our judgment upon them, than in originally forming or promulgating them. And in as far as graphical effect is concerned,

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