his marked disapproval of the system of
confounding together the earlier and latest stages
of crime, and was altogether very edifying in
his language. He showed the prisoners'
chapel of ease, and the library, delivering
excellent reflections on the works themselves
and their authors; and finally, at departure,
was proved to be no other than a convict
schoolmaster, who had been doing a little in
the forgery line. He was the show prisoner
of the place—a prize forçat, of whom the
establishment was justly proud.

There are many men down in that
menagerie pit who may also be taken for show-
prisoners; unfortunates who have been in
vault beyond the memory of man almost.
One, who fired at a certain prince of high
degree many, many years since, shall have to
look out through the bars of his den to the
hour of his death. The keeper that shows
you round, will tell the whole story.

As I am turning over this rueful subject,
still sitting at the window of the Grey-headed
Nobleman, I find it has grown to be dark,
and that the shop-windows below are being
lighted up. This, during the progress of that
funereal and prison reverie. When suddenly
the door opens softly, and the Grey-headed
Nobleman himself puts his head in, desiring
to know if he may come in further. He has
come in with a request, that, as the evenings
are growing dull and Mynheer may have
possibly used up all the sights of the place,
perhaps—would it be asking too much?—
perhaps Mynheer would come down to their
little room, and have a dish of tea. Perhaps
it would seem a liberty—only he thought—
that is—

By all means. Much indebted for his kind
offer. Shall go down to the family circle
with all convenient speed. To say nothing
of the profit of being privileged with a
glimpse into genuine Dutch penetralia.
Therefore, I follow as he leads the way down,
taking the white off the walls as usual, until
we halt on the first landing, at a door. This
is where the Grey-headed Nobleman and his
family live.

A marvellous little room; with family,
furniture, odds and ends, pianoforte, tea-
things, china, and Dutch dog crammed in.
I stand in the door-way, as one blocked up
and incapable of moving further; until the
Grey-headed Nobleman himself opens a passage.
Wife to Grey-headed Nobleman, mother
to ditto, grown up son to ditto, children of
ditto, all ages,—governess of ditto, working
in corner; female friend to ditto, had in for
the dish of tea. But all fitted in together—
dove-tailed, like the angular pieces in the
puzzle-box. Where I was to be fitted in, was
the mystery.

The sensation at the entrance of the
stranger was smothered by the universal
introduction of wife, parent, grown-up son,
and even of children. The Dutch hound
is not introduced, who, for all that, has been
making himself known by sustained and
menacing growling. While I am being fitted
into the puzzle-box, the apparatus for keeping
the kettle warm, which is kept on the
ground, is well nigh overturned. Then the
time passes agreeably enough. A daughter
of the house is put forward to break English
—having had lessons in that tongue; and,
being looked on as a sort of prodigy by her
family. But, the daughter of the house is
shy, and makes a poor hand of it. I give
all due encouragement; but it will not do.
I think the family see that it is a failure,
and do not push the matter much farther.
Then, the long son, who is musical, is fitted
in at the piano, and performs indifferently
well. He is of good purpose, however, and
means his best, which is everything. Then,
as a great treat, certain coloured prints, after
the Baxter process, are introduced with an
extraordinary flourish. A great rarity, that
you may not see every day! and observe,
many voices impressing the fact noisily.
" Ingliss, sair, you will zee. Ingliss, Ingliss! '*
So I do see. A little mug on the chimney-
piece is similarly exhibited as Ingliss; and
I can only say—returning thanks—that I am
proud to see the British products so much
esteemed. Therefore I heartily admire the
British mug.

I am presently invited to give my views
of the country, which I do elaborately; but
not perhaps with the freshness I have done
in these notes. I then give some lights on
places at home, corroborated strongly by
the young man, who has been as far as
London, and has seen what he calls Zeidnam.
He has brought home prints of Zeidnam, also
in the Baxterian manner; which he is good
enough to explain for me. Then there is
some famous Anisette, which the Grey-headed
Nobleman has often said I should taste, and
which is now brought out from the depths of
an ancient cabinet, and which tastes very
rich and oily.

Then another daughter of the house is put
to sing, and singeth French and German
songs creditably. But, nothing of Dutch
produce. And I remark, too, that the young
man when he plays, plays only German and
French productions, and turns his back on his
native music: which very much recalls that
French gentility, and French millinery, and
chattering of French up at La Haye. Which
striving after French pinchbeck, it must be
conceded, is not to be found in the Dutch
country alone, but is spread very widely
through Europe.

So, at a reasonable hour I rise and make
my bow to the good-natured family.