“Mr. Landor is a very striking-looking person, and exceedingly clever. Also we had a Mr. Browning, a young poet (author of _Paracelsus_), and Mr. Proctor and Mr. Chorley, and quantities more of poets, etc.... Mr. Willis has sailed for America. Mr. Moore and Miss Edgeworth are not in town.... “There was a curious affair to-night. All the Sergeants went to the play in a body [to see Sergeant Talfourd’s _Ion_]. Lord Grey and his family were in a private box just opposite to us, and the house was filled with people of that class, and the pit crammed with gentlemen. Very very gratifying was it not?” Writing to her father on May 31st Miss Mitford says:— “At seven William [Harness] came to take me to Lord Dacre’s. It is a small house, with a round table that only holds eight. The company was William, Mrs. Joanna [Baillie], Mrs. Sullivan (Lady Dacre’s daughter, the authoress), Lord and Lady Dacre, a famous talker called Bobus Smith (otherwise the great Bobus) and my old friend Mr. Young the actor, who was delighted to see me, and very attentive and kind indeed. But how kind they were all!... “In the evening we had about fifty people, amongst others, Edwin Landseer, who invited himself to come and paint Dash. He is a charming person; recollected me instantly, and talked to me for two whole hours.... You may imagine that I was very gracious to the best dog painter that ever lived, who asked my leave to paint Dash.... Edwin Landseer says that it is the most beautiful and rarest race of dogs in existence—the dogs who have most intellect and most _countenance_. Stanfield had talked to him of his intention to paint my country, and then Edwin Landseer resolved to paint my dog.... “Edwin Landseer has a fine Newfoundland dog whom he has often painted, and who is content to maintain his posture as long as his master keeps his palette in his hand, however long that may be; but the moment the palette is laid down off darts Neptune and will sit no more that day.... “It is very odd that Mr. Knight should want to paint _me_. Mr. Lucas will make the most charming picture of all—_of you_. [Illustration: _John Lucas_ DR. MITFORD] “I told you, my dearest father, that Mr. Kenyon was to take me to the giraffes and the Diorama, with both of which I was delighted. A sweet young woman whom we called for in Gloucester Place went with us—a Miss Barrett—who reads Greek as I do French, and has published some translations from Æschylus and some most striking poems. She is a delightful young creature, shy and timid and modest. Nothing but her desire to see me got her out at all, but now she is coming to us to-morrow night also.”