[16] Lady Morgan, in her book, "France in 1829-30," gives an account of the Giraffe just then arrived in Paris. The animal was added to the collection in the London Zoological Gardens in 1836. [17] Litterateur, of Vienna: writer of comedies, etc. [18] This letter was published in _The Quarterly Musical Magazine and Review_. [19] Addressed to _Le Corsaire_, and reproduced (in English) in _The Globe_. CHAPTER V. Fétis stated that Paganini's visit to London excited the most lively curiosity, but did not awake that intelligent interest which welcomed him in the Capital of France. This does not sound complimentary to London, but perhaps Fétis read some of the introductory comments of the press when Paganini was about to reach our shores. This is a specimen: "We shall talk of Paganini very much till he comes. When he arrives nobody will speak or think of anything else for nine, perhaps eighteen, days: he will be everywhere: all other violinists will be utterly forgotten: it will be agreed that the instrument was never before heard; that his predecessors were all tyros; all other fiddles mere kits. There will be Paganini rondos and waltzes; variations, long, short, hard, easy, all _à la Paganini_. We shall have Paganini hats, caps, etc., and the hair of all the beaux patronised by beauty, will be after his curious pattern. His influence will extend to our tables, and there will be Paganini puffs served up daily. Then, all at once, his very name will cease to be pronounced by persons of _ton_; and, as a matter of course, people not of _ton_--not of the Devonshire circle, not of Almack's--will imitate those who are: and the Italian player, like the penultimate fashion, will be utterly forgotten!--_in good society_. I will even allow him to flourish here two whole months, provided no new chin-chopper[20] arrive in the interim, no _danseuse_ with a miraculous toe, to contest the supremacy of his wonderful bow: should any such rival enter the lists with him, his glory will set in less than a moon, and never blaze again above our fashionable horizon."[21] [Illustration: _Plate VI.--See Appendix._--TITLE-PAGE OF COMIC SONG, 1831.] Here is another from _The Examiner_:--"There cannot be a more inoffensive creature. His sole propensity is to gain money by his art, and his passion to lose it at the gambling table. Paganini's bow (_Scotticé_, boo) is almost as wonderful as his bow (_Anglicé_, fiddle-stick)--the craw-fish would attempt something like it were he on the stage, but not so well." Well, we've improved in manners somewhat since 1831. No respectable paper would publish now such notices in advance of any distinguished artist, however eccentric he might be. Paganini duly arrived in London in May, 1831. His first concert was announced for the 21st in this manner: THE KING'S THEATRE.