Among the pictures, I was particularly struck with the infamous Cesare Borgia, by Correggio. What a sublime villain! He stands in the most intrepid manly beauty; vigour and loftiness of mind beam from every feature; in the eyes alone lurks the ferocious tiger. The collection is peculiarly rich in pictures of the Flemish school; many of them are of inimitable truth, which I freely confess has often a greater charm for me than even the perfect representation of an Ideal, if that does not happen to hit some kindred conception in my own mind. Thus a fine stately old Dutch burgher's wife, drinking down a glass of wine with great 'délice,'--her husband wrapped in his cloak with the bottle out of which he has just helped her still in his hand, while he looks at her with good-natured pleasure,--was to me a very attractive subject. So, likewise, some officers of the sixteenth century in their handsome and appropriate dress, carousing after their hard and bloody toils: and several others, equally true to nature. Among the landscapes I made acquaintance with a Hobbima, which has the greatest resemblance to the manner of Ruysdael. Fruit, which almost deceived the sense, by Van Huysum and Van Os. Houses, in which every tile is given, by Van der Meer. Several Wouvermans, Paul Potters, &c. &c.--nothing was wanting to complete the richness of the collection. Only the modern English pictures were bad. The rest of the day I staid at home, to hallow the birthday of my good mother, alone and in quiet. _June 7th._ As a sample of the necessities of a London dandy, I send you the following statement by my 'fashionable' washerwoman, who is employed by some of the most distinguished 'élégans,' and is the only person who can make cravats of the right stiffness, or fold the breasts of shirts with plaits of the right size. An 'élégant,' then, requires per week,--Twenty shirts; twenty-four pocket-handkerchiefs; nine or ten pair of 'summer trowsers;' thirty neck-handkerchiefs (unless he wears black ones;) a dozen waistcoats; and stockings 'á discretion.' I see your housewifely soul aghast. But as a dandy cannot get on without dressing three or four times a day, the affair is 'tout simple,' for he must appear,-- 1st. In breakfast toilette,--a chintz dressing-gown and Turkish slippers. 2nd. Morning riding dress,--frock coat, boots and spurs. 3rd. Dinner dress,--dress coat and shoes. 4th. Ball dress, with 'pumps,' a word signifying shoes as thin as paper. At six o'clock the Park was so full that it was like a rout on horseback, only much pleasanter; instead of carpets or chalked floors there was the green turf, a fresh breeze instead of stifling heat and vapour; and instead of tiring one's own legs, one made the horse's do all the work.