[London—Saturday, 25 June 1859]
Saturday 25th Breakfasted with Whitworth Jones Esq. at 9 o’clk. Mr Russell was there and we had a cosy merry time enough. Wheelock’s and Church’s pictures were about the room making it seem quite American. Russell kindly went with us after breakfast to see the Guards in the square of St. James’ and hear their bands play—two of the finest in London. He presented us to Captain Airey who had won many medals in the British Service, who had been taken prisoner by the Chinese and suffered every hardship, also to Captain Barton Tower. Mr Russell then carried us to Marlborough House where at last we saw actually saw Turner’s great pictures. They were all I had hoped, more than I could believe. It was like a peep at Italy and all that is fairest there. The trees stand out against the sky sentinel, like as in nature softened by the veil of Italian vapor. We had hardly returned home from our look at the pictures, tired enough too we were, when Russell appeared again as if he wished his kindness to have no end to say he wanted us to go to the Conservative Club with his friend Mr Massingberd and see the world assembling for the Queen’s levee. Seizing a glass of claret and bit of bread by way of refreshment we started again, found the friend a nice person full of kindness, saw the pretty Club-house, sat in a large luxurious window and gazed till we were tired at all the gay liveries and equipages. I thought we came home to rest but Jamie still finds more than he can do in answering letters &c. He has gone tonight to see Hawthorne and Barry Cornwall while Mr Parker sits chatting with me.
