[Carlisle—Wednesday, 13 June 1860]
Wednesday 13th Raining and cold. Went to Penrith thence by coach to Pooley through lovely country. Edenhall (where the goblet, called the Luck of Edenhall may still be seen) lay in our path also Lord Brougham’s place. From Pooley took the boat to steam the length of Ullswater to Patterdale. It rained and blew so hard we were obliged to remain below and could only peep out to see the wet Paradise on the banks through the tiny windows.
We dined on trout at the lovely old hotel at Patterdale. The master of the house interested us. He had known Prof. Wilson, De Quincey, Wordsworth and all the great men who have made these haunts so famous. Ah! he said Sir (to Jamie) you Americans are very fond of William Wordsworth, but he was a greedy man Sir and we didn’t like him much about here. Professor Wilson was the best man as ever lived among these ’ills Sir!!
In the afternoon made our way by carriage 14 miles to Winde[r]mere. It was an exquisite drive one of most beautiful in the world. It was like a miniature Switzerland, yet I hardly like the term either, it was such perfect beauty in itself and quite unlike anything else. The streams were delightfully full. Waited an hour or two for the train for Liverpool. Jamie read me Miss Martineau’s nice little book the Farm of 4 Acres. We telegraphed to Mrs Blodget of our late arrival and at one oclock when we reached her house we found Miss Williams sitting up for us. What excellent ladies these two are and how home like and comfortable everything looked as we arrived. I know no other house in the world of this kind so nice.
