s one of very modest magnitude, made
his unexpected, comet-like appearance in Boston on his way to New York
to marry an American woman. It is easy to believe what Mr. Ticknor
says in his long account of him, that "while he flatters by his
civility those who are little accustomed to attention from his
superiors, he disappoints the reasonable expectations of those who
have received the homage of all around them until it has become a part
of their just expectations and claims."

In April, 1815, Mr. Ticknor set sail for England in company with his
friend Edward Everett, and at the end of four weeks they arrived at
Liverpool, just in time to hear of Napoleon's escape from Elba. There
was at least one man in England who was pleased with that turn of
fate, and that was Dr. Parr, whom Mr. Ticknor stopped to see on his
way to London, and who told his young guest, "I should not think I
had done my duty if I went to bed any night without praying for the
success of Napoleon Bonaparte." Lord Byron, it should be added, on
hearing the news of Waterloo, said, "I am d----d sorry for it.... I
didn't know but I might live to see Lord Castlereagh's head on a pole.
But I suppose I sha'n't now." Of this last-named admirer of Bonaparte,
Mr. Ticknor saw a good deal during his stay in England. Byron was then
a newly-married man, and on better terms with the world at large than
he was at other times of his life. His American visitor recorded that
he "found his manners affable and gentle, the tones of his voice low
and conciliating, his conversation gay, pleasant and interesting in an
uncommon degree."

Of the older men, he saw Dr. Rees, editor of the _Encyclopaedia_, who
had dined with Dr. Johnson and John Wilkes at Dilly's--not at the
first dinner probably, for Boswell gives a list of the guests which
does not include his name, but doubtless at the second, in 1781. Dr.
Rees said that Wilkes won his way to Johnson's heart not, as Boswell
reports, by his wit, but by the grossest flattery; and he added that
Johnson always courted Boswell more than any one else, that he might
be exhibited to posterity in a favorable light. A mere list of the
names of the people he saw during this short stay in England will show
how full of interest this part of his diary is. Campbell, Gifford,
West, Sir Humphry Davy he saw most frequently, but no one so often as
he did Byron. His penchant for "lions" always led him to prefer the
lordliest among them.

It was a