They were fastened to a
manuscript letter which authenticates the hair as having been taken from
King Edward's tomb in 1739. Near these relics was a seal of the great
Earl of Warwick, the mighty kingmaker; also a sword from Bosworth Field,
smaller and shorter than those now in use; for, indeed, swords seem to
have increased in length, weight, and formidable aspect, now that the
weapon has almost ceased to be used in actual warfare. The short Roman
sword was probably more murderous than any weapon of the same species,
except the bowie-knife. Here, too, were Parliamentary cannon-balls,
etc. . . . .
[The visit to Whitnash intervenes here.--ED.]
LONDON.
24 Great Russell Street, November 10th.--We have been thinking and
negotiating about taking lodgings in London lately, and this morning we
left Leamington and reached London with no other misadventure than that
of leaving the great bulk of our luggage behind us,--the van which we
hired to take it to the railway station having broken down under its
prodigious weight, in the middle of the street. On our journey we saw
nothing particularly worthy of note,--but everywhere the immortal verdure
of England, scarcely less perfect than in June, so far as the fields are
concerned, though the foliage of the trees presents pretty much the same
hues as those of our own forests, after the gayety and gorgeousness have
departed from them.
Our lodgings are in close vicinity to the British Museum, which is the
great advantage we took them for.
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