A breakfast, a lunch, a tea, is a circumstance, an occurrence, in social life, but a dinner is an event.  It is the full-blown flower of that cultivated growth of which those lesser products are the buds.  I will not try to enumerate, still less to describe, the various entertainments to which we were invited, and many of which we attended.  Among the professional friends I found or made during this visit to London, none were more kindly attentive than Dr. Priestley, who, with his charming wife, the daughter of the late Robert Chambers, took more pains to carry out our wishes than we could have asked or hoped for.  At his house I first met Sir James Paget and Sir William Gull, long well known to me, as to the medical profession everywhere, as preeminent in their several departments.  If I were an interviewer or a newspaper reporter, I should be tempted to give the impression which the men and women of distinction I met made upon me; but where all were cordial, where all made me feel as nearly as they could that I belonged where I found myself, whether the ceiling were a low or a lofty one, I do not care to differentiate my hosts and my other friends. Fortemque Gyan fortemque Cloanthum, —­I left my microscope and my test-papers at home.

Our friends, several of them, had a pleasant way of sending their carriages to give us a drive in the Park, where, except in certain permitted regions, the common numbered vehicles are not allowed to enter.  Lady Harcourt sent her carriage for us to go to her sister’s, Mrs. Mildmay’s, where we had a pleasant little “tea,” and met one of the most agreeable and remarkable of those London old ladies I have spoken of.  For special occasions we hired an unnumbered carriage, with professionally equipped driver and footman.

Mrs. Bloomfield Moore sent her carriage for us to take us to a lunch at her house, where we met Mr. Browning, Sir Henry and Lady Layard, Oscar Wilde and his handsome wife, and other well-known guests.  After lunch, recitations, songs, etc.  House full of pretty things.  Among other curiosities a portfolio of drawings illustrating Keeley’s motor, which, up to this time, has manifested a remarkably powerful vis inertice, but which promises miracles.  In the evening a grand reception at Lady Granville’s, beginning (for us, at least) at eleven o’clock.  The house a palace, and A——­ thinks there were a thousand people there.  We made the tour of the rooms, saw many great personages, had to wait for our carriage a long time, but got home at one o’clock.

English people have queer notions about iced-water and ice-cream.  “You will surely die, eating such cold stuff,” said a lady to my companion.  “Oh, no,” she answered, “but I should certainly die were I to drink your two cups of strong tea.”  I approved of this “counter” on the teacup, but I did not think either of them was in much danger.