Of course I have visited the great _Tennyson_ at Farringford, and remember him showing me the tree overhanging his garden fence, which "Yankees" climb to have a look at him.

_Browning_ also, _tantum vidi_, I met at Moxon's, a grandly rugged poet; contrasted with the Laureate he seems to me as Wagner is to Mendelssohn.

_Mortimer Collins_ has given us "a happy day" at Albury, coming in _a pied poudre_ on one of his dusty walks through Surrey, as recorded in his book; how he enjoyed his tumbler of cool claret and the ramble with my son through the Albury woods as a most genial Bohemian! _Dickens_ I have met several times, and he gave me good hints on my first American visit; a man full of impulsive kindliness and sincerely one's friend.

His son _Charles_ also I have occasionally met, the worthy successor to his illustrious father: I may here state that many of the articles and poems in _Household Words_ are from the pen of my youngest daughter.

_Richard Owen_, too, now worthily K.C.B., our most famous comparative anatomist, I am privileged to number among my true friends; he was one of those who stood sponsor to me when I was to receive a civil service pension.