[7] The British Museum Subjects: | Museums, Entomology, Natural History |
Describes the British Museum as an 'admirable building' full of 'everything curious, from an elephant's tusk to the magnified leg of a bluebottle'. Notes the museum's distinguished collection of butterflies and the fact that such species are preserved on valuable pins. Claims that between 1835 and 1840, the museum began receiving donations of 'bottled gooseberries', the enjoyment of which is the privilege of the museum's curator. (177)
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[16] The Admiralty Subjects: | Telegraphy, Government, Navigation |
Describes the Admiralty and observes that the telegraph pole on top of the building is 'used to stir up authorities in case of any news of importance'. Passers-by 'vainly endeavour to make head or tail of it'. Considers the telegraph's powers of communication to be 'rather limited' because it can 'only make an L, and E, and F, or a T' and has difficulty with Y's and W's. Adds that the telegraph is 'generally at work on foggy days, when of course no harm can be done by misunderstanding'. (179)
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[20] Bazaars Subjects: | Museums, Zoology, Horticulture |
Describes the Pantheon as 'a conservatory of unknown plants, and evergreen shrubs, occasionally disposed of to horticulturists who are equally so'. Notes that its fountain and basin contains 'gold fish' rather than 'red herrings'. (181)
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[23] Hospitals Subjects: | Hospitals, Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners, Mesmerism, Animal Magnetism |
Describes hospitals as 'edifices' which 'have in view the provision of subjects for anatomy, the pecuniary benefit of their officers, and the trial of new remedies' upon patients. Adds that the wards afford an 'agreeable' mid-day walk for 'studious and scientific men'. Lists 'attributes' of gentlemen walking in various hospitals. Those in Guy's Hospital and St Thomas's Hospital are prone to 'half-and-half, anatomical fracas, and billiards', while those at University College Hospital are prone to 'Conjuring, juggling, and Mesmerism'. (182)
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