yet known to have drawn its own picture."

It was in the summer of 1835 that these curious self-representations were
first obtained. Their size was very small: indeed, they were but
miniatures, though very distinct: and the shortest time of making them was
nine or ten minutes.

[PLATE XVI. CLOISTERS OF LACOCK ABBEY.]

PLATE XVI. CLOISTERS OF LACOCK ABBEY.

PLATE XVI. CLOISTERS OF LACOCK ABBEY.

The Abbey was founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, widow of William
Longspee, son of King Henry II. and Fair Rosamond.

This event took place in the year of our Lord 1229, in the reign of Henry
III. She was elected to be the first abbess, and ruled for many years
with prudence and piety. She lies buried in the cloisters, and this
inscription is read upon her tomb:

Infra sunt defossa Elae venerabilis ossa,
Quae dedit has sedes sacras monialibus aedes,
Abbatissa quidem quae sancte vixit ibidem,
Et comitissa Sarum virtutum plena bonarum:

The cloisters, however, in their present state, are believed to be of the
time of Henry VI. They range round three sides of a quadrangle, and are
the most perfect which remain in any private residence in England. By
moonlight, especially, their effect is very picturesque and solemn.

Here, I presume, the holy sisterhood often paced in silent meditation;
though, in truth, they have left but few records to posterity to tell us
how they lived and died. The "liber de Lacock" is supposed to have
perished in the fire of the Cottonian library. What it contained I know
not--perhaps their private memoirs. Some things, however, have been
preserved by tradition, or discovered by the zeal of antiquaries, and from
these materials the poet Bowles has composed an interesting work, the
History of Lacock Abbey, which he published in 1835.

[PLATE XVII. BUST OF PATROCLUS.]

PLATE XVII. BUST OF PATROCLUS.

PLATE XVII. BUST OF PATROCLUS.

Another view of the bust which figures in the fifth plate of this work.

Is has often been said, and has grown into a proverb, that there is no
royal road to learning of any kind. But the proverb is fallacious: for
there is, assuredly, a royal road to _Drawing_, and one of these days,
when more known and better explored, it will probably be much frequented.
Already sundry _amateurs_ have laid down the pencil and armed themselves
with chemical solutions a