n a couple of sittings; and wisely left without
subjecting it to the chances of further labour.

It is certain the young man worked much better after he had been
inducted into this apartment of his own. And the meals at home were
gayer; and the rides with his father more frequent and agreeable. The
Colonel used his key once or twice, and found Clive and his friend
Ridley engaged in depicting a life-guardsman,--or a muscular negro,--or
a Malay from a neighbouring crossing, who would appear as Othello,
conversing with a Clipstone Street nymph, who was ready to represent
Desdemona, Diana, Queen Ellinor (sucking poison from the arm of the
Plantagenet of the Blues), or any other model of virgin or maiden
excellence.

Of course our young man commenced as a historical painter, deeming
that the highest branch of art; and declining (except for preparatory
studies) to operate on any but the largest canvasses. He painted a
prodigious battle-piece of Assaye, with General Wellesley at the head of
the 19th Dragoons charging the Mahratta Artillery, and sabring them at
their guns. A piece of ordnance was dragged into the back-yard, and the
Colonel's stud put into requisition to supply studies for this enormous
picture. Fred Bayham (a stunning likeness) appeared as the principal
figure in the foreground, terrifically wounded, but still of undaunted
courage, slashing about amidst a group of writhing Malays, and
bestriding the body of a dead cab-horse, which Clive painted, until the
landlady and rest of the lodgers cried out, and for sanitary reasons the
knackers removed the slaughtered charger. So large was this picture that
it could only be got out of the great window by means of artifice and
coaxing; and its transport caused a shout of triumph among the
little boys in Charlotte Street. Will it be believed that the Royal
Academicians rejected the "Battle of Assaye"? The masterpiece was so big
that Fitzroy Square could not hold it; and the Colonel had thoughts of
presenting it to the Oriental Club; but Clive (who had taken a trip to
Paris with his father, as a delassement after the fatigues incident on
this great work), when he saw it, after a month's interval, declared the
thing was rubbish, and massacred Britons, Malays, Dragoons, Artillery
and all.

"Hotel de la Terrasse, Rue de Rivoli,

"April 27--May 1, 183-.

"My Dear Pendennis--You said I might write you a line from Paris; and
if you find in my correspondence any valuable