I got to town about ten days ago, and I have
been meaning to write to you every day since. I
am quite sorry I did not send my letter from Paris
sooner, but I really thought it would cost a little
fortune by the time it got to Kinneil. However,
even that reason, such as it was, ought not to have
prevented me from sending it, as several M.P.'s went
before Lord A[berdeen]. People had quite deter-
mined beforehand that all travellers to Paris should
suffer shocking hardships and hindrances, and they
therefore (in the entire want of all authentic intelli-
gence) were good enough to supply me with my
share from the stores of their own imagination.
