These are both holidays at Athens the first is King Othos coronation day - and the second the feast of Constantine and Helena - spent most of these days in reading the ancient history of Greece -

In the evening in addition to the fashionable promenade where the beaux and a few of the belles of Athens go to look at one another visited the Pynx or hill near the Acropolis where the Athenians in old times held their public meetings and listened to the addresses of their orators on the top of the rock which is level there is a sort of throne shaped out of the rock - here a tutor had assembled some dozen of his pupils - one of whom was mounted on the elevation and repeating an oration - being in modern greek could not understand him, but the youth seemed little inspired with the fire of eloquence, which his position was no doubt chosen to effect -

The adjoining rooms in my hotel are occupied by Princess Catacuzene from Moldavia - accompanied by Countess Cerutti these ladies have been making the tour of Greece in company with the brothers of the princess - they are very lively laughing and talking constantly we eat in the same saloon but not at the same table - the countess is a young lady and dark hair and shining Italian eyes - indeed she is quite handsome - could scarcely keep my eyes from off her which at first she did not seem to like - but is more gracious since - she sits reading on the sofa and more I look more I admire her - have been trying for a day past to muster courage enough to speak to her - but what a damper comes over my pleasures in anticipation - found this morning they were packing trunks to depart to Constantinople - returning from one of my long walks found the princess and suite had departed - and the beautifull countess never I am to see again

Ascended the Hill of the museum - spent several hours reading in the shade of the ruined monument of Philopappus - a roman senator and consul who retired to Athens from active life and erected this monument - of white marble and lofty - it has stood sixteen centuries - but it now totters and another century or less will level it to the earth -

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