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While in Birmingham； with his friend Albert Smith； then author and afterwards a successful showman； he visited Stratford…on…Avon； where lived and wrote the greatest of English poetsShakespeare。
While breakfasting at the Red House Inn； at Stratford； they called for a guide…book of the town； and to Barnum's great delight the volume proved to be Washington Irving's 〃Sketch…book。〃 His pleasure was even more increased when he discovered； on reading the vivid and picturesque description of Stratford； that Irving had stopped at the very same hotel where they were awaiting breakfast。
After visiting the house as well as the church where is the tomb of the poet； they took a post…chaise for Warwick Castle； fourteen miles away。
The Earl of Warwick and his family being absent； the visitors were shown through the apartments。 One guide took them over the Castle； another escorted them to the top of 〃Guy's Tower；〃 another showed them the famous Warwick Vase。 They were congratulating themselves on not being called upon for any more tips； when the old porter at the lodge informed them that for a consideration he could show them more interesting things connected with the Castle than any they had yet seen。 They tossed him his fee； and he produced what purported to be Guy of Warwick's sword； shield； helmet； breastplate； walking…staff； etc。 The armor must have weighed two hundred pounds and the sword alone one hundred。 Barnum listened； and gazed in silence at the horse…armor； large enough for an elephant； and a pot called 〃Guy's porridge…pot；〃 which could have held seventy gallons； but when the old man produced the ribs of a mastodon which he declared had belonged to a huge dun cow； which had done much injury to many persons before being slain by the dauntless Guy； he drew a long breath； and feelingly congratulated the old porter on his ability to concentrate more lies than anyone had ever before heard in so small a compass。
〃I suppose；〃 said Barnum； 〃that you have told these marvellous tales so often that you almost believe them yourself。〃
〃Almost；〃 answered the old man； with a broad grin。
〃Come now； old fellow；〃 continued Barnum； 〃what will you take for the entire lot of these old traps？ I want them for my Museum in America。〃
〃No money would buy these priceless relics of a bygone age；〃 replied the porter； leering。
〃Never mind；〃 exclaimed the showman； 〃I'll have them duplicated for my Museum； so that Americans can see them without coming here； and in that way I'll burst up your old show。〃
The porter was paralyzed with astonishment at this threat； and Albert Smith was convulsed with laughter。 He afterwards told Barnum that he first derived his idea of becoming a showman from this day at Warwick； and Barnum's talk about his doings and adventures in the business。
They visited that same day Kenilworth and Coventry； in which latter place Barnum discovered the exhibition known as the 〃Happy Family；〃 about two hundred birds and animals of opposite natures； dwelling in one cage in perfect harmony。 He was so delighted with it that he bought it on the spot； and hired the manager to accompany the exhibition to New York； where it became a famous feature of the Museum。
Albert Smith afterwards published a chapter in Bentley's Magazine； entitled 〃A Day with Barnum；〃 in which he said they accomplished business with such rapidity that； when he attempted to write out the accounts of the day； he found the whole thing so confused in his brain that he came near locating 〃Peeping Tom〃 in the house of Shakespeare； while Guy of Warwick WOULD stick his head above the ruins of Kenilworth； and the Warwick Vase appeared in Coventry。
With the exception of two brief trips to America； Barnum had been abroad with General Tom Thumb three years。 The season had been one of unbroken pleasure and profit。 They had visited nearly every city and town in France； Belgium； England； Scotland； and the cities of Belfast and Dublin in Ireland。 After this truly triumphant tour； they set sail in February； 1847； for New York。
Barnum was a man who never could bear to see injustice done。 On one of his business trips to America he took passage on a Cunard steamer； commanded by a Captain Judkins。 Among the passengers was the celebrated preacher； Robert Baird。 One Sunday after dinner Barnum asked Mr。 Baird if he would be willing to preach to the passengers in the forward cabin。 The captain had read the Episcopal service that morning； but it was done as a mere matter of form； without the slightest suggestion of devotion in its observance。
Mr。 Baird consented to preach； and Barnum； after mentioning it to the other passengers； who were delighted at the prospect； went to the captain and said： 〃Captain； the passengers desire to have Dr。 Baird conduct a religious service in the forward cabin。 I suppose there is no objection？〃 The rest of the story may as well be told in Barnum's own words。 To his inquiry； the captain replied gruffly：
〃Decidedly there is； and it will not be permitted。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃It is against the rules of the ship。〃
〃What！ to have religious services on board？〃
〃There have been religious services once to…day； and that is enough。 If the passengers do not think that is good enough； let them go without；〃 was the captain's hasty and austere reply。
〃Captain；〃 Barnum replied； 〃do you pretend to say you will not allow a respectable and well…known clergyman to offer a prayer and hold religious services on board your ship at the request of your passengers？〃
〃That； sir； is exactly what I say。 So； now； let me hear no more about it。〃
By this time a dozen passengers were crowding around his door； and expressing their surprise at his conduct。 Barnum was indignant； and used sharp language。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃this is the most contemptible thing I ever heard of on the part of the owners of a public passenger ship。 Their meanness ought to be published far and wide。〃
〃You had better 'shut up；' 〃 said Captain Judkins； with great sternness。
〃I will not 'shut up；' 〃 he replied； 〃for this thing is perfectly outrageous。 In that out…of…the…way forward cabin you allow； on week…days； gambling； swearing； smoking and singing till late at night； and yet on Sunday you have the impudence to deny the privilege of a prayer…meeting； conducted by a gray…haired and respected minister of the gospel。 It is simply infamous！〃
Captain Judkins turned red in the face； and； no doubt feeling that he was 〃monarch of all he surveyed；〃 exclaimed in a loud voice：
〃If you repeat such language； I will put you in irons。〃
〃Do it； if you dare；〃 said Barnum； feeling his indignation rising rapidly。 〃I dare and defy you to put your finger on me。 I would like to sail into New York harbor in handcuffs； on board a British ship； for the terrible crime of asking that religious worship may be permitted on board。 So you may try it as soon as you please； and； when we get to New York； I'll show you a touch of Yankee ideas of religious intolerance。〃
Turning on his heel； he walked over to Mr。 Baird and told him how matters stood； adding； with a laugh：
〃Doctor； it may be dangerous for you to tell of this incident when you get on shore； for it would be a pretty strong draugh