62 JOURNAL OF A NATURALIST IN NEW ZEALAND. 
coast, we safely reached the Bay of Islands, on the 22nd of 
February; with, I dare hope, thankful hearts to our Heavenly 
Father for all his mercies. 
I did not observe anything new in Botany during these few 
last days; in fact, I did not particularly look after anything, 
for I had often gone over the ground to Wangarei; and I 
much wished to reach the Bay of Islands, with the least delay 
. possible, in consequence of the disturbed state of that dis- 
trict. 
Thus, my dear Sir William, I have endeavoured to give 
you a faithful outline of my rambling journey. And although 
I have extended this present communication, written by 
snatches, to a much greater length than was originally con- 
templated, it will after all, I fear, be considered very deficient 
in point of satisfactory information. 
I have also, I confess, great reason to apprehend that 
many of the speeimens, fondly cherished by me as new, 
may after all be well known to you ;.notwithstanding I hope 
to be forgiven for thus presuming too much, in this my 
novitiate; when you kindly consider my situation, here at 
the antipodes, not only without, but far away from, 
books of reference. My errors of conjecture, too, in 
venturing an opinion as to what genus certain un- 
known plants may belong, I trust, for the same assignable 
reason, will also be charitably construed. Making then 
every fair deduction, I think there are still grounds for hop- 
ing that a portion of these plants will prove quite new to: 
science. 
In conclusion, my dear Sir William, wishing you the same 
amount of pleasure in looking over, as I had in gathering. 
and putting up for you, the specimens now sent, 
Allow me once more to subscribe myself, 
Very sincerely and faithfully yours, 
WinrriAM CoLenso.. 
