148 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



siderable importance, but much small matter. By the 

 way, let me say that Bennett thinks that Brown thinks 

 Romanzovia to be hydrophyllaceous ! Bentham would 

 give something to know this, but I shall keep it to 

 myself. I have made out the remainder of Pursb/s 

 doubtful Arenarias and Stellarias from the Banks 

 herbarium. The parcel of Solidagos, etc., sent to care 

 of Mr. Putnam, I am glad to say, came to hand. It 

 did not arrive until last week, however. . . . 



Monday evening, twelve o'clock. . . . As I sit down 

 to tell you what I have been about to-day, my thoughts 

 cross the wide wave that separates us, and brings me 

 back to 30 MacDougal Street, and to the time when, 

 returning from town, I used to present myself before 

 you, give an account of my proceedings, tell you per- 

 haps some news about that ill-fated expedition of 

 which you were so sick of hearing ; how it would cer- 

 tainly sail in a month, or something just as likely. 

 When thinking of this long separation, I console 

 myself with the idea that it is better than if I had 

 gone there. In that case I should now have been your 

 antipodes. Now there are only some four or five hours 

 of shadow between us. And, sluggard as you call me 

 at home, I am up in the morning two or three hours 

 before you. Tell that to the girls for a wonder ! I 

 left my room this morning at eleven, walked to Port- 

 land Place, called on the American minister, who 

 being unwell I was furnished by the secretary of le- 

 gation with what I desired, namely, a passport. This 

 I left, as the manner is, at the office of the French 

 embassy, that his majesty Louis Philippe may have 

 fitting notice of the honor that is to be done him, for 

 the king of the French is, it seems, rather particular 

 about such matters, and it is a pity not to oblige him, 



