178 



ence at sea. On the 9. September he took to his bed and the 

 disease spread rapidly until he died, as you know, on the afternoon 

 of the 13th. 



It may perhaps tend to mitigate the feelings,' which must ne- 

 cessarily be raised in the hearts of his parents, when hearing of 

 the death of a beloved and distinguished son , far from home , to 

 know that during the whole of his very short illness he was nearly 

 as comfortable as he could have been under the same circumstances 

 on shore , as the weather was always very beautiful , the light, 

 easterly wind being just enough to fill the sails and to keep the 

 air of the ship cool and fresh. When the symptoms became serious 

 so as to oblige your son to lie down, a sick chamber was arranged 

 for him on the maindeck, where there was plenty of air and light 

 and with which he was much pleased. He had all the me- 



dical assistance, which the constant attendance of two experienced 

 surgeons could render him. The stores of the ship also were suffi- 

 cient to afford him every comfort, which could have been wished 

 for. Two days before he took to his bed he was undoubtly very 

 unwell and suffered a great deal of uneasiness , although he never 

 complained of acute pain. On the 11. (Rudolfs 28. Geburtstag) 

 he began to show signs of being delirious, and the delirium gradually 

 increased (showing itself merely in greater or less unconsciousness 

 of what was going on around him) , until early on the morning .of 

 the 13th September, when collapse set in, he lost all power of re- 

 cognising what was taking place ; I believe that until his death, which 

 occurred at 3. 15 in the afternoon, he was quite insensible of his 

 own condition, all his thoughts having reverted to his home, espe- 

 cially to the Bavarian - Highlands . Although with me he talked 

 indifferently German or English , more often the former , whenever 

 Dr. Maclear, who was a very great friend of his, approached his 

 bedside , he would immediately talk English , and we knew his 

 consciousness had gone, when he continued to speak German in his 

 presence as he did during the last night. 



He was buried at sea on the morning of the 1 4th with the 

 customary ceremonies. 



I need hardly say, that his death caused the greatest grief 

 amongst all on board, where his personal merits and scientific emi- 

 nence had secured the respect and love of all. Every one joins 



