ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION. 29 



ducted round the dockyards, and witnessed the mechanical wonders 

 there displayed.* "We took an opportunity during our stay of having to 

 row up the "Tamar;" dined at a quiet little place on its banks; and de- 

 scended that noble river when the rich hues of a summer evening lighted 

 the vessels of war that, laid up ' in ordinary/ were the peaceful oc- 

 cupants of its waters. 



Our week at Plymouth was a joyous one. Before its close the fol- 

 lowing note was written by Mr. Ball to his wife. It is interesting as 

 showing a frame of mind different from that which the previous letters 

 portray, and also as affording an instance of his fertility of resource : — 



"August 1, 1841. 

 " I started yesterday, at 8 o'clock, in an omnibus, containing Owen, 

 Gray, Richardson, Fellowes, Taylor, Woods, Lankester, "Winterbottom, 

 Patterson, Ball, and two others, who got in amongst us by accident. 

 After a journey of eighteen miles, passing through Tavistock, we 

 reached mines of copper, tin, and lead, where the Marquis of Northamp- 

 ton and one hundred and fifty people were assembled. After viewing the 

 pumping, washing, stamping, and other operations of the miners, we 

 had a very plentiful dinner, and returned. I scarcely ever had a more 

 pleasing day ; great stores of information rolling out from the mass of 

 fun, in the most curious, but useful manner. When it was proposed 



• Though familiar with the graphic lines of my townsman, Samuel Ferguson, Esq., 

 entitled, " The Forging of the Anchor," I had never realized the full power of their rhythm 

 until this day, when, after witnessing the whole process so vividly described, Dr. Robinson, 

 on our leaving the forge, repeated part of the verse : — 



" And I see the good ship riding 



All in a perilous road, 

 The low reef roaring on her lee ; 



The roll of ocean poured 

 From stem to stern, sea after sea, — 



The mainmast by the board ! 

 The bulwarks down — the rudder gone — 



The boats stove at the chains ; 

 But courage still, brave mariners! — 



The bower yet remains." 



Then, indeed, I learned how precious and enduring is the radiance which the words of the 

 poet shed over the things of earth. 



