THE LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 267 
out more particularly, on account of its length, to please 
and be pleased, as far as in melay.* It was fortunate that 
we were all more or less acquainted with each other before 
we joined mess; as, in consequence, we the sooner settled 
ourselves down, each in his or her particular seat, and almost 
immediately grouped together at table, as a family whose 
members had known and associated together for years. 
Each not only met, but oftentimes anticipated the wishes of 
the other. These feelings, these excellent dispositions, 
which I found manifested among us at the very commence- 
ment of our voyage, were cherished by all during its tardy 
progress, and at this moment that I am writing, just at its 
close, are as alive as ever; so that many a dull, depressed 
period, in the higher freezing latitudes, when we were sadly 
bandied about by the angry elements, before we got round 
the Horn, and when by reason of the violent motion of our 
bark, and the great chill, one felt no disposition to write, 
was passed away in discussions on varied subjects, or recitals 
from favourite authors.” 
Mr. Cunningham reached London about the middle of the 
month (July), after an absence of nearly seventeen years 
from his native country. His state of health, at the period of 
his landing, was far from good ; he suffered exceedingly from 
indigestion, the result, doubtless, of the very indifferent food 
€ had been compelled to subsist on for some years pre- 
viously, when on his various exploratory expeditions ; and he 
was also much afflicted with rheumatism, in a very severe 
form, occasionally suffering much from acute pain, and at all 
times a serious inconvenience to his active habits. He took 
up his residence at Strand-on-the-Green, on the north bank 
of the Thames, at a short distance from the Royal Botanic 
Garden, at Kew, for which he had catered with so much 
industry and zeal, since 1815. There are many who will 
* A scrap of advice well worthy the attention of “ those who go down 
to the sea in ships ;” for an inattention to that golden rule has caused 
many a voyage to be a term of misery and annoyance, that otherwise 
might have been one of pleasure and happiness. 
