282 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 
in 1839, for I want rest, permanent rest, having been on my 
legs since 1814. Let others go and wander to advance botany 
four and twenty years, and endeavour to do and act under the 
assumed awe of Viceroys, Governors, underlings high in office, 
and Commandants in supreme command at penal stations.—I 
say, let the botanical adventurer set forth with all these in 
his teeth, and let him do and act far better, wiser, and alto- 
gether more effectually endeavour to advance botany than 
poor I have been able to do.” 
It had been Mr. Cunningham's intention to have taken 
advantage of the kindness of Capt. Bethune, of H. M.S. 
Conway, of 28 guns, who offered him a passage to New 
Zealand, vid Van Diemen’s Land, whither he was going to 
convey the Bishop of Australia, who was then intending to 
visit that portion of his diocese; but, in consequence of some 
doubts arising as to the possibility of the Conway being able- 
to touch at New Zealand, Mr. Cunningham transhipped his 
baggage from that vessel to the French corvette, of 32 guns, 
L'Héroine, whose commander, Capt. Cecille, had in a most 
friendly manner proffered him a passage to New Zealand 
direct. They sailed from Port Jackson on the 15th of 
April, and on the 28th brought to off Paihia, Bay of 
Islands, “ After," Mr. Cunningham writes, *€ the most 
agreeable fourteen days’ voyage I ever made in my life. 
Capt. Cecille studied greatly my comfort, not simply in 
my mess with him, but on allother occasions. M. Cecille 
is an old officer ; he entered the service in 1800, and served 
much in the wars under Napoleon, having been in several 
actions in ships of the line, when young, as enseigne 
vaisseau. 'The other officers were gentlemanly fine fellows, 
who vied with each other in paying attention to their English 
compagnon de voyage. Now, with all the attention that was 
paid to me, I could not step on shore with my baggage 
without a deep impression of a weight of obligation in favour 
of Capt. Cecille; and therefore you may imagine that I was 
not a little rejoiced to find Capt. C. proposing an excursion 
up one of the rivers that run into the bay, to cut timber for 
specimens, which I begged to join, to render my services to him 
