THE LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 287 
and hearty. Your sincere friend, ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, 
quite worn out.” 
The intention of accompanying Capt. Wickham was, in con- 
sequence of his evidently increasing ill health, abandoned ; for, 
in a letter, dated 12th April, 1839, he says,—* Capt. Wick- 
ham (Beagle) is on the point of sailing for our north-west 
coast; and, as he and I had proposed it, if I had strength 
in my limbs enough to join him, to accompany him round, 
However, as to that, I have failed in my best endeavours to 
patch myself up for long boatings from the vessel, ona 
heated coast, climbing hills, &c. ; and asa consultation of four 
medical friends, each well knowing my case, has just taken 
place, the result being an unanimous opinion delivered 
to me, that I do not, on any consideration, go to a tropical 
coast, on which I could do nothing in the very enfeebled 
state of my limbs and almost constitutional dysentery, and 
where I should most probably make a die of it, since alone 
a cool climate would bring me about, with care also to diet, 
&c. In all this I acquiesced, and accordingly do not go 
with Capt. Wickham, who has approved of the prudence 
I have displayed, and the propriety of obtaining a sound 
medical opinion previous to giving any intimation to him 
regarding my joining his vessel. I shall now pass a quiet 
winter here with some up-country friends. Our autumn has 
already brought its lower temperature, and by July the cold 
will, I trust, have the desired effect on me. Our late summer 
heats (thermometer 90° to 120°), and a repeated dysentery, 
have pulled one-half the flesh off me that I had in October, 
1836, at Strand-on-the-Green. But let's hope for better 
days. My friends, one and all, must be content with the 
labours of a man on his legs since 1814, twenty-five years, 
for I can do no more. That I am alive and writing this to 
you, after my visit of five months to New Zealand, is really 
a miracle. I look to my embarking for England in or be- 
fore February next.” 
This purpose was unhappily frustrated by the hand of death, 
for the writer of this sketch received but one more letter 
