XIV PREFACE. 



became reduced to a mere skeleton, — he gave and lent to every- 

 one whatever they asked of him." This one night in the week 

 was sacred to its purpose : no engagement — not even illness — 

 was allowed to interfere. It was always a pleasure to him to 

 afford information, especially to young men, and they would 

 avail themselves freely of the opportunity. Older naturalists, 

 too, would often come, and their company was a great 

 pleasure to him. In the earlier days this evening was no 

 great undertaking ; but in later years it was almost more 

 than his powers permitted. He would come home weak and 

 tired, and needing rest ; or he may have been at home ill during 

 the whole week : but Friday evening always found him at his 

 post, ready to show the Collection, or patiently to name captures 

 even if of no great interest or rarity. Of the many young men 

 who were welcomed, few knew how a kind and courteous 

 manner sometimes concealed bodily suffering. The Entomo- 

 logical Club is now in its fiftieth year ; and, with the exception 

 of the eight years mentioned above, its Collection has always 

 been under his care, and much of his time was devoted to it. 



In 1837 he abandoned the rope trade, and wrote to a 

 relative as under : — " I am wholly without any definite prospect 

 as regards business, having entirely given up my own, which 

 was a very small affair. * ■■'' ■■' I am very indifferent as to 

 any business engagement, as it is always so great a tie, and 

 cannot be abandoned for any length of time without something 

 like a dereliction of duty : moreover, I think that the opportu- 

 nity for enjoying life will with me shortly expire, and I am 

 desirous, while blest with strength and health, of visiting the 

 country, and breathing the air of mountain-wilds vinchecked by 

 the necessity of returning on a certain day." 



In the foregoing a record will be observed of that melancholy 

 which, not only at this period but throughout life, at times 

 beset him : it was not often of long duration, nor had it any 

 real cause. Only a short time before, he had written : — 



" To me loug lifetime, though to thee forbidden, 

 Perhaps may be granted." 



Thus showing that the erroneous idea that his life would be 

 short had only recently been entertained. 



It will be seen that he had already paid a visit to Wales : 



