PREFACE. XV 



this was just prior to the letter, in company with his friends 

 John and WiUiani Christy ; and of this visit he wrote in the 

 Introduction to the ' History of British Ferns.' 



He was now freed from the cares and restraints of business ; 

 but no great journey was the result. Having begun to work at 

 ferns he became fairly engrossed with his subject, as was always 

 the case with everything he undertook. But still he was only 

 studying, not writing, or at least not publishing ; for, as has 

 been already observed, he never published until his subject had 

 been thoroughly grappled with and mastered. His first paper 

 on ferns appeared, it is true, in 1838 ; but it was not until 1840 

 that the 'History' ajDpeared, although the first edition only 

 reached to 104 pages. 



In June, 1839, he went to Ireland, whither he had made an 

 excursion with his friend William Bennett a year or two 

 previously. Starting alone from Newry, knapsack on back, he 

 went northward, and so round the entire coast, until the tour 

 finished at Dublin, in August. Throughout the whole trip he 

 had paid especial attention to ferns, and collected a mass of 

 information concerning them. But every natural object, in 

 whatever branch, was of interest to his cultivated mind ; and 

 in the " Notes on Irish Natural History" (1840), entomological, 

 ornithological, and botanical observations, generally, are to be 

 found. 



December of the same year found him still without a business, 

 but working hard at the ' Ferns ; ' not only writing the letter- 

 press, but drawing the illustrations ; for the whole of the beautiful 

 drawings which illustrate it — figures, tailpieces, and landscapes 

 — are the product of his careful pencil. Especial attention should 

 be caUed to the fern scutcheon, with the motto, "Elegantia et 

 Humilitate," on the title-page. The book was published early 

 the following year, and was soon out of print. It was printed 

 by George Luxford, the printer of the ' Magazine of Natural 

 History,' which Mr. Newman was then temporarily editing, and 

 thus they were associated. The ' Ferns ' having gone ofi' so well 

 there was inducement to publish other books. Mr. Luxford was 

 a botanist and of Hterary ability, and therefore somewhat of a 

 congenial sph-it. Mr. Newman was about to be married, and in 

 want of a business. The idea, therefore, occurred to effect a 



