110 
Roderick, on hearing of the death of Lady Murchison, which 
produced the reconciliation so long sought for by Sir Roderick. 
“ Sunday morning, Jan. 21st, 1869 
“ Dear Sir Roderick Murchison, 
“T did not wish to intrude myself on your sorrows so soon. Indeed, 
such has been my life of solitude for the last two months, that incidents of 
the greatest interest to my heart have more than once passed away for a 
full week or ten days before their report reached me. 
“ You will, I know, believe me when I say that the first news of your 
beloved wife’s death filled me with very deep sorrow. For many years Lady 
Murchison was one of the dearest of those friends whose society formed the 
best charms of my life. How often was I her guest! How often have I 
experienced her kind welcome, and been cheered and strengthened by it! 
In joy or in sorrow she was my kind and honoured lady friend ; and have I 
forgot those bright and, to me, thrice happy days, when she and you.were 
my guests at Cambridge ? 
“The present has comparatively little forme now. Hope I have for the 
future, and I trust that God will give it to me in the last hours of this 
world’s life, whenever they may come. But an old man necessarily has his 
thoughts carried to the past. 
“ But, oh! how many of the dearest and sweetest remembrances of my 
life are now blended with clouds of sorrow! It must beso. It is nature’s 
own law. May God teach you to bear your sorrow like aman. Of this I 
have no fear ; but more than this, may His grace be given you to bear it 
like a Christian. His sustaining power is His precious gift, and it must be 
humbly sought for, by prostration of heart, while under God’s afflicting 
hand. May He give you the comfort of Christian hope ; compared with it - 
all other comfort vanishes into mid-air, and if it indeed be given you, sorrow 
will lose its bitterness, and even be tempered with joy.”* 
I am indebted to Mr B. Matthews for the following list of 
plants found during the day :— 
Ophrys apifera. (Bee orchis) 
Chlora perfoliata 
Onobrychis sativa 
Vicia cracea 
Potentilla anserina 
Cotyledon umbilicus 
Echium vulgare. 
* Life of Sir R. Murchison, by Professor Geikie, Vol. II., page 337. At 
the time the letter was written Professor Sedgwick had nearly completed his 
86th year. 
