IB 



this Pays de Vaud, the father having apparently mis- 

 conceived the account I e^ave him of the Institution, 

 boasted at dinner, in presence of fourteen persons, 

 that there were only four honorary members, and 

 that his son had been chosen as one! They suffered 

 no little avanie when I corrected the mistake, ob- 

 serving at the same time, that distinguished know- 

 ledge and rank united were essentially requisite. 



I can hardly follow any method in the multipli- 

 city of things I have to say to you. I sincerely 

 thank Dr. Goodenough as well as yourself for the 

 assurance that there is no love lost between you 

 and me : — nothing can make me so perfectly happy 

 as that assurance, nor anything more afflict me 

 than if the contrary were the case. I am very well 

 aware that to be on good terms with you is envia- 

 ble, that I am highly interested in cultivating your 

 good-will, that from your peculiar advantages and 

 knowledge, the common run of men should court 

 you ; but, in the name of God, I can assure you 

 that, were botany quite out of the question, I know 

 not a man on earth whose friendship I so much de- 

 sire, nor whose sentiments harmonize so perfectly 

 with mine, as yours. I love you from my heart, 

 and know you well enough to be certain of a return. 



I have just received a cabinet on the plan of yours. 



Bravo ! I like to hear of your superb works with 

 coloured plates, — and to be dedicated to the Mar- 

 chioness of Rockingham : it were almost neces- 

 sary, entre nous, to persuade her Aralia to bear 

 some new kind of flower. But to be serious, — 

 has she been in town ? Pray when you see her 



