solitary application. I had from my cradle a latent 

 germen, which unfortunately, — not having had the 

 happiness of reckoning; among my early acquaint- 

 ance any one properly given to natural history, — had 

 waited for direction till that moment. Having al- 

 ways been fond of gardening, I had bought Miller's 

 Calendar, and it was there I first saw a sketch of the 

 Linnaean system. I was suddenly inspired ; and at 

 this critical period resolved to pursue a study which 

 I was certain would be productive of better happi- 

 ness than any plan that might lead to pecuniary ad- 

 vantage. 



"With my father I lost my home in my native 

 country ; for my mother, after this separation, was 

 earnestly desirous of finishing her days in the land 

 which gave her birth. Thus I became from the na- 

 ture of my circumstances exiled as it were to this 

 country. 



" On my return here from my last visit to England, 

 — which is surely the most memorable and the hap- 

 piest period of my whole life, as it procured me not 

 only your acquaintance but also your inestimable 

 friendship, which I prefer to every other blessing- 

 that Providence could grant me, — my ardour became 

 greater than ever; and for that very reason the per- 

 petual card parties in the house I inhabit, the never- 

 ending histories of Spadille and Manille of my good 

 old aunts, became more irksome to me than before. 

 I discontinued totally their socidtds, which I found 

 quite intolerable ; and the more so, as almost with- 

 out a single exception the society of this little place 

 is composed of that too numerous herd, who are 



