84 



cock is a most beautiful bird, and becomes easily 

 familiar. With the highest respect and esteem, 

 I remain, dear Sir, most faithfully yours, 



James Brodie. 



From the Rev. Charles Abbot. 



Dear Sir, Bedford, Feb. 15, 1802. 



The receipt of the last number of English Botany 

 gave me a melancholy pleasure in retracing the hap- 

 piness I enjoyed in a botanical acquaintance with 

 the late Lady John Russell *; and whilst I thank 

 you for your punctual observance of my request, in 

 giving her ladyship's name to the Rosa tomentosa, 

 permit me to say that no one, in my own personal 

 knowledge, ever so well merited a posthumous at- 

 tention of this sort. Her virtues do not sleep with 

 her in the grave, for they are registered in the hearts 

 of all who knew her, and her unexampled worth : 

 Her noblest mausoleum is erected in the hearts of 

 a grateful poor, who have lost their best friend. 

 Lord John is not now in Bedfordshire, or this let- 

 ter would not go unfranked ; but I have long wished 

 for your opinion on the subject oiPyrusAria, which 

 I expected to see figured in English Botany before 

 now. The last fructification I sent you was most un- 

 doubtedly right, or the plant in my Flora is wrong : 

 be it what it will, it certainly grows wild here. 



I remain, dear Sir, yours very faithfully, 



Charles Abbot. 



* First wife of the present Duke of Bedford, and mother of 

 the Marquis of Tavistock and of Lord John Russell. 



