187 
The Earl of Northampton and his son Lord Comp- 
ton (a pupil of mine formerly) reside somewhere 
near Lausanne in the Canton de Berne. Show 
Lord Compton my handwriting, and I am sure he 
would do any thing for you that you could wish. 
He is a collector, as is his sister. Before I call you 
back to England, where we wish you, once more 
let me say, do not mind the trespassing upon a 
little time or money, in securing any intellectual 
attainment. You can easily make up every thing 
afterwards. And now for matters at home. Your 
letter of the 21st instant did not reach me till after 
the anniversary meeting of our Society. It appears 
from the business of the day, that you might have 
saved yourself your shudderings. I could not at- 
tend; but from Marsham’s account, every thing 
was settled by the party before the business was 
proceeded upon. A most curious committee (in- 
stead of that farrago of committees of last year) was 
chosen. J. Hunter, Home, Curtis, Swainson, Lee, 
Marsham, Mitchel, and Drury. What can they do 
in the publishing way, or indeed in any thing great? . 
It is a joke to think of it. You may easily then 
conceive how much I wish for yourreturn. A due 
share of activity and firmness in a few intelligent 
working people will do more than our present un- 
wieldy body, with all their members, and all their 
wealth (for they have voted the nurchase of 1007. 
stock in the 3 per cent. consols.) This might seem 
to cut a dash, could knowledge and credit be bought. 
Your translation of the Linnzan treatise on the 
Sexes of Plants is very well spoken of in the 
