1862.] IN MEMORIAM. 71 



the lot common to all mankind. The most zealous and most 

 successful partisans of Botany must submit to that destiny which, 

 like time, devoui's all its offspring. As " the flowers of the field, 

 they fade, die, and disappear." Botanists however rarely figure 

 in obituaries before attaining a mature age. 



But the memory of the just is imperishable, for " the righteous 

 shall be in everlasting remembrance.''^ Their memorial is written 

 amoug the eternal records — iu that dread book, which will be 

 opened when all the dead, both small and great, stand before 

 God to be judged and rewarded according to their works. 



That all our literary and scientific offences and shortcomings, 

 our social, moral and religious delinquencies, may be blotted out 

 of that awful record, is our earnest prayer for ourselves and for 

 all our felloAV-sinners. 



Botanists are not exempted, from the numerous ills which 

 ''flesh is heir to;" but most of the fraternity are better fitted, by 

 their attachment to the out-of-door exercise of their innocent 

 pursuits, to bear some, at least, of the evils incident to humanity 

 with rather more equanimity and cheerfulness than those can 

 who are enervated by torpidity of mind and body, indolent habits, 

 and all other seductive indulgences which hinder people from 

 leading useful, healthy and happy lives. 



The votaries of Flora are not much tormented with the spleen, 

 the megrims, and other sullen vapours which becloud the brain 

 and enchain the spirit. They inhale the invigorating breezes of 

 the hills, the freshness of the fields teeming with vegetation, 

 enjoy the ever-changing aspects of nature, and admire the variety, 

 the beauty and the utility of every object which the ground 

 spontaneously brings forth for the blessing and gratification of 

 mankind. In the shady wood or forest, in the sequestered vale, 

 on the mountain side, among rocks, by rivers, lakes, and the sea- 

 shore, they converse with nature and with themselves — 



" Enjoy the cool, the fragrant, and the silent hour, 

 To meditation due and sacred song." 



It is always to be admitted, as a matter of course, that the 

 great secret of living happily is "to keep a conscience void of 

 ofience both towards God and towards man;" but, as subordinate 

 conditions of happiness, the preservation of a sound mind in a 

 healthy body [mens sana in coiyore sano) is not one of the least 



