1863.] BOTANICAL LETTERS FROM AUGYLESHIRE. 527 



too long apart; that every true Christian could read both the 

 ' book of nature' and revelation, and ever found them in strict 

 harmony. Both were given to erring men for great ends, and 

 I trusted the day had already dawned when all would read and 

 study both ; and sure I was that every genuine botanist and na- 

 turalist, while he studied nature, found in his own experience 

 that while he studied nature, it enabled him to look up with 

 faith, humility, and gratitude to nature's wise and beneficent 

 Author. 



" And, oft with her communiug thus, 

 A higher joy is given, 

 From natvu'e up to nature's God 



Our thoughts are wing'd to Heaven." 



This little, singular man, however, shook his head, and ap- 

 peared to have allowed the one small idea to nestle in his 

 brain, that all naturalists and botanists were a tribe handed over 

 to infidelity. Time would not permit a continuance of our discus- 

 sion. We parted, but, before doing so, I invited him to do me 

 the honour of a call when he next came to town, when I felt 

 confident I could convince him that naturalists were not what 

 he represented them to be. INIy companion, a shrewd business- 

 man, laughed heartily at this man's notion, which he attributed 

 to a certain amount of ignorance and wrong-headedness. I un- 

 derstood that this singular individual was a Chartist, connected 

 with a religious sect, who kept him constantly travelling,, to 

 sow the good seed and to root up the natural weeds. 



The shadows of evening were now fast closing around us. The 

 dew was forming on the vegetation of both field and meadow. 

 The landrail, or corn-crake, was busy ; though unseen, he was not 

 unheard, among the leafy green corn. Once or twice we tried 

 to catch it, but in vain ; it ceased uttering its singular croak, 

 which was soon heard in the remote distance. The odours of 

 the Honeysuckle and Queen-of-the-Meadow {Spiraa ulmaria) 

 made amends for the harsh music wherewith the corn-crake 

 tried to cheer our walk ; and as we reached our homes the even- 

 ing star, with countless companions, glistered in the western sky. 



