NATHANIEL LAWRENCE AUSTEN. xxi 



to write the following reminiscences of his 

 friend : 



"I first became acquainted with my much- 

 lamented friend Austen upon the occasion of his 

 entering St. Peter's College, Cambridge, as a fellow- 

 commoner, at the beginning of the Michaelmas 

 Term, 1868, and from that date until his sad and 

 untimely death our friendship continued uninter- 

 rupted. Although some nine years years, alas ! but 

 too full of change have slipped away since our first 

 meeting, still I have a most vivid and distinct 

 remembrance of it, and of the conversation, so cha- 

 racteristic of my poor friend, which took place soon 

 afterwards. We were introduced to each other in 

 the Combination Eoom of the College, and then 

 almost at once went into the Dining Hall. During 

 dinner it so happened that Austen and myself sat 

 side by side, and before long the conversation 

 turned upon wild sports, the fiercer forest animals, 

 and natural history in general. I need hardly say 

 Austen introduced these subjects, and much sur- 

 prised me at least with the keen interest and know- 

 ledge which he displayed in connection with them. 

 That conversation proved a true index and guide to 

 the character and tastes of its originator, and was 

 the forerunner of many like itself. These conversa- 

 tions were always extremely interesting to me, and 



b 2 



