70 MEMOIR OF 



To be planted as a curate on ^^60 a year 

 at George Nympton, and to vegetate like a 

 cabbage among a scanty population, engaged 

 chiefly in agricultural labour ; to pass his days 

 without one out-of-door occupation beyond that 

 of paying an occasional visit to a suffering 

 cottager or a busy farmer ; to endure the soli- 

 tude of an Eremite, compared with the lively, 

 social scene he had so recently quitted, was a 

 state of existence so little in accordance with 

 the stirring aspirations of Russell's mind, that 

 the want of "something to do" became almost 

 torture to him. 



Against books requiring close study his 

 whole nature rebelled ; they had too long been 

 his bane, both at school and at college ; and 

 rather than be forced to read, he would almost 

 have endured the pains of purgatory. 



The God of Nature would surely never 

 have given him that innate love for a sylvan 

 life which possessed him even on entering the 

 world ; nor would He have blessed him with 

 those eagle wings which have enabled him so 

 long to enjoy it, if he had been intended for a 

 recluse or a mere book-worm ; for, as well 

 might the spots of the bearded pard be ex- 

 punged, as that instinct blotted out from Russell's 

 nature. 



He had been but a short time in harness at 

 George Nympton when he was required by his 



