90 EDWARD FORBES. [l853. 



the former to be accompanied by Mrs Forbes. Prest- 

 wich was unable to cross with them, and followed later. 

 Forbes wrote : 



I see no reason from your note for deviating from the plans 

 we concocted. If you can leave town sooner than you say, so 

 much the better. Within the limits of being back in England 

 on the 27th of next month, I am in a manner free to move in 

 any direction, and so that we can manage to see all that we pro- 

 posed together, I can spend the time pleasantly and profitably in 

 any direction that may be convenient. ... If you should be 

 delayed longer than you at present anticipate, I would go on to 

 Fontainebleau, and you could pick us up there. 



If you have any hints or advice to give about seeing points 

 about Paris, a line addressed here will find me until Saturday at 

 midday. Ever, dear Prestwich, &c., EDWARD FORBES. 



The biographer of Forbes remarks : " These few 

 weeks in France were weeks of thorough enjoyment. 

 He used to speak of them as his ' honeymoon trip,' and 

 as the very happiest time of his whole life. He made 

 work subservient to enjoyment, and the holiday was in 

 this way the first, not on duty, that Mrs Forbes and 

 he had spent together." 1 



Edward Forbes had found out too the charm of the 

 society of his other companion on this expedition a 

 companion who was so modest and unassuming, so full 

 of knowledge, and ever so ready to impart it. In 

 rough notes for 1853 we read that on September 23rd 

 a visit (no doubt a joint one with E. Forbes) was paid 

 to the famous conchological collection of Deshayes, 

 when among a multitude of shells Prestwich detected 

 a Cyrena semistriata having a strong resemblance " to 

 the unexp. spec, at Deptford." 2 



1 Memoir of Edward Forbes, p. 522. 



2 See Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. x. p. 138. 



