234 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



the Cromwell Road, and in softening the final 

 separation. 



The manner in which the Trustees received his 

 resignation could not but be very gratifying to him 

 and his family. Besides the official acknowledg- 

 ment of his services, already noticed, many private 

 letters reached him, among others from the King 

 and the Archbishop of Canterbury, expressed so 

 warmly that, in his sensitive condition, they brought 

 tears of gratitude to his eyes. The King (then 

 Prince of Wales) wrote that, " both on private and 

 public grounds, it is a matter of deep and sincere 

 regret that you felt yourself obliged to resign your 

 post ; " whilst others of the Trustees wrote with 

 deep appreciation of all that he had done for the 

 Museum, both by work and personal influence. 



That summer of 1898 was spent again in Ireland, 

 under the hospitable roof of his son-in-law and 

 daughter in King's County, and he became so much 

 better with the rest and open air that it was arranged 

 that he should winter on the Riviera, so as to be 

 able to continue living in the open air in a sunnier 

 climate. My husband had long wished to visit 

 that beautiful country, but had hitherto always 

 been too busily engaged in London to absent 

 himself in the winter ; and although now not equal 

 to making all the necessary arrangements, our 

 daughter Geraldine proved invaluable and as com- 

 petent as any courier, as well as a gentle companion, 

 always contented, and always making the best of 



