UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 183 



curious that these flowers are so carefully pre- 

 served in buds, while the catkins are exposed 

 without protection during the whole winter. 



The flower-buds of the peach trees are much 

 swelled, the scales are almost separating, and in 

 some there is even a streak of red appearing. 



The tufts of leaf and flower buds on the pear 

 trees begin to shew themselves more distinctly ; 

 and on the larch trees, the little brown lumps 

 are now growing larger, and preparing to let 

 the nests of imprisoned leaves burst forth. 



It is very odd how many interesting things 

 are passed over and not observed. There was 

 a young lady here last week who lives in the 

 country, and yet had scarcely noticed any of 

 these small circumstances in Natural History, 

 which distinguish the changes of the seasons, 

 though she diligently walked out every day for 

 two hours round the garden and shrubbery. 



Notwithstanding my love for the rich and 

 beautiful vegetation of Brazil, I do like the 

 seasons here, and the sort of feeling of expec- 

 tation that winter, dark and dreary as it is, gives 

 of the welcome return of spring with all its 

 beauties. 



12th., Sunday. My uncle, in conversing this 

 morning about the peculiar situation and circum- 

 stances of the Israelites, said that the benefi- 

 cence which graciously condescended to detail all 



11 2 



