LETTER FROM H. E. DRESSER 235 



substantial pecuniary assistance when I was 

 writing and publishing, at my own expense, my 

 work on the " Birds of Europe," and which then 

 threatened to be a losing concern. That I was 

 able to weather the storm without his kindly 

 proffered assistance does not make me less 

 grateful to him, for it gave me fresh courage to 

 proceed with the work when I began to feel 

 somewhat downhearted. 



' You can perhaps best testify to his sweet- 

 ness of disposition, but I cannot help recalling 

 how I have seen him sitting with his hands 

 swathed in cotton wool, when suffering from a 

 severe attack of gout, and at the same time 

 conversing as pleasantly as if he were in perfect 

 health, when so many men, under similar cir- 

 cumstances, would be using somewhat strong 



language. 



' I remain, yours sincerely, 



' H. E. Dresser.' 



The following recollections are from one who 

 knew him well, who was with him through many 

 attacks of serious illness : 



