PREFACE. vii 



" SIR The Queen has been much interested in reading 

 your Biography by Mr. Smiles, and is touched by your 

 successful pursuit of natural science under all the cares of 

 daily toil. Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to 

 confer on you a pension of .50 per annum. I am, Sir, 

 with much respect, yours faithfully, BEACON SFIELD." 



I am permitted, with the gracious assent of the 

 Queen (given to Sir Theodore Martin in 1878), to 

 publish the following letter, intimating the interest 

 which Her Majesty took in the incidents of the 

 Naturalist's history. The letter is from Sir Theodore 

 Martin to Thomas Edward : 



"My DEAR SIR I duly received your letter, which I 

 would have answered sooner but for a reason which I will 

 mention. I knew that it would interest the Queen, who 

 had entered so heartily into your story, when it was pre- 

 sented to Her Majesty's notice, and I therefore sent it on to 

 Her Majesty to read. Yesterday I was at Windsor Castle, 

 and the Queen spoke of your letter with great interest, as a 

 "very beautiful and touching one;" and she also mentioned 

 having seen your letter to Lord Beaconsfield, who, in this 

 matter, has acted with a promptitude none the less admir- 

 able because those who know his kindness of heart will 

 not be surprised at it. The Queen testified still more her 

 interest in you by asking to be furnished with a copy of 

 your letter to me. I mention these things for yourself and 

 your own family only. 



" My grandfather was a Buchan man ; so was my father. 

 My boyhood's holidays were spent in Buchan, and I know 

 the coast well from Kinnaird's Head to Portsoy. Your 



