SWANSEA LECTUKE 211 



who * worked the old family pottery in Swansea/ had married 

 De la Beche's daughter. He was Hooker's special companion, 

 being a good ornithologist and fond of Natural History in 

 general. Another good companion was Mr. Dillwyn's son- 

 in-law, Moggridge, whose hobby was British Botany. An 

 additional attraction of the house, which appeals to Dawson 

 Turner, is the collection of pictures, and specially Cuyp's 

 Burgomaster of Haarlem. 



Lecturing was still a trial to him, but wishing to make some 

 return for the great kindness with which he had been received 

 in Swansea, he offered to give a lecture on the Antarctic Voyage. 

 This was duly delivered with great success at the Koyal Institu- 

 tion of South Wales on June 17. The advertisement of the 

 lecture makes the interesting announcement that in addition 

 to members of the Institution and affiliated societies, who 

 were admitted free, * Thirty free admissions to the back seats 

 will be distributed by the Council to persons of the working class 

 not connected with the above Societies.' 



He writes to his grandfather, June 21, 1846 : 



You will be surprised to hear of my lecturing here, but I 

 not only could not get off the task, but hating it as I do, I 

 felt a real pleasure in gratifying my many friends in Swansea. 

 The lecture has added seven new subscribers to the Swansea 

 Institution, and I have had thanks and innumerable requests 

 for another, which however I cannot comply with. You 

 can have no idea how easily these people are pleased with 

 my compliance with their wishes in lecturing, nor how good- 

 naturedly attentive they were to the lecture itself. 



I have been travelling about a great deal in South Wales, 

 visiting the Collieries, collecting fossil plants, and gaining 

 information on all subjects connected with the ancient 

 Botany of our globe. The subject is a deeply interesting 

 one, and though it decidedly interferes with the progress of 

 my studies in recent Botany, it will, I hope, in the long run, 

 turn to good account. The work is very hard in this hot 

 weather, especially when the coal-dust and other annoyances 

 attendant on my investigations in these dirty districts are 

 almost insupportable. Still I like the work and my master, 

 and hope to get on with this accessory o my pursuits. 



