290 OVERWORK. [1815. 



from Sierakowsky, I shall write. I am better in 

 general health, but the local complaints continue. I 

 hope Lady Grey and yourself are now quite well. 

 Yours ever, II. BROUGHAM." 



" I shall leave this in a day or two, and proceed 

 homeward by slow journeys. I think I am better, 

 but still very far indeed from well." 



All the summer (of 1815) I had been ill, I believe 

 more from overwork than any actual disease ; and for 

 some weeks I felt very much inclined to give up law, 

 politics, and everything, and to retire into the country 

 and write books. I was ill enough to be quite indis- 

 posed to work so much so, that I actually did not 

 contribute a single article to the June number of the 

 ' Edinburgh Review/ But a few weeks of rest and 

 perfect quiet at Brougham, where I went early in 

 August, restored me, and banished the fit of lowness, 

 and low spirits, and despondency which had so 

 afflicted me. While at Brougham I wrote several 

 articles for the Eeview, one upon a plan, suggested 

 by Stephen, for establishing a registry of slaves, ori- 

 ginally proposed by him, and adopted in the conquered 

 islands; and afterwards, in 1815, proposed to be ex- 

 tended to the old settlements.""" I also took much 

 interest in the working of bees, more especially as 

 regards the mathematical perfection of the structure of 

 their cells, uniting strength with the greatest economy 

 of materials, and satisfying every condition of a difli- 



* Article on "Reasons for Establishing a Registry of Slaves in the 

 Rritish Colonies; Leing a Report of a Committee of the African Insti- 

 tution." Edinburgh Review, Vol. XXV., No. L., art. ii. p. 315. 



