144 SOUTH AGAIN : NEW ZEALAND AND THE CAPE 



state that I fear my letters and drawings are given far more 

 publicity to than I warranted, and I cannot help speaking 

 firmly, perhaps too strongly, on the subject. You are 

 doubtless surrounded by many and very kind friends at 

 Kew, and no one can be more grateful to God than I am ; 

 you are calculated to shine in their society and have an 

 open heart to receive their friendship, it is however totally 

 different with me — a few friends are all my narrow mind 

 has room for, and I often think they are kept better on that 

 very account. My ambition to rise in one branch of science 

 will soon cause them to think themselves neglected if I 

 should make their acquaintance and not keep it up. I 

 should have mentioned this subject in my mother's letter 

 but shall not ; we are men and may talk to one another 

 without feeHng that annoyance which women often will, 

 and I ara sure you know my feelings well on the subject, 

 though my dear Mother's love may have prompted her to 

 make me the subject of all conversation everywhere. Do 

 remember then that I do extremely dislike having my letters 

 shown to those I do not know, and that with regard to 

 the drawings it is not fair to me to make them known far 

 and wide, inasmuch as I have defrauded the Expedition 

 of them. 



However, all's well that ends well. The publicity, such 

 as it was, arose from a command visit to Buckingham Palace. 

 Sir William was bidden bring his news of the Expedition to 

 Prince Albert, who listened with extreme attention, repeating 

 the main points accurately to a visitor who came later, and 

 taking to the Queen Fitch's drawing from Davis's sketch of the 

 ships in the pack. This put a very different complexion on 

 the affair. The unfeigned interest of the Queen and the 

 Prince Consort in the doings of the Expedition made up for 

 seeming neglect elsewhere, and could not be objected to by 

 Captain Boss, himself a correspondent of the Prince by royal 

 command. Sir William's explanation cleared the air, and had 

 answer (April 20 and March 7, 1843) : 



You have now quite explained the mystery about my 

 drawings which hung over yours and my Mother's Falkland 

 Island letters. Of course the honour is quite too flattering 



