FRIENDS. 169 



between Cambridge and Grantchester, and speaks of a certain 

 beetle the remembrance of whose name is " Crux major." * 

 How enthusiastically must my father have exulted over this 

 beetle to have impressed its name on a companion so that he 

 remembers it after half a century ! Archdeacon Watkins goes 

 on : " I do not forget the long and very interesting conversa- 

 tions that we had about Brazilian scenery and tropical 

 vegetation of all sorts. Nor do I forget the way and the 

 vehemence with which he rubbed his chin when he got ex- 

 cited on such subjects, and discoursed eloquently of lianas, 

 orchids, &c." 



He became intimate with Henslow, the Professor of 

 Botany, and through him with some other older members 

 of the University. " But," Mr. Herbert writes, " he always 

 kept up the closest connection with the friends of his own 

 standing ; and at our frequent social gatherings at breakfast, 

 wine or supper parties he was ever one of the most cheerful, 

 the most popular, and the most welcome." 



My father formed one of a club for dining once a week, 

 called the Gourmet f Club, the members, besides himself and 

 Mr. Herbert (from whom I quote), being Whitley of St. John's, 

 now Honorary Canon of Durham ; } Heaviside of Sidney now 

 Canon of Norwich ; Lovett Cameron of Trinity, now vicar of 

 Shoreham ; Blane of Trinity, who held a high post during the 

 Crimean war ; H. Lowe (now Sherbrooke) of Trinity Hall ; 

 and Watkins of Emmanuel, now Archdeacon of York. The 

 origin of the club's name seems already to have become 

 involved in obscurity. Mr. Herbert says that it was chosen 

 in derision of another " set of men who called themselves by 

 a long Greek name signifying * fond of dainties,' but who 

 falsified their claim to such a designation by their weekly 

 practice of dining at some roadside inn, six miles from 



* Panagceus crux-major. \ Formerly Reader in Natural 



f Mr. Herbert mentions the Philosophy at Durham University, 

 name as * The Glutton Club.' Brother of Lord Sherbrooke. 



