HENSLOW. IS/ 



his own varied knowledge or clear intellect, but solely on the 

 subject in hand. Another charm, which must have struck 

 every one, was that his manner to old and distinguished 

 persons and to the youngest student was exactly the same : 

 and to all he showed the same winning courtesy. He would 

 receive with interest the most trifling observation in any 

 branch of natural history ; and however absurd a blunder one 

 might make, he pointed it out so clearly and kindly, that one 

 left him no way disheartened, but only determined to be 

 more accurate the next time. In short, no man could be 

 better formed to win the entire confidence of the young, and 

 to encourage them in their pursuits. 



" His Lectures on Botany were universally popular, and as 

 clear as daylight. So popular were they, that several of the 

 older members of the University attended successive courses. 

 Once every week he kept open house in the evening, and all 

 who cared for natural history attended these parties, which, 

 by thus favouring inter-communication, did the same good in 

 Cambridge, in a very pleasant manner, as the Scientific 

 Societies do in London. At these parties many of the most 

 distinguished members of the University occasionally attended ; 

 and when only a few were present, I have listened to the 

 great men of those days, conversing on all sorts of subjects, 

 with the most varied and brilliant powers. This was no small 

 advantage to some of the younger men, as it stimulated their 

 mental activity and ambition. Two or three times in each 

 session he took excursions with his botanical class ; either a 

 long walk to the habitat of some rare plant, or in a barge 

 down the river to the fens, or in coaches to some more distant 

 place, as to Gamlingay, to see the wild lily of the valley, and 

 to catch on the heath the rare natter-jack. These excursions 

 have left a delightful impression on my mind. He was, on 

 such occasions, in as good spirits as a boy, and laughed as 

 heartily as a boy at the misadventures of those who chased 

 the splendid swallow-tail butterflies across the broken and 



