1 88 THE APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' ^TAT. 22. 



treacherous fens. He used to pause every now and then and 

 lecture on some plant or other object ; and something he 

 could tell us on every insect, shell, or fossil collected, for he 

 had attended to every branch of natural history. After our 

 day's work we used to dine at some inn or house, and most 

 jovial we then were. I believe all who joined these excur- 

 sions will agree with me that they have left an enduring 

 impression of delight on our minds. 



"As time passed on at Cambridge I became very intimate 

 with Professor Henslow, and his kindness was unbounded ; 

 he continually asked me to his house, and allowed me to 

 accompany him in his walks. He talked on all subjects, 

 including his deep sense of religion, and was entirely open. 

 I owe more than I can express to this excellent man. . . . 



"During the years when I associated so much with Pro- 

 fessor Henslow, I never once saw his temper even ruffled. 

 He never took an ill-natured view of any one's character, 

 though very far from blind to the foibles of others. It always 

 struck me that his mind could not be even touched by any 

 paltry feeling of vanity, envy, or jealousy. With all this 

 equability of temper and remarkable benevolence, there was 

 no insipidity of character. A man must have been blind not 

 to have perceived that beneath this placid exterior there was 

 a vigorous and determined will. When principle came into 

 play, no power on earth could have turned him one hair's- 

 breadth. . . . 



" Reflecting over his character with gratitude and reverence, 

 his moral attributes rise, as they should do in the highest 

 character, in pre-eminence over his intellect." 



In a letter to Rev. L. Blomefield (Jenyns), May 24, 1862, 

 my father wrote with the same feelings that he had expressed 

 in his letters thirty years before : 



" I thank you most sincerely for your kind present of your 

 Memoir of Henslow. I have read about half, and it has inte- 

 rested me much. I did not think that I could have venerated 



