2 AUTOBIOGRAPHY [CHAP. i. 



at the back of one of the boxes and see His Majesty. I do 

 not in the least believe that I saw the right man. However, 

 it is something to remember that about the year 1835, if I 

 had not been so frightened, I might have seen the King. 



In regard to any special likings of my earliest years it 

 seems to me, from what I can remember or have been 

 told, that there were signs even then of the chief tastes 

 which have accompanied me through life an intense love 

 of flowers ; a fondness for insect investigation ; and a 

 fondness also for writing. In my babyhood, even before 

 I could speak, the sight of a bunch of flowers was the 

 signal for both arms being held out to beg for the 

 coveted treasure, and the taste was utilised when I was 

 a little older, in checking a somewhat incomprehensible 

 failure of health during the spring visit of the family to 

 London. Some one suggested trying the effect of a supply 

 of flower roots and seeds for me to exercise my love of 

 gardening on, and the experiment was successful. I can 

 remember my delight at the sight of the boxes of common 

 garden plants pansies, daisies, and the like ; and I suppose 

 some feeling of the restored comfort has remained through 

 all these years to give a charm (not peculiarly exciting in 

 itself) to the smell of bast mats and other appurtenances of 

 the outside of Covent Garden market. 



My first insect observation I remember perfectly. It was 

 typical of many others since. I was quite right, absolutely 

 and demonstrably right, but I was above my audience and 

 fared accordingly. One day while the family were engaged 

 watching the letting out of a pond, or some similar matter, I 

 was perched on a chair, and given to watch, to keep me quiet 

 at home, a tumbler of water with about half-a-dozen great 

 water grubs in it. One of them had been much injured and 

 his companions proceeded quite to demolish him. I was 

 exceedingly interested, and when the family came home 

 gave them the results of my observations, which were 

 entirely disbelieved. Arguing was not permitted, so I said 

 nothing (as far as I remember) ; but I had made my first 

 step in Entomology. 



Writing was a great pleasure. A treat was to go into the 

 library and to sit near, without disturbing, my father, and 

 " write a letter " on a bit of paper granted for epistolary 

 purposes. The letter was presently sealed with one of the 

 great armorial seals which my father wore as gentlemen 

 did then in a bunch at what was called the " fob." The 

 whole affair must have been of a very elementary sort, but 



