264 BOTANICAL COLLECTION. CHAP. xvn. 



wrong," said Dick, " men of mark have been wrong men 

 of repute, though I am of none." 



In the meantime, Peach sent Dick specimens of 

 fossils and plants. One of these was found near Wick, 

 the Tectura testudinalis a mollusc. Another was a 

 Cornish heath the Erica vagans. Of the latter Dick 

 said, " I am very much obliged to you for it; and 

 as my plants and I do not mean to separate while 

 life lasts, I shall have a memorial of you, and I hope a 

 proper sense of your kindness, each time that I examine 

 it. ... 'Tis a pity I have no other rarity, but I will 

 give you a few grasses a little brownish, and not so 

 good as your last one." 



Dick again refers to his botanical collection. 

 " Every moment of my spare time is devoted to the 

 labelling of my papers, and attaching dried plants to 

 them. Thanks be praised, it is nearly over, and the 

 roughest work is done. All the plants are gummed 

 down, and the craving for a completion stirs me anew. 

 How they are to come is a mystery, but then hope 

 never fails me. . . . Your first favour of a mistletoe is 

 in its appointed place, and the present addition you have 

 sent is equally welcome. You may rely upon it, you 

 bestow the specimen on one whose very life is bound up 

 with those things ; and I can in all sincerity say : 



" For them I panted, them I priz'd 

 For them I've gladly sacrificed 

 Whate'er I lov'd before ; 

 And shall I see them sacrificed ? 



*Na, na, man. Many thousand thanks to you. My 



