HERBORIZING 77 



longer a powerful little flower ; Solomon's 

 Seal, though it graced some of the woods, no 

 longer sealed up wounds and broken bones ; 

 the sick were not saved by Salvia, and the little 

 Eyebright no longer brought back sight to the 

 blind. 



Then, in the summer evening, by foot, by 

 river, or by coach counting the days to the 

 next " herborizing " the apprentices would 

 find their way home. 



Once a year, in July, the Demonstrator con- 

 ducted an expedition (attended by older botan- 

 ists only) to find plants growing in the moun- 

 tains or by the sea. The journeys extended 

 over at least two days. The plants collected 

 were exhibited at a meeting, to which dis- 

 tinguished guests were invited. An address 

 was delivered, and a dinner followed at the 

 expense of the stewards for the year. There is 

 a letter, among the Sloane MS. from Petiver, 

 asking Sir Hans Sloane to dine at one of these 

 meetings. 



Thomas Wheeler was now conducting (and 

 delighting in) the summer excursions. He 

 continued to attend them long after the forty- 

 two years of his demonstratorship were over. 

 A quaint figure thin and wiry with bare 

 head, and massive spectacles hiding keen grey 

 eyes, a threadbare coat and long leather 

 gaiters a man full of kindliness and humour, 

 loved by the students : an inspiring teacher. 



Dr. Semple, 1 his pupil, says that he was 

 " distinguished for child-like simplicity " ; that 

 he " never jested at sacred things, and never 



1 Memories of the Botanic Garden at Chelsea, Field and Semple. 



