30 Biographical Sketch 



in a moment closed the record of his bright 

 young life. One little bit of his last letter 

 to his brother may be given, as it seems to 

 indicate that some vague foreboding was 

 shadowing his happy spirit. It is a curious 

 bit of thought coming from a lad to a lad. 

 " Yule day is now drawing near. If you are 

 all, as I trust in God you may be, well, and 

 you will think on the far absent member of 

 your little circle, as he often thinks of you 

 all. Well, parting and absence, my dear 

 Biot, are amongst the ills of this transitory 

 existence. May we all, by the grace of Him 

 who can grant it, aspire after that state where 

 they shall be unknown. My kindest love to 

 you all. My prayers and blessing be with 

 you ever." 



The brief record of what happened is given 

 here in the words of one of the officers 

 present at the time. 



"On the morning after our arrival in Sua 

 Bay, close to the river Esmeraldos, Peru, the 

 Captain landed, and fixed the observatory 

 tent on the left hand bluff, while another boat 

 landed Mr Edmondston, the Naturalist, ac- 

 companied by . We then struck into the 



wood, and soon lost our way, and continued 



