APPENDIX. 608 



and to transfer myself and family from Yorkshire to the more genial 

 climate of Exmouth, where we resided several years. 



During this period, though I took no active share in the completion 

 of our book, I gave suggestions on various points in the letters which we 

 still regularly exchanged ; and one summer Mr. Kirby, accompanied by 

 Mrs. Kirby, made the journey from Barham to Exmouth, expressly to 

 spend a few days with us, I need not say how greatly to my delight. 



In 1826, our concluding Volumes (Vols. III. and IV.), appeared ; and 

 in this same year, as I found travelling always suit my health, which was 

 still far from being re-established, I removed with my family to the Con- 

 tinent, where we spent the next eight years, visiting in succession most 

 of the European capitals, and residing four years in Italy, but migrating 

 to Switzerland in summer. During the whole of this time, as well as 

 on our return to England, my correspondence with my old friend was 

 regularly kept up ; and we frequently saw each other on the visits made 

 by Mr. Kirby to London, and one winter at Leamington, where Mr. and 

 Mrs. Kirby joined us, and we spent a month together. Space can be here 

 afforded for extracts from only two of Mr. Kirby's many letters during 

 this period, one addressed to Milan, and the other to Leamington. 



"Barham, June 13, 1832. 



" My Dear Friend, I this morning received your kind and interesting letter 

 from Pisa, and lose no time in setting an answer on the stocks, though it may 

 be some days before I shall have leisure to finish it. I did not answer your 

 last letters, because I was uncertain where to direct to you. I must begin by 

 thanking you for the variety of new and interesting information your enter- 

 taining letters contain. They make my mouth water to be with you ; but, 

 alas ! it is not given to me to be partaker with you in your enjoyments. But 

 I will not repine ; I have too much to be thankful for, far beyond my merits, 

 to feel any lasting emotions of envy; but when I read your letters the wish will 

 rise in the heart. I have very little scientific intelligence to communicate, for I 

 know very little what is going on in the scientific world, having had very little 

 communication with it of late. 



"June 15. I very recently completed the fiftieth year of my residence at 

 this place, and received some very gratifying marks of regard and attachment 

 from my neighbours. The members of the Claydon Book Club had a jubilee 

 dinner on the occasion, and, as a token of their regard, presented me with a 

 very elegant piece of plate ; and yesterday evening they and their ladies, at 

 least such as could come, were entertained here, about twenty-seven altogether; 

 and a very happy and pleasant party we had. Bernard Barton, the Quaker 

 poet, a very friendly Friend, who before addressed some very pretty verses to 

 me, inserted in our provincial paper a very beautiful address to me, but above 

 my deserts, but which showed great liberality on his part to eulogise a receiver 



cannot conceive how much I feel the loss of your assistance in the variety of subjects 

 that come before me. I want your opinion upon so many points, that I sometimes 

 feel half disposed to throw aside my pen. I have nobody upon whose judgment I can 

 depend to consult, for MacLeay, who would on such occasions occur to me, is so 

 extremely negligent as a correspondent (owing to his incessant official duties), that 

 if I asked him ten questions he would not give me an answer to five, and that in 

 a hasty manner. I must do, however, as well as I can, but I shall hail with joy 

 the day that restores you to the moderate use of your pen." 



