APPENDIX. 605 



friend's age precluded any attention to it on his part. This edition, 

 which was brought up to the then state of the science by the addition of 

 upwards of 100 MS. pages of new matter, appeared early in 1843. 



On our return at the close of 1843 from a twelvemonth's visit to Italy, 

 Mr. and Mrs. Kirby came to London for some weeks to meet us, and be- 

 tween this period and his death I visited him twice at Barham : when, 

 though his memory and bodily strength had greatly failed, I found him 

 still the same kind-hearted friend, still, as ever, happy and contented, 

 ready to inform and be informed, to amuse and be amused, and taking 

 the same interest he always did in the progress of science generally, and 

 especially of Entomology. 



I give copies or extracts of a few of his last letters, which will show 

 that though the lamp of life was beginning to fade, his friendliness of dis- 

 position and love of science suffered no abatement. 



"Barham, November 23rd, 1843. 



u My Dear Friend, You will be pleased to learn that we arrived here salvi 

 et sani, on Tuesday, in very good time to make up our dinner, which was not 

 accomplished all at once. We travelled by railroad, accompanied by one of 

 the officials of the concern, who. appeared to be a very good specimen of a tra- 

 velling companion. He quitted us, however, before we reached the Colchester 

 Station. At Kelvedon we met our servant with a carriage and horses, which 

 took us home much more rapidly than I expected. We were very loth to leave 

 you and your cara sposa behind us, and talked often of you ; but it is in vain to 

 wish for what cannot be, so we must be contented with looking forward to our 

 next merry meeting ; in the meantime often taking the pen to relate to each 

 other our mutual adventures. We hope Mrs. Spence is now able to take the 

 air, and look about her again, and see all the London sights that are worth 

 looking at ; and when she has run the round of sight-seeing, that she and you 

 will come and renew your acquaintance with the lions of Barham. Nothing 

 is usually more strongly recommended to invalids that are convalescent than 

 change of air. 



" We are both, thank God, at this time very bonny, and I am resuming my 

 old favourite pedestrian exercise.* How I should enjoy it with you ! Yet the 

 great beauty of the country, the foliage of the trees, is fast departing. Yet 

 those of the grove in my garden seem to hang on, while those of the vicinity 



are all fallen One thing I must not forget, to return our best thanks 



to you and dear Mrs. Spence, for your great kindness and attention to us during 

 our stay in London. I don't know that I ever enjoyed a visit to the metropolis 

 so much, and our enjoyment chiefly arose from your society and that of your 

 better half. I shall leave the other side to Charlotte, who will address a line 

 to her.f 



" I am, my Dear Friend, 



" Yours very affectionately, 



"WM.KIBBT. 



" W. Speuce, Esq., 18, Lower Seymour Street, 

 Portman Square, London." 



* Mr. Kirby's love of walking exercise was remarkable. In one of his letters he 

 says, " I never feel so happy as when on my ten toes." 



f I had marked this complimentary paragraph to be omitted ; but, on second 

 thoughts, it is given, as exemplifying that fine feature of Mr. Kirby's character 

 which so much endeared him to all who had the happiness of knowing him, his 

 genuine friendliness of nature, which led him to over-estimate and gratefully acknow- 

 ledge any attention his friends showed him. 



