276 The Naturalist of Cnmbrae. 



" You mention that I did not answer your last, but 

 I can assure you that I did so, and it must have in 

 some way or other been miscarried. In that answer I 

 was going to lecture you for your total rejection of the 

 sympathy I offered you in your hard struggles against 

 so many difficult and opposing forces, but I did not 

 go the length that I intended. I only pointed out 

 to you the value nations as well as individuals put on 

 sympathy, and how jealous they are of its partial 

 administration, and I wished you to think more 

 favourably of the good intentions in the remark, ' We 

 cannot but sympathize with the noble and undaunted 

 actions of the whale, when she often sacrifices her 

 life in the protection of her young.' Although that 

 sympathy is often drawn from those that are intent 

 on her destruction, yet when proceeding from those 

 who are most wishful that all good results may 

 crown the labours of the object of their sympathy, it 

 deserves a favourable distinction, and I am sure you 

 will say with me that even in both cases the feeling is 

 a noble one. 



" It was most gratifying to us all to hear of the 

 rapid progress you are making with the station, and 

 the good prospects that are dawning on the whole 

 undertaking. 



" Just a day or two after I wrote you last, I got two 

 or three of my ribs broken, which caused considerable 

 pain for a time and interfered much with my work ; 

 but I am glad to say that I am now on the fair way 

 to recovery, and can do a moderate day's work. I 

 have added another branch to the scope of my 

 researches, viz. the carboniferous ostracoda and 



