CHAPTER XV 



1886. 



The Colonial Exhibition — Sent to England as one of the 

 Canadian Representatives — Attends many Functions — 

 Entertained by Lord Brassey, Duke of Northumber- 

 land, Marquis of Salisbury, Earl Warwick, Earl of 

 Erne, Marquis of Lorne and Others — Visits Ireland 

 and Finds Distant Relatives and Namesake, John 

 Macoun, of Kilmore — Many Places of Interest in Eng- 

 land are Visited — Interesting Incidents. 



WHEN we reached home, we found the family all well and 

 I immediately set to work at my usual occupation. While 

 we were absent, work on the Colonial Exhibition in Lon- 

 don, had commenced and all were preparing for it and many were 

 aspiring to be sent to London in charge of the various exhibits. 

 A large collection of birds was to be sent, which had been pur- 

 chased in Toronto, and also the collections we had in our Museum. 

 Besides these was a large collection of minerals and precious 

 stones and various kinds of timber and a complete set of plants 

 from my herbarium. I found that Mr. Whiteaves was slated for 

 the Natural History exhibit and Dr. Adams for the Geology, and 

 Willmot for the Minerals. Herring expected to be sent in charge 

 of the birds and Dr. Selwyn was to have general charge. 



Early in the winter, I received a letter from Professor Boyd 

 Dawkins, of Birmingham, England, being one of the gentlemen 

 whose acquaintance I had made in 1884 when in the mountains. 

 He asked me if I were going to England the coming summer and 

 I told him candidly that others were already slated for the posi- 

 tions, but I thought if my friends in England asserted themselves 

 it might be possible for me to be sent. Apparently, Dawkins had 

 taken the hint for, in a few weeks, Mr. H. B. Small, who was 

 secretary of the Agricultural Department, told me that Sir Charles 

 Tupper, who was to be Commissioner, was deluged with letters 



