70 THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



I find no difficulty in perceiving that the year 1832 was in 

 several respects the most remarkable in his life. In it he 

 commenced that serious and decisive devotion to scientific 

 natural history which henceforward was his central occu- 

 pation. In it he first, as he himself put it forty years later, 

 "definitely and solemnly yielded himself to God; and 

 began that course heavenward, which, through many devia- 

 tions and many baitings and many falls, I have been 

 enabled to pursue, on the whole steadfastly, until now." 

 It was in this year also that, after five years' absence in 

 Newfoundland, he once more visited his parents and his 

 native country. This, however, was but a trifling matter 

 in comparison with the great importance of the change 

 which turned the soft and molluscous temperament of the 

 youth into the vertebrate character of the man. In 1832 

 Philip Gosse, suddenly and consciously, became a naturalist 

 and a Christian. On the former subject he must now speak 

 for himself: — 



'* The 5th of May was one of the main pivots of life 

 " to me. The Wesleyan minister, Rev. Richard Knight, 

 " was selling some of his spare books by auction. I was 

 "there, and bought Kaumacher's edition of Adams's 

 ''Essays on the Microscope, a quarto which I still 

 " possess. The plan of this work had led the author to 

 "treat largely of insects, and to give minute instructions 

 " for their collection and preservation. I was delighted 

 "with my prize; it just condensed and focussed the 

 " wandering rays of science that were kindling in my 

 " mind, and I enthusiastically resolved forthwith to collect 

 " insects. At first I proposed only to include the more 

 " handsome butterflies and moths and the larger beetles, of 

 " which barren Newfoundland yielded a poor store indeed ; 

 " but not knowing how to make a limit, I presently 

 "enlarged my plan, and commenced as an entomologist 



