66 SOME AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANISTS 



" I have now, my dear Sir, to beg leave to in- 

 troduce to you the bearer of this, my only son. 

 He has been in England four or five years, but I 

 could not think of troubling you with his visits 

 while he was too young to profit from your con- 

 versation. He will now soon leave London to 

 repair to a University; but as he will now and 

 then visit London during the vacation times, I 

 could wish that he had at such times your leave 

 to pay his respects to you, to enquire after your 

 health, and be permitted to see and converse with 

 his father's most esteemed and valued friend. 



" I am yet entirely unacquainted with any par- 

 ticular penchant which he may have, or to what 

 profession his genius may incline him. But I 

 think I could wish him to have pleasure in look- 

 ing at, considering, and admiring the works of 

 his Creator, in the various forms in which they 

 appear to us. This would never interfere with 

 any profession, and it would be a source of benefit 

 to himself. For this reason I should be happy 

 to have him acquainted with, and introduced to, 

 the curious gardens about London, if it should 

 happen at any time to fall in your way to take him 

 with you in any of your walks to Mr. Gordon's 

 or any other curious gardens. I should exteem 

 it a great favour done me." 



The lad went to Westminster School and Glas- 

 gow University, and after the war he received a 



