336 LIFE AT DOWN. ^TAT. 33-45. [1845. 



and dull listeners which you expect for your audience. Re- 

 flect what a satisfaction and honour it would be to make a 

 good botanist with your disposition you will be to many 

 what Henslow was at Cambridge to me and others, a most 

 kind friend and guide. Then what a fine garden, and how 

 good a Public Library ! why, Forbes always regrets the 

 advantages of Edinburgh for work : think of the inestimable 

 advantage of getting within a short walk of those noble rocks 

 and hills and sandy shores near Edinburgh ! Indeed, I 

 cannot pity you much, though I pity myself exceedingly in 

 your loss. Surely lecturing will, in a year or two, with your 

 great capacity for work (whatever you may be pleased to say 

 to the contrary) become easy, and you will have a fair time 

 for your Antarctic Flora and general views of distribution. 

 If I thought your Professorship would stop your work, I 

 should wish it and all the good worldly consequences at el 

 Diavolo. I know I shall live to see you the first authority in 

 Europe on that grand subject, that almost keystone of the 

 laws of creation, Geographical Distribution. Well, there is 

 one comfort, you will be at Kew, no doubt, every year, so I 

 shall finish by forcing down your throat my sincere congratu- 

 lations. Thanks for all your news. I grieve to hear Hum- 

 boldt is failing ; one cannot help feeling, though unrightly, 

 that such an end is humiliating : even when I saw him he 

 talked beyond all reason. If you see him again, pray give 

 him my most respectful and kind compliments, and say that 

 I never forget that my whole course of life is due to having 

 read and re-read as a youth his ' Personal Narrative.' How 

 true and pleasing are all your remarks on his kindness ; think 

 how many opportunities you will have, in your new place, of 

 being a Humboldt to others. Ask him about the river in 

 N.E. Europe, with the Flora very different on its opposite 

 banks. I have got and read your Wilkes ; what a feeble book 

 in matter and style, and how splendidly got up ! Do write me 

 a line from Berlin. Also thanks for the proof-sheets. I did 



