1857. MANCHESTER CRYSTAL PALACE. 445 



" Jessie and I seek to make these remarkable lines our motto, 

 but aroa little hindered in our laudable object, because, in the 

 first place, we are not bees; 2d, By having no shining hours, the 

 sun obstinately hiding himself behind clouds ; 3dly } There is no 

 honey to be gathered, because, kthly, there are no flowers. At 

 least, however, we resemble the bees in being busy, although I 

 cannot take it upon me to say that we are so ' all the day/ as 

 untruthful Dr. Watts declares the bees to be, in the face of the 

 fact that they are notorious for fighting, stabbing, and singing 

 songs, besides eating, drinking, and sleeping. At all events, 

 between us we despatched fourteen letters yesterday, and here 

 is a pile beside me to-day waiting for replies. 



" This is the first of May, with promise of the sun ; the snow 

 is melted on the Perthshire hills, and the lambs are reposing on 

 the grass as if they were immortals. . . . 



" Don't think me selfish if I stay here to the last. This rest 

 of soul and body is to me welcome beyond description. I hope 

 to fall to work again stoutly on my return." 



In July, Government business called him to England. " I 

 hope by the visit," he writes, " to do soul, body, and my dear 

 Museum good." A month later he spent a few days in Man- 

 chester viewing the treasures of the Exhibition held there in that 

 year, and then passed on to Dublin to study the arrangements 

 of its Industrial Museum, and also attend the meetings of the 

 British Association. Three bright and happy days were spent 

 in the Manchester Crystal Palace. He was accompanied by 

 his sister and a friend, and while each roamed about at will, 

 according to individual taste, it was their custom to meet at a 

 certain hour at which a daily concert was given. A note writ- 

 ten on one of those occasions expresses his delight : 



" August 20, 1857- 

 " MANCHESTER EXHIBITION. 



" MY DEAR MOTHER, I have just halted for a rest in a quiet 

 corner near the orchestra, which is about to be filled with 

 musicians and play us a tune. 



" This is dreamland ; fairyland ; a bit of heaven upon earth. 

 Angels who once were ministering spirits have here entered 



