Ixii PBOCEEDINGS OP THE 



SooTceria Icetevirens. This last discovery led, in 1831, first to a 

 correspondence with the late Sir W. Hooker, and speedily to an 

 attachment which amounted to filial aiFection for that illustrious 

 and kindly patron of every aspiring botanist. Encouraged by Sir 

 "W. Hooker, he sought to devote himself exclusively to science, 

 and made various attempts to obtain a situation or employment 

 abroad that would have permitted of this. Eor several years this 

 object was frustrated, and, indeed, was only eventually attained 

 under the following singularly sorrowful circumstances. The late 

 Lord Monteagle, then Mr. Spring Eice, a great friend of the 

 Harvey family, had then in his gift the lucrative post of Colonial 

 Treasurer of the Cape of Good Hope, which he intended to pre- 

 sent to young Harvey ; but unfortunately, by some accident, the 

 appointment was made out in the name of his elder brother, a 

 married man with a large family and thriving business: imme- 

 diately after this, Mr. Eice, owing to a change of Ministry, retired 

 from office. Great eflorts were made to set the matter right with 

 the succeeding Ministry, but in vain ; and it was thought best for 

 all parties that the elder brother should accept the appointment, 

 and take the young botanist with him, and thus give him the op- 

 portunity of distinguishing himself in that rich field for botanical 

 research. The brother, with his family and our friend, sailed in 

 1835, and had hardly got settled in the colony when the health of 

 the former gave way suddenly, and it being obvious that he could 

 never resume his duties, application was made at once that his 

 brother should be appointed his successor, and take up the duties 

 of his office on the spot. The answer not arriving, the whole 

 party left the Cape for England early in 1836, when the brother 

 died on the passage. 



" On their arrival in England in June, 1836, Mr. Harvey found 

 that his appointment as his brother's successor had already been 

 sent to the Cape, and thither he followed it in August of the same 

 year, and remained till 1839. During these three years he worked 

 intensely hard at his office all day, but spent his mornings in col- 

 lecting, and his nights at his books and microscopes, till his health 

 breaking down he was compelled to return to Europe in May of 

 that year. 



" During this period, besides making many discoveries in flower- 

 ing plants. Mosses, and Algse, he sent home numerous papers 

 illustrated by beautiful drawings and analyses of plants, which 

 were published by Sir W. Hooker ; and he found time to p:cepare 

 and publish his excellent ' Genera of South African Plants,' the 

 materials for which were all examined and redescribed by himself. 



