X MEMOIR 



but little intrinsic value in his poems, they evince a love of 

 flowers and a spirit of piety. One of them begins — 



" Come Charles and Sophia and Emily too, 



Come down the green lane, papa's naught else to do"; 



and in the list of subscribers appear the names of the Rev. Denvent 

 Coleridge and of Mr. and Mrs, Alexaipder Johns of Carrickfergus, 

 presumably the poet's brother and siister-in-law, from whom the 

 botanist derived his second Christian 'name. 



Meanwhile, before he was twent3'j, Charles Alexander Johns 

 had, in 1831, become second master of Helston Grammar School 

 under Derwent Coleridge, the son of fhe great poet-metaphysician 

 and himself a linguist of unusual gift?. Coleridge had been ap- 

 pointed head-master soon after his ordijnation in 1825, and when, in 

 1841, he was chosen first Principal of St. Mark's College, Chelsea, 

 Johns soon succeeded him at Helstpn, being head-master there 

 from June 1843 to December 1847. Their most distinguished 

 pupil was undoubtedly Charles Kingsley, whose father was vicar 

 of Clovelly when the boy entered the school in 1832, but had been 

 preferred to the rectory of St. Luke's,* Chelsea, before he entered 

 King's College, London, in 1836. Iii her " Life " of her husband 

 Mrs. Kingsley writes (vol. i, p. 23) — 



"At Helston, too, he found as second-rn.-ister the Re\-. Charles A. Johns, 

 afterwards himself head-raasler, who made himself the companion of his younf 

 pupil, encouraging his taste, or rather passion, for Ijolany, going long ramble's 

 with him on the neighbouring moors and on (he sea-coast, in search of wild 

 flowers, and helping him in the study which eacli loved so well. In laler 

 years, when both were living in Hampshire', i\lr. Johns laboured successfully 

 for the cause of physical science in the city of Wiuciiesler, where his name will 

 long be rememl^ered in conjunction once more with that of his former pupil 

 and distinguished friend." 



Before coming to Helston, Kingsley had been initiated in the 

 study of conchology by Dr. Turton, who lived near Clovelly ; but 

 in Johns he found an all-round natura)i*st of the old-fashioned out- 

 of-door school to whom flowers and birds, trees, sea-weeds, shells 

 or insects were alike of interest. 



Johns began his forty years of authorship in 1833 with a modest 

 volume of "Chronological Khymes 5n English ' History," which 

 wont into several editions ; and was fcjlowed'liy what we' may well 

 suppose to have been the more congeifial "Flora Sacra," published 

 in 1840. 



In 1841 he graduated as Bachelor .gf Arts at Trinitv College, 

 Dublin, and, in the same year, was ordained deacon, not, liowever' 

 becoming a priest until iSj.S. ' 



Meanwhile, m 1847, In^ began the publication of his popular 



