128 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



tion as far as it related to Sunday, but accepted it for 

 Monday, and offered to get down to Turnham Green 

 in time to breakfast with him. This morning I re- 

 ceived another note from him, pointing out the way in 

 which I may reach his house in time. I have also a 

 letter from Francis Bauer, inclosing some European 

 Infusoria, in return for a few of Bailey's I gave him. 

 I will send a portion to Professor Bailey. 



Friday evening, February 1. — I spent the earliest 

 part of the morning in my own room ; then went 

 to Lambert's, and commenced the examination of 

 Pursh's plants. After dining in a simple way by 

 myself, I went to Bentham's, by appointment, to 

 spend the evening in looking out duplicate plants. I 

 found him and Mrs. B. sitting cosily together in the 

 study. We had a cup of tea and some chat, and then 

 fell to work until half past eleven, when I came away 

 walking as usual by Westminster Abbey, of which I 

 often get very good nocturnal views. 



Saturday evening, February 2. . . . Brown has 

 been very kind to me, in his peculiar way. I have 

 seen him but twice since Hooker and I breakfasted 

 with him, but I hope soon to be at work at the British 

 Museum and to see more of him. He is very fond 

 of gossip at his own fireside, and amused us ex- 

 tremely with his dry wit, but in company he is silent 

 and reserved. I have found out also that it does not 

 do to ask him directly any question about plants. He 

 is, as old Menzies told us, the driest pump imaginable. 

 But although he will not bear direct squeezing, yet by 

 coaxing and very careful management any one he has 

 confidence in may get a good deal out of him. He 

 tells me that Petalanthera, Nutt., is a published 

 genus, and promises to give me all the information 



