132 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



dispatching my parcel of letters I took a cab for 

 Bentham's, as it was raining finely, wliere we dined in 

 his quiet, elegant way. I don't think Dr. Torrey saw 

 enough of him, at least in his own house, to appreciate 

 him fully. . . . 



You may well infer from my being so much with 

 him that he is my favorite. . . . 



Wednesday evening. ■ — After breakfast to-day I went 

 to Lambert's, thinking to finish nearly the examina- 

 tion of Pursh's plants, but I found Lambert on the 

 point of going out, though the morning was unpleas- 

 ant. So I was obliged to retrace my steps ; and as a 

 dernier ressort I went to the British Museum, and 

 conunenced my examination of the Banksian Her- 

 barirmi. Brown was there most of the time, but did 

 very little except to read the newspaper and crack his 

 jokes. I broke off at four o'clock ; went down to the 

 City, called on Mr. Putnam, took a parcel of late 

 American newspapers away v^ith me, dined, went up 

 to Dr. Boott's, where I spent the evening so pleasantly 

 that eleven o'clock arrived before I thought of it. It 

 is now twelve. On my return here I found my parcel 

 had arrived from Edinburgh, the beautiful copy of 

 Wallich's work, a very complete and pretty set of 

 British Algae from Dr. GreviUe, and some letters 

 of introduction for the Continent which he has obli- 

 gingly favored me with. I must write a letter of 

 thanks to-morrow. . . . 



Went to Ward's to see the tunnel. . . . We had 

 tea. Miss and Mrs. Ward regaled us with music, — and 

 both play extremely well ; then Ward and I looked 

 over plants until nearly half past ten, when we had 

 supper, a very substantial one, and I took my leave, 

 arriving at my lodgings a little after twelve. . . . 



