MT. 28.] JOURNAL. 139 



of fossil fruits, of which Mr. Bowerbank possesses an 

 invaluable collection ; capsules, which we broke open, 

 and examined not only the seed, with its testa, raphe, 

 and funiculus, but even the pulp which surrounded it. 

 I looked at many of his specimens of recent and fossil 

 wood, at his unrivaled cabinet of British fossils, and 

 when our party broke up, there was still so much left 

 that we made an appointment for another evening. 

 . . . Mr. Bentham, Mr. Brydges, and I went to the 

 Linnsean Society ; the president, the Bishop of Nor- 

 wich, was in the chair, — an amiable old gentleman. 

 Boott, Yarrell, Ward, Eoyle, Forster, et multis aliis, 

 were present. Mr. Forster ^ invited Dr. Boott and 

 me to fix a day to visit him at his residence, some 

 miles in the country, and dine with him. He is 

 greatly esteemed, ajid is said to be one of the most 

 kind-hearted and benevolent of men. I am now en- 

 gaged, I believe, for every day and evening of this 

 week, and half of next, and am busy enough, I assure 

 you. . . . 



Friday evening, February 22. — I oiight hardly to 

 use the date of Friday evening, as it is close upon one 

 o'clock of Saturday morning. But I must not neglect 

 my journal, and shall therefore give you a few hasty 

 lines ere I prepare for rest. I passed yesterday morn- 

 ing at the British Museum, that is, until near three 

 o'clock. / I then hurried to my lodgings, snatched a 

 hasty dinner by the way, and went to the House of 

 Commons, Mr. Bentham having, through Dr. Romily, 

 the speaker's clerk, procured me an order of admit- 

 tance within the body of the house, where I had the 

 finest opportunity for hearing and seeing. There was 



1 Edward Forster, 1765-1849. Made Tioe-president of the Linnaeau 

 Society in 1828. 



