228 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER chap. 



Already in 1896 the strain of work had begun 

 to tell on his health, and as mountain air had 

 hitherto done him good, a journey to Switzerland 

 was again undertaken, though this time only to 

 quiet unfrequented parts. He was much interested 

 in collecting Natural History specimens for the 

 Museum, and as keenly alive to the beauties of 

 Nature as ever ; but walking up-hill brought on 

 breathlessness and palpitation of the heart, so that 

 he was glad to return quietly home. 



He had to relinquish what used to give him 

 great pleasure, visiting interesting friends in beautiful 

 country places, as when both stayed with Earl 

 Cawdor in his picturesque old Scotch home, Cawdor 

 Castle, with the Duke and Duchess of Northumber- 

 land in Alnwick Castle, with Mr. Webb in Byron's 

 old home, Newstead Abbey, with Lord and Lady 

 Tankerville at Chillingham, where he was presented 

 with one of the famous ' ' wild cattle " for the 

 Museum, with Lord and Lady ToUemache in the 

 moated Helmingham Hall, and other places of 

 historic interest ; but this autumn we only paid 

 short visits at short distances from London, just 

 for the refreshment of a country Sunday after the 

 week's work. Thus we first went to Lord Avebury 

 (then Sir John Lubbock) in Kent, and another 

 week to Sir Trevor Lawrence to see his wonderful 

 orchids in Surrey. But although enjoying these 

 visits as much as ever, he was no better in health 

 and becoming alarmingly thin, till, whilst on a short 



