APRIL, 1917.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 77 
delicate flowers with the greatest joy—and he was always endeavouring to 
invest his representations with a certain grace. When finished, he would 
exclaim, with pride, ‘‘ There!” And it was with real satisfaction, doubt- 
less, that he used to say: ‘‘ Ah! I am a dandy in my herbarium.” 
Overwhelmed with duties, he was seldom able to linger leisurely over 
his investigations. His scientific labours were carried on at intervals, when 
he was relieved from the pressure of the most uncongenial official duties. 
Thus, Lindley spent forty of the best years of his life in uninterrupted 
devotion to our favourites, probably unsurpassed in perseverance by any 
monographer, and certainly equalled by few. During the time he, like so 
many other botanists, might have written scores of volumes, which is 
certainly a great recommendation in the eyes of those who estimate a 
scientific man’s efficiency by the number and size of the books he may 
write; but this was an honour he willingly renounced. Before all, it should 
not be forgotten that Lindley never occupied such a position in life as 
would justify anyone in demanding scientific work from him. He never 
belonged to the favoured few, and nobody in wealthy England did aught 
for him in this respect, although the proud Britain willingly lulls himself 
into the belief that his country is also an Eldorado for scientific men. All 
that Lindley accomplished was the free gift of a man who, to the last, was 
engaged in the most severe exertions his vital powers would endure. 
Thus Lindley passed away without realising his greatest wish—that of 
finishing a second complete elaboration of all Orchids—is the fault of 
circumstances which he had no power to alter, but which others might 
easily have controlled for him. 
Traces of the mental exhaustion which saddened Lindley’s last years 
are to be found in some of his last works. It was exceedingly painful to. 
me when I went to him, the excellent man whom I had known ever since 
1849, and found that he did not remember one of his favourites—he who 
shortly before was one of the most active workers; and he felt the full 
weight of the affliction, upon which he expressed himself with such 
touching eloquence to Bateman and myself. I still see him in the 
verandah at Turnham Green, as he appeared one October evening, when 
he called after me, bidding me not to forget to pay him a visit as often as I 
come to England. Except his household and physician, I was the last 
man who saw him. I was also present at the interment, when Bentham, 
J. D. Hooker, T. Thompson, and many others, paid him the last tribute of 
respect on November 5th. 
We cannot tell how long science, how long botany will be pursued ; but 
we may affirm that, so long as a knowledge of plants is considered 
necessary, so long will Lindley’s name be remembered with gratitude. 
