28 MEMOIR OF BR. HARVET. 



or faltering, and I am forced to hurry to a full stop. You must 

 have noticed how near to choking I was when speaking of the 

 poor family who, during a famine, sent for the priest to prepare 

 them for death. It was not because of the pitiful story, but 

 simply from observing that you were all listening. It is a sad 

 loss to our Society of Friends to mix so little with people of 

 other denominations. To me it is peculiarly unfortunate, for 

 being naturally of a lazy and silent disposition, I want to be 

 roused and to be forced to take part in conversation. I hope it 

 is not too late to improve, and that during this trip to Edinburgh, 

 from being left to my own resources, without any one to throw 

 the onus upon, I may get a little over my awkwardness. 

 Forgive all this. I have been thus frank because I regard thee 

 not only as my great botanical mentor, but also as a friend 

 to whom from thy many kindnesses I am strongly bound in 

 affectionate gratitude. 



To Mr. J. Fennell 



Limerick, October, 1832. 

 If I remember right, I wrote to thee from Edinburgh a few 

 weeks ago. Since then I have seen much of the world, and 

 I hope I have picked up a few ideas as well as plants. There is 

 an amazing difference between the vegetation of the Highlands 

 and our own ; and if I had had time, or means of conveying 

 plants, I should have reaped a rich harvest. In ferns they are 

 peculiarly rich. Only think of Polypodium dryopteris ] and 

 Phegopteris? Asjridium lonchitis? Asp. viride* &c, being 

 among the common ornaments of the mountains, besides sundry 

 Lycopodia. I gathered few mosses and scarcely any phaeno- 

 gamics. I like Dr. Hooker more than ever since knowing 

 him personally. I have undertaken to describe a large packet of 

 Mauritius Algae for publication in the " Botanical Miscellany." 

 The extent to. which I mean to go in botany is, to know British 

 plants of all kinds as well as possible ; to know Algae of all 

 countries specially well ; to collect all foreign Cryptogamia that 

 may fall in my way, and to know them moderately well. This 

 is quite enough for my leisure. To be a general botanist 



1 Oak fern. 2 Beech fern, or mountain polopody. 3 Holly fern. 

 4 Green spleen wort. 



