CONTINUATION OF HOME LIFE. 43 



fully instructive to those around him to see him take the 

 greatest interest in every benevolent undertaking, either for 

 national improvement or for the prosperity of Limerick, while 

 at the same time it was quite evident that his chief thoughts 

 were in a far higher sphere. Indeed, his children cannot look 

 with other than grateful feelings on his long life of usefulness 

 and Christian charity ; and if there be any consolation in know- 

 ing that we have the sincere sympathy of all classes of our 

 fellow-citizens, rich and poor, it is ours, for I do not exaggerate 

 in saying that our loss is a public one. 



My feelings are those of one who has had his foundations 

 suddenly swept from under him. Notwithstanding that I have 

 a sister and affectionate brothers, I cannot help feeling that my 

 guide is gone, and I must now stand or fall by my own counsel. 

 No earthly arm can supply the place of that I have lost. 



My stay in Dublin is now suddenly closed. I am unwilling 

 to enter into any mercantile speculation in the present strange 

 times, and have long had a strong desire to see tropical climates, 

 with the view of extending my own botanical knowledge, if I 

 add nothing to the general stock. Now I am well aware that, 

 unless when young, I shall never set out. But I am not rich 

 enough to go touring round the world, spending here and there. 

 If I go abroad, it must be in a way not to return poorer, if I do 

 not return richer. 



I have been reading Dr. Lang's history of New South Wales, 

 in which he holds out fair hopes to persons like myself of 

 moderate means. I am induced to look to this colony on ac- 

 count of the governor, Sir Richard Burke, being a most particular 

 friend of our family, to whom I could always look up, and so 

 should feel less from home than almost anywhere else — not to 

 speak of the peculiarity of the natural history, and its being 

 the country of Brown. Pray give thy opinions as to my plan, 

 for on this step will doubtless depend the success of my whole 

 life. I would therefore be cautious in casting the die. 



His doubts and anxieties about his future destination were, 

 however, most unexpectedly removed. One of- his brothers 

 was offered the appointment of Colonial Treasurer at the Cape 

 of Good Hope, and it was at once decided that in the event 

 of his acceptance of the office William should accompany bim. 



