CONTINUATION OF HOME LIFE. 49 



To N. B. Ward, Esq. 



DEAR SlR, Dublin, January 29, 1835. 



I avail myself of the opportunity of a friend going to 

 London to send you a few British algae, which are not so well 

 worth the carriage as I had expected when I promised them 

 ot you in London. But my stock of many species is exhausted, 

 and I have scarcely replenished any this season. 



I ought to have told you, when we were looking over those 

 Cape plants at your house, that I expected shortly to sail for 

 the Cape ; but at that time my plans were only half formed, 

 and so I deemed it best to say nothing about them, I may now 

 tell you that I expect to sail with my brother's family in a few 

 months, and that I shall probably remain in South Africa for 

 some years. Natural history, 'particularly Botany , and especially 

 Cryptogamia, will probably be my chief amusement, and it is 

 quite likely I may visit different parts of the colony. If you 

 will allow me, I should be glad to open a correspondence with 

 you ; and if you will but give me plain directions for making 

 and packing your live plant cases, it will give me very great 

 pleasure to send you home our best ferns and mosses in this 

 way. The Cape ferns, you know, are nothing very remarkable ; 

 but there are some beauties, and I confidently look forward to 

 discovering many more. Of mosses and Jungermannia I ought 

 to discover at least 100 new species, and of my favourite Algse 

 my harvest should be still more fruitful. 



If you will be good enough to write me instructions for the 

 packing cases, I shall be glad to hear from you. 



I am, yours very truly, 



W. H. Harvey. 



To Miss F r. 



1835. 

 I do beg, if you will persist in making me out a genius, that 

 you will keep your mind to yourself — at least refrain in your letters 

 from any more tdblespooning. I have often told you before how 

 disagreeable such matter is. I know my own powers and their 

 full value. I am quite enough inclined to vanity without vour 

 assistance. You praise, however, with such preposterous lavish- 

 ness, it really makes me disgusted with myself, and as if I was 

 appearing to others what I am not. I hate to have " powers of 



E 



