BOYHOOD. 13 



botanist. He cai es nothing for mosses or for Jungermannia, but 

 is anxious about elms, of which I, alas ! could say but little. 

 Why did we not follow up our investigations ? The feathered 

 elm, by-the-by, is TJlmus glabra. I have found in sand, a 

 specimen of the bottle-shaped Serpula (see Turton). It is a 

 pretty little wretch, but smaller than Nautilus calcar ! I am 

 thinking of planting sallows round Cryptogamia, and making a 

 bower, and having the mosses arranged on a stand like plants 

 in a blow-honse. Then I defy the birds. There is a magazine 

 about to be published monthly, called, I think, the "Edinburgh 

 Journal of Natural and Geological Science." Natural History 

 to be the principal thing. I intend getting it, and haply — yes, 

 haply, writing for it. I am busy now in my leisure times, 

 drawing plates for the " Testacea Hibernica." Will it ever be 

 finished ? 



The anticipations alluded to in the foregoing letter were 

 fully realised, and he makes the following characteristic mention 

 of London in writing to his brother. 



Liverpool, November, 1829. 



I am not, after all I had heard, disappointed in London. 

 The Eegent's Park is certainly the most splendid thing I had 

 any conception of in the way of town houses. Each row has 

 the appearance of one entire palace, complete in its parts with 

 pillars, statues, and all the panoply of luxury ; but alas ! alas ! 

 these are not stone, as they appear, but Roman cement ! as we 

 discovered by seeing some new ones where the brick was 

 exposed. It is rather provoking to find out such things, as it 

 greatly impairs our idea of the consequence of the inhabitants. 

 I never was in such a place for spending time and money, and 

 getting sore eyes. Parliament was not sitting, nor royalty in 

 town, yet there was plenty to interest for three weeks at least. 

 Well, what do I think of London ? Why, that there must be 

 a great many lamplighters. That is all that need be said, in 

 my humble opinion, on such a comprehensive question, for surely 

 thou would not wish me to go into details which might go on 

 for pages and sheets ad infinitum. 



