10 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



To the Same 



September, 1829. 



I have got " Loudon's Encyc. of Plants," but am not quite 

 in love with it as a dictionary, for the specific characters 

 are not the best. The genera are also much cut up and put in 

 bad characters. Convallaria ' is divided into two genera, and 

 the chief difference (who would think it ?) one has axillary 

 flowers, the other spiked. Again, Convolvulus is split, and its 

 genera characterised by bracteas ! 1 am about getting " Hooker's 

 Flora Scotica," principally for a more minute account of Lichens, 

 Fungi, &c, than Loudon gives. A few days ago I fell in with a 

 new botanical acquaintance, the secretary to the Linneean Society, 

 J. E. Bicheno. He met us at Miltown, and we had a walk to 

 Pavingstone Bay, where I found for him Pinguicula lusitanica, 2 

 which he had never seen. the delight! It is rare in 

 England. He also told me that what we call Fumaria 3 offici- 

 nalis is Fum. capreolata, and that we have none of the former 

 in Ireland. I have attacked Junyermannia somewhat in earnest. 

 I got few shells from Miltown, but have brought sand from 

 Lahinch, which promises well. I have got shelves and drawers 

 in the study, which are comfortable to my rapacity. No answer 

 yet from Sowerby. 



The young naturalist, however, was not so absorbed in his 

 favourite pursuits as to be either inattentive or indifferent to 

 the political changes which affected the welfare of his country, 

 as well as to those still more important and stirring events on 

 the continent of Europe which followed the downfall of 

 Napoleon. The grasp which he took of these movements, and 

 his ardour in the canse of national freedom, appear in letters 

 addressed at the close of this year to his brother in New 

 York. 



To Mr. J. Harvey, New York. 



Limerick, September 4, 1829. 



It was not because I was hurt at my last letter not 



having been answered that made me not write for so long a 



time ; but thou must know that a correspondence, whatever may 



be the wishes of the parties, cannot be kept up without both 



1 Lily of the valley, or Solomon's seal. 

 - Pale butterwort. 3 Fumitory. 



