viii PREFACE. 



few gaps in the series being filled up with brief notes of expla- 

 nation by the Editor. The mass of his correspondence with his 

 illustrious brethren — the Hookers, Agardh, Agassiz, Darwin, 

 &c, &c. — has been for various reasons omitted. It was not 

 deemed expedient to break the chain of these strictly autobio- 

 graphic letters by others which, however interesting to those 

 concerned with the niinutise of descriptive botany, could scarcely 

 be expected to interest the general public. 



As a piece of biography, the Memoir is valuable chiefly as 

 the record of a life thoroughly consistent to the end — and a 

 remarkable life too ; for in Dr. Harvey were united a positivist's 

 zeal for truths of fact with an enthusiastic faith which had in 

 it something mystical. Exactly what he determined in youth 

 to accomplish he accomplished ; the work which he took upon 

 himself to do he did, honestly and thoroughly ; the fame which 

 he desired to achieve he achieved. In life he was strengthened 

 in every difficulty and trial by a trust in an overruling Provi- 

 dence, which never faltered and never betrayed him ; in death 

 sustained by a Christian fortitude, which remained calm and 

 firm until death was " swallowed up in victory." 



In the churchyard at Torquay, where he himself desired to 

 be buried, beneath the plain marble slab which bears the name 

 of William Henry Haevey, repose the mortal remains of a 

 good man and a great Naturalist. 



" 'Tis well ; 'tis something ; we may stand 

 Where he in English earth is laid, 

 And from his ashes may be made 

 The violet of his native land." 



