SIX MONTHS AT CAPE TOWN. 67 



forms. You may judge of the ardour with which the Barou 

 pursues his favourite science, when I tell you that he has brought 

 4000 loads of soil, and removed 2000 of stones to and from his 

 garden. The grounds are handsomely laid out, and walled in 

 as well as a suburban villa near your Babylon. He has also 

 glass for the tropicals. You would be charmed with the sight 

 of Tillandsia growing on the trees in the open air. Now the 

 Baron wishes very much to get some of Locldiges' good things, 

 and I am anxious they should come in your cases ; so may I 

 beg of you to send two or three by next ship, and I pledge my- 

 self to return them to you filled with Orchidese, ferns, or any- 

 thing else you wish. 



After mention of many plants, amongst others Protete, which 

 he says, " I delight in ; they form our most lovely shrubberies," 

 the letter proceeds : — 



" Pray tell the venerable and venerated Mr. Menzies that he 

 shall have share of every Cryptogamia I pick up ; and I need 

 not add I shall pick up everything I see. I have a note also 

 of those species which are wanting to his Herbarium, and shall 

 lay them by for him as soon as I have my plants unpacked ; but 

 this cannot be for some time. I often think of my visit to him 

 with great pleasure, and always feel grateful to you for taking 

 me: such a sight is not to be seen every, day. I question 

 whether Table Mountain itself with all its treasures gives more 

 genuine or purer mental pleasure." 



William's constant habit of analysing his feelings and can- 

 didly disclosing them is always apparent in the letters to his 

 intimate friends. September 22nd he writes to a cousin : — 



" You will be glad to hear that I am likely to make many 

 discoveries. The present pleasure is to me far more attractive 

 than the after fame. There is a purity about it that renders 

 it more excusable to the conscience. I mean to say that the 

 pleasure arising from the contemplation of beauty in the works 

 of God is less destructive to religious feeling than that which 

 springs from the after-celebrity obtained by the discovery. Both 

 pleasures, though in degree allowable, have their dangers ; we 

 are so prone to make idols of our blessings. 



To Mr. Fennell he writes, same date : — 



Sir B. D'Urban is still on the frontier, but may soon be 



f 2 



