SECOND RESIDENCE AT CAPE TOWN. 95 



Both those northern reservoirs I have long wished to explore, 

 either personally or by deputy ; and the news of anything from 

 them is therefore the more welcome. I shall be glad also to 

 cultivate Dr. Jacob's good opinion, whose name is, I think, 

 already in my herbarium to an Alga from Cornwall, given me 

 by Arnott. Remember me most kindly to our venerable friend, 

 Mr. Menzies, and tell him I have mosses to send him soon ; 

 moreover Algse, such as they are ; and pray, whenever you 

 write, remember to mention the dear old man, for I am always 

 delighted to hear of him. 



feummerville, September 17, 1837. 

 Last night we slept in our new quarters for the first time. 

 I write amid boxes unpacked, and in a house half set to rights, 

 but in the most perfect quiet ; the only noise being that of the 

 cook scraping horseradish, and the birds chirping in the fresh 

 green of the oak-trees, which are just spreading out their 

 young leaves in this, the loveliest month of the African 

 spring. The date of this reminds me of our first landing this 

 day two years. What a train of circumstances comes up with 

 the thought ! 



Botany has perforce slept for the last fortnight, housekeeping- 

 being the ruling passion. To day brought me a letter from 

 Ward, telling of a package of plants for me by a vessel in the Bay, 

 but I have 5 not yet seen— nay, nor inquired for them. I have 

 not heard from Hooker these five months, though he must have 

 received two letters from me with accounts of my rambles and 

 discoveries. What do you think of BowerbanJcia, a new genus 

 of Zoophytes called after Mr. Bowerbank, a microscopist whom 

 I met in London? But what is vastly more interesting and 

 important, I got a present to-day of two fine black hens, 

 from which I hope for unlimited eggs. Oh, what a falling 

 off is there ! 



Yesterday Queen Victoria was prayed for, for the first time in 

 church, and we had a funeral sermon for the old king ; the text 

 curious, being part of one wrested from its meaning for the 

 occasion, viz., " There is another king, one Jesus ;" but Mr. H. 

 gave us a very eloquent and in many respects excellent sermon. 

 Poor little Victoria ! to me there is an enthusiastic interest in 

 everything connected with her. I confess, for the first time in 



