SECOND RESIDENCE AT CAPE TOWN. • 103 



summit is very frequently enveloped in mist, especially at the 

 season when the Disa blossoms. But it is very cold also, and 

 the mist comes accompanied with a strong cold south-east wind. 

 After this succeeds the scorching sun of lat. 33. 80 much for 

 general circumstances : the particular ones are, that the plant only 

 grows along the steep, boggy, spongy margins of a stream which has 

 water in it at all seasons, but which in winter must be so swollen 

 as to cover the plant. Here, the margin is completely clothed 

 with the Disa to the exclusion of other plants. But imme- 

 diately beyond the Disa is a margin of Restias, which growing 

 taller than the Disa, and bending over the stream, afford con- 

 siderable shade to the roots and leaves, at the same time that 

 they leave the flower-stalks room to peep out at the sun and 

 exhibit their large blossoms. All these, except the cold Avind, 

 can be easily managed in a case, and I should hope that our 

 plant would have the good taste to forgive us that part. The 

 sliade, moist atmosphere, and soil, seem the chief things to 

 provide. 



Writing to Mrs. Leadbeater, he refers to the death of a favourite 

 nephew, who had been carried off by malignant fever in the 

 autumn of the previous year : — 



" The death of poor James was indeed one of the most trying- 

 bereavements that has ever visited our family. The more I 

 think of it the more I feel it to be one on which many others 

 may hang. It is a nipping of the main sprout of the tree, and 

 who will say that there is vigour to supply that which is taken ? 

 He was indeed but young — a boy ; but one of such promise, and 

 just verging on manhood; and to his loss was added the sudden- 

 ness of the stroke by which such almost realized hopes were 

 blighted." 



To N. B. Ward, Esq. 



March 18, 1838. 

 The trustees of the British Museum have recently written 

 to our Government, and I believe to those of other colonies, 

 begging circulars, for specimens of Natural History — plants as well 

 as other things. From whom does this emanate ? or are the plants 

 wanted to feed vermin in the Museum cellars? If, however, 

 young Victoria is stirring up its slumbers, and is determined to 



