122 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



to shorten the term of my captivity, arid to return the moment 

 that prudence bids me. This is looking to the bright side. 

 The reverse of the picture — fortunately, that is hidden from 

 our eyes. If we do our best what more can we ? It is a long 

 time to look forward to ; yet with steady occupation it will pass 

 over smoothly, and should my life be mercifully spared, I may 

 yet return to go no more out, and perhaps to be a useful member 

 of society. 



To N. B. Ward, Esq. 



Dublin, June 22, 1840. 

 I rejoice that you have been able to -pay so agreeable a 

 visit to our friend Mrs. Griffiths. Would that I could have been 

 with you ! I dare say I should have enjoyed myself as much as 

 in Italy, and have been far more usefully employed. My visit 

 to Torquay was, you know, very hurried, and the weather un- 

 settled the whole time. 'Tis a beautiful place — pity there are 

 so many fine houses : the country about it is charming. I quite 

 envy you the tour of Devon and Cornwall, with all the interest- 

 ing botanical stations. 



You have heard, I suppose, that Cuming is home with an 

 enormous collection of plants and shells, and an innumerable 

 number of ferns. It was delightful to meet Hooker in London, 

 and we remained together the following day, till he shipped me 

 oft' in the railway carriage. 



I am busily employed making my preparations to sail 26th 

 July, and expect to be in London by the 10th. I wish to get a 

 couple of cases from Loddiges', and shall feel obliged by your 

 dropping them a line to prepare them. I should like to have 

 Nepenthes, and the large crimson passion-flower, and some 

 creeping plants loving a moist heat. In another, case some 

 handsome camellias ; moss-rose, white and red ; Fuchsia fulgens 

 and globosa ; any pine-trees that they think would grow (we 

 have only the stone-pine and Norfolk Island in the Colony) ; 

 Salvia patens (is it not ? the large blue one now so common) ; 

 finally, the best variety of strawberries, both white and red, and 

 anything else, Californian or otherwise. 



I expect to be at least ten days in London, and shall certainlv 

 lay out one for our venerable friend. 



