LEAVE OF ABSENCE. 123 



To the Same. 



London Coffee House, July 17. 

 The sight of your writing again was very pleasant, though 

 it brought me so indifferent an account of your health. It does 

 not become me to scold you ; but, my dear friend, I would im- 

 plore you to keep within bounds in your scientific labours till 

 you are completely restored. According to your own account, 

 you have worked too hard at the microscope ; and from others 

 I hear that you were in the habit of taking long and fatiguing 

 botanical rambles. Perhaps you have done still worse in 

 combining both ; spending your days in the field and nights at 

 those weary glasses. A little of either is perhaps the best thing 

 for you ; but so much as you have indulged in cannot be either 

 good or proper. I hope, however, you are now convinced of the 

 impropriety of overtasking your returning strength. 



Thanks for the pretty specimens of Listera cordata, which it 

 is interesting to find in so southern a locality. I never saw it 

 growing, though I think I have Scotch specimens. These, how- 

 ever, I shall value particularly, as coming from you and from 

 Devonshire. I hope to see you this time Jive years, to which I 

 am limited by promises to my family, and by my own inclination. 

 I cannot afford to spend the best of my days so far away from 

 all 1 love. I shall certainly see Mr. Menzies before I go, and 

 will give him your message. Farewell, my dear friend. I shall 

 look anxiously to hear from you after my arrival at C. B. S. 



July 2-ith. I dined with Mr. Menzies the day before yester- 

 day, and found him fresh as ever, and very busy with some 

 Madeira ferns. I have sent him a package of Cape Algae, con- 

 taining all my duplicates, to rummage over. I brought it, 

 intending to leave it with you for yourself, or others, but know 

 you will not object to the old man's having the overhauling 

 which gives him so much pleasure. 



To a Cousin. 



London, July 23. 

 This is my last night in London, perhaps my last on terra 

 firma, for to-morrow evening I am to join the ship. We sail on 

 Saturday at the peep of dawn, and by the time I rise to break- 



