COLLEGE APPOINTMENT. 155 



grievously grieved that we have no dredge. A sudden offer 

 from T. P. to take me in his yacht to the Hebrides, Orkneys, 

 and ■perhaps Iceland or Norway, induced me to fling everything 

 to the winds, and to go to the Provost and his compeers to ask 

 leave to lift anchor. They kindly granted it, and here I am," 



To N. B. Ward, Esq. 



Charm, off Caithness, June 18. 

 Alack-a-day ! my nobles have come to ninepence, and 

 instead of a three months' cruise, embracing Iceland and the 

 Shetlands, we are now on our homeward course, having merely 

 " marked off " the Hebrides and Orkneys. In so hurried a trip 

 I have had few opportunities of botanising, indeed have been 

 but little on shore. We go down the east coast of Scotland, 

 and intend to take the yacht through the Leith Canal to the 

 Clyde, then probably to stand over to the Giant's Causeway, 

 where I mean to land, and hope to reach Dublin by June 30th. 

 As my northern tour is frustrated, I shall then be quite open to 

 the projected Irish tour, and need not repeat what pleasure it 

 will give me if you make party with me in it. 



We have seen no newspaper, and have had no letters for the 

 last fortnight, and know not how the world goes on. 



To the Same. 



Upper Abbey, Cahir, August 6, 1846. 



I hope you have really benefited by your Irish tour, which 

 was rather too much hurried. Next time we shall not attempt 

 so much, but shall settle down snugly in some pleasant corner. 

 I left Cork on Saturday, and go to Limerick to-day. From 

 thence I shall probably go to Eoundstone for a fortnight ; then 

 to Dublin ; and about the middle of September, cross over to 

 London. 



I hope your ferns are likely to grow, and that the " Erin-go- 

 Bragh " case will be settled before I get over. 



I have just got a letter from Scouler, who is in Portugal, 

 amid daily insurrections, which he little minds, but takes his 

 daily walks, Vasculum in hand, and meets civility everywhere. 

 He was at Oporto, where the country is quite burned up, and 

 was just about to start for the interior, where he hoped to get 

 up the mountains. 



