244 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



CHAPTER XII. 



VOYAGE TO THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE — OVERLAND ROUTE 

 TO INDIA — CEYLON. 



In August, 1853, Dr. Harvey, with the approval and encourage- 

 ment of the Board of Trinity College, set out on that voyage 

 to the South Sea Islands which had been from his boyhood the 

 subject of his dreams and wishes. He could not look forward 

 now with the fearless, joyous anticipation of his boyish days, 

 for time and the vicissitudes of life had told, in a more than 

 ordinary degree, upon his peculiarly sensitive temperament; 

 but he still retained sufficient elasticity of spirit, as well as 

 mental and bodily vigour, to render this long-desired survey 

 of the Southern Hemisphere a very delightful prospect. But 

 he did not now undertake it so much for personal gratification, 

 as with the hope of enriching by his researches the Algological 

 department of the College Herbarium. 



The particulars of this extended voyage and travel are, like 

 those of his American tour, to be found in the letters to his 

 sister, which form as before a pretty complete journal. It had 

 been his intention, at his return home, to have revised them for 

 publication ; but his failing energy, increased botanical engage- 

 ments, and more especially, his distrust as to their favourable 

 reception with the public, led him to abandon the idea. The 

 editor will now endeavour to confine her extracts to such parts 

 as appear desirable from their bearing on Dr. Harvey's character, 

 regard being had at the same time to the incidents and objects 

 which seem best calculated to render the narrative interesting. 

 His first letter bears date 10th of August, and is written on 

 board the Mediterranean steamer after having landed at 

 Gibraltar, where he and his party explored the places usually 



