356 MEMOIR OF BR. HARVEY. 



composition. Many of my writings which got me praise, were 

 carefully criticised and wonderfully improved by him. 



We shall not be at all sorry to get to our own fireside. I am 

 always as glad when the long vacation ends as when it begins, 

 and this is as it should be. It shows one gets enough of play. 

 We have been able to see but little of the many beauties of 

 this neighbourhood, and Dinan, the gem of them all, we leave 

 unvisited. Normandy and Brittany are very interesting dis- 

 tricts, with a very primitive Celtic people. There are very 

 many Druidical stones, some of great size, but we have seen 

 none of them — all left for a second visit, which may never come. 



To the Same. 



Kew, October 6th, 1864. 

 We paid a very pleasant visit to Lenormand, but as I did 

 not write about it at the time, I shall now leave it to talk over. 

 We stay here till Saturday. The garden is fast putting on its 

 autumn dress, but still there is much beauty remaining. The 

 great new conservatory, which is much larger than the old 

 palm house, is beautiful. It is filled with such half-hardy trees, 

 shrubs, and plants, as need only a winter protection, and many 

 are now coming into flower. Already there are gum-trees and 

 acacias in full bloom ; the smell of the latter like meadow sweet. 

 There is a gallery round the house, near the top, and the view 

 looking down on the trees, &c, most charming. All are 

 planted without pots or tubs in open borders, with walks be- 

 tween. The part which is finished has cost some 50,000/,, and 

 there are to be two more wings added. Sir William remark- 

 ably well, much better than last year, and as untiringly busy 

 and energetic as ever. 



I have not been indifferent to your trouble. It is a miser- 

 able break into a life that seemed opening with so much happi- 

 ness. I am glad you have cheerful accounts of M. May she 

 go on " from strength to strength," as her sterling self deserves ! 



To Mrs. Harvey of New York. 



4 Winton Eoad, Dublin, November 24, 1864. 

 Your very welsome letter of the 7th reached me the day 

 before yesterday, and I answer it " while the iron is hot," lest if 

 I defer 1 may procrastinate too long. . . . 



