358 MEMOIR OF DR. HARVEY. 



simple a reception from a Frenchman. He has a nice old house 

 and old-fashioned garden, and he and his wife, who is an invalid, 

 live on their income in quiet happiness. It is a very primitive 

 spot ; no rail yet to it. We got to his house by a narrow country 

 road, just broad enough for our wheels, and so full of holes and 

 rough places that it was an agony to be driven over it. But the 

 end repaid our trouble. His whole time seems to be spent among 

 his plants, and he has a herbarium that almost fills his house, 

 leaving only three or four rooms for the family. From Vire we 

 had a long day's journey to Caen, the old capital of Normandy, 

 where William and Matilda were buried, each in the chancel of a 

 noble church. The churches remain, but the tombs have been 

 broken, and the bones scattered. Caen is full of quaint old 

 buildings, besides the fine Gothic churches. Now my travels are 

 over ; for we went to Havre by steam, and then to Southampton 

 and London, and so on to Kew, where we spent a fortnight with 

 Sir William and Lady Hooker most pleasantly ; then to Dublin, 

 arriving 14th October. 



Your residence at West Point must have been most pleasant 

 in that lovely scenery. I remember it well, and to me it is 

 specially dear for the sake of my poor friend Bailey. That 

 beautiful river and the white-sailed boats I cannot easily forget. 



You touch upon politics in your letter, and I doubt not you 

 live in a political atmosphere, and think me very strange when 

 I tell you I have long ceased to read the newspaper account of 

 your sad, sad war. " My soul is sick with every day's report," 

 &c. Such vast waste of life for so little result. If Lincoln's 

 election is likely to bring you peace, then I heartily congratu- 

 late you on it; but I cannot say I have much faith in my " if." 

 But may God grant it to you in His own good time ! Amen. 

 Though often silent for a long time, I am not forgetful. 



