CELEBES, THE MOLUCCAS, ETC. 367 



surpassed, while the character of Uncle Toby has, I think, 

 never been equalled, except perhaps by that of Don Quixote. 

 I have lately read a good many of Dumas's wonderful novels, 

 and they are wonderful, but often very careless and some 

 quite unfinished. ' The Memoirs of a Physician ' is a wonder- 

 ful mixture of history, science, and romance; the second part, 

 the Queen's Necklace, being the most wonderful and, perhaps, 

 the most true. You should read it, if you have not yet done 

 so, when you are horribly bored ! 



" In reference to your private communication, it seems to 

 me that marriage has a wonderful effect in brightening the 

 intellect. For example, John used not to be considered witty; 

 yet in his last letter he begs me to write to him ' semi-occa- 

 sionally,' or ' oftener if I have time,' and I send a not bad 

 extract from his letter. By this mail I send more than a dozen 

 letters, for my correspondence is increasing." 



On my return to Ternate in April, 1859, after spending 

 nearly six months in Batchian, where I had made fairly good 

 though not very large collections, including a new and very 

 peculiar bird of paradise and a grand new butterfly of the 

 largest size and most gorgeous colouring, I determined to go 

 next to Timor for a short time, and afterward to Menado, at 

 the north-eastern extremity of Celebes, from which place 

 some of the most interesting birds and mammalia had been 

 obtained. I had, of course, my usual large batch of letters 

 to reply to. One of these from my brother-in-law, Mr. 

 Thomas Sims, urged me very strongly to return home before 

 my health was seriously affected, and for many other reasons. 

 In my reply I gave full expressions to my ideas and feelings 

 compelling me to remain a few years longer, and as these 

 are a part of the history of my life and character, I will give 

 them here. 



" Your ingenious arguments to persuade me to come 

 home are quite unconvincing. I have much to do yet before 

 I can return with satisfaction of mind; were I to leave now 

 I should be ever regretful and unhappy. That alone is an 

 all-sufficient reason. I feel that my work is here as well as 



