His Early Struggles 



31 



£120, as a testimonial of the regard of the towns- 

 people, and managed to save enough to bring me 

 to England, intending only to wait until I had a 

 small sum clear of all expenses. In March I 

 received a letter from one in England which threw 

 me into a state of despondency and dashed all 

 my hopes, intentions and prospects to the ground. 

 But now was manifested the good will of the 

 inhabitants (through the Almighty) towards me 

 in an unlooked for manner, which acted as balm 

 to my wounded spirit and rescued me from 

 despair. In March I received the letter which 

 was the downfall of my hopes in the future ; in 

 June I sold most of my books, which realized 

 £22 10s. At the end of 1864 I voluntarily gave 

 up the school, and found myself reduced to £50 

 for 1865, but from this, with debts which were 

 due to me, I managed to live to the wonder of 

 the townspeople. As it now stands this is my 

 position — piece of ground worth £150, salary 

 postmaster and postman £81, Acting Resident 

 Magistrate's clerk £42, cultivation of land £21, 

 making for the year 1866 an income of £143. 



M I have also collected about three thousand 

 specimens, illustrative of fossil teeth, jaws, bones 

 and skulls nearly entire, of extinct mammalia and 

 reptilia. Two hundred and fifty specimens of 

 teeth, jaws and skulls of recent mammals and 



