1841-42 ‘WHY THE SEA IS SALT’ 183 
meets him in ‘ Association W eek ’ for an expla- 
nation, and continues : ‘ There was, I believe, a 
heathen speculation in regard to the problem you 
have asked me to solve ; it was held that all water 
was originally fresh, but on that day, when 
Phaeton drove his father’s chariot, poor earth 
became so hot and terrified at his near approach 
and irregular course, that she broke out into 
profuse perspiration, the consequences of which 
are still manifested in the saltness of the ocean.’ 
The following entries occur in the journal for 
June and July : — • 
'Jzine 2. — To the Botanical Gardens, Re- 
gent’s Park. As yet they are only laid out. A 
perfect desert, no signs of greenhouses or hot- 
houses ; one seedy-looking palm under a cover. 
But there was a good band (2nd Life Guards).’ 
‘ 7/i. — Weber’s “ Euryanthe.” Liston, the 
surgeon, just in front of us. The music beautiful, 
of course, but a ridiculous want of sense or interest 
in the plot.’ 
‘ '^th. — Dr. Martin Barry came in from Jersey. 
He brought two green lizards for me, and some 
tadpoles (all dead but two).’ 
‘ 30M. — To the Gardens, as R. wanted to see 
the Cereopsis goose, who has a brood of Chinese 
ducklings under her charge. We found her by 
^o means a fond or careful foster-mother. The 
old goose is positively hostile, and bites and snaps 
''violently at the crown of their poor little heads.’ 
