144 SOUTH AGAIN : NEW ZEALAND AND THE CAPE 
state that I fear my letters and drawings are given far more 
publicity to than I warranted, and I cannot help speaking 
tirmly, perhaps too strongly, on the subject. You are 
doubtless surrounded by many and very kind friends at 
Kew, and no one can be more grateful to God than I am ; 
you are calculated to shine in their society and have an 
open heart to receive their friendship, it is however totally 
different with me — a few friends are all my narrow mind 
has room for, and I often think they are kept better on that 
very account. My ambition to rise in one branch of science 
will soon cause them to think themselves neglected if I 
should make their acquaintance and not keep it up. I 
should have mentioned this subject in my mother's letter 
but shall not ; we are men and may talk to one another 
without feeling that annoyance which w^omen often will, 
and I am sure you know my feelings wtII on the subject, 
though my dear Mother's love may have prompted her to 
make me the subject of all conversation everywhere. Do 
remember then that I do extremely dislike having my letters 
shown to those I do not know% and that with regard to 
the drawings it is not fair to me to make them known far 
and wide, inasmuch as I have defrauded the Expedition 
of them. 
However, all's well that ends well. The publicity, such 
as it was, arose from a command visit to Buckingham Palace. 
Sir William was bidden bring his new^s of the Expedition to 
Prince Albert, who listened with extreme attention, repeating 
the main points accurately to a visitor who came later, and 
taking to the Queen Fitch's drawing from Davis's sketch of the 
ships in the pack. This put a very different complexion on 
the affair. The unfeigned interest of the Queen and the 
Prince Consort in the doings of the Expedition made up for 
seeming neglect elsewhere, and could not be objected to by 
Captain Ross, himself a correspondent of the Prince by royal 
command. Sir William's explanation cleared the air, and had 
answer (April 20 and March 7, 1843) : 
You have now quite explained the mystery about my 
drawings w^hich hung over yours and my Mother's Falkland 
Island letters. Of course the honour is quite too flattering 
