MEMOIR OE THE LATE ROBERT BALL, LL. D. 
19 
row up the “Tamar;” dined at a quiet little place on its banks; and de¬ 
scended that noble river when the rich hues of a summer evening lighted 
the vessels of war that, laid up ‘ in ordinary/ were the peaceful oc¬ 
cupants of its waters. 
Our week at Plymouth was a joyous one. Before its close the fol¬ 
lowing note was written by Mr. Ball to his wife. It is interesting as 
showing a frame of mind different from that which the previous letters 
portray, and also as affording an instance of his fertility of resource:— 
“August 1, 1841. 
“ I started yesterday, at 8 o’clock, in an omnibus, containing Owen, 
Gray, Bichardson, Fellowes, Taylor, Woods, Lankester, Winterbottom, 
Patterson, Ball, and two others, who got in amongst us by accident. 
After a journey of eighteen miles, passing through Tavistock, we 
reached mines of copper, tin, and lead, where the Marquis of Northamp¬ 
ton and one hundred and fifty people were assembled. After viewing the 
pumping, washing, stamping, and other operations of the miners, we 
had a very plentiful dinner, and returned. I scarcely ever had a more 
pleasing day; great stores of information rolling out from the mass of 
fun, in the most curious, but useful manner. When it was proposed 
that Section D should go on a separate scamper from the others, I ex¬ 
cited a good deal of fun by painting in green on my white pocket- 
handkerchief the letter D, which, fastened on a stick, was borne ahead, 
and kept our party together. I did it on the moment by the agency of 
a smooth stone and some grass, and it looked as well and as bright as if 
specially ordered for the occasion.” 
One of his letters, written in the ensuing year, glances at the variety 
of subjects that occupied his busy brain. Those who have known any¬ 
thing of the minute and searching interrogatories of his friend, Mr. 
Thompson, while collecting information on any subject, will understand 
what he referred to by the term “cross-examination.” 
“ April 5, 1842. 
“ I have now a great deal of zoological matters on hand, this being 
the close of our year,—the arrangements of the lectures, evening meet¬ 
ings, and a treaty of alliance with the Dublin Society; besides which 
Thompson’s cross-examinations have to be attended to; and my brains 
are not clear from sheep-stealing, infanticides, and other delicate sub¬ 
jects, which occupy my attention at the Castle.” 
His clerkship in the office of the Under-Secretary he continued to 
hold for ten years longer. There is little in that long term of official 
life that is pleasant to dwell upon. To him the duties appear to have 
been at all times distasteful, and fraught with an exhausting and de¬ 
pressing influence. In a letter to his friend, Mr. Dowden, he says:— 
“ My soul-subduing slavery of Castle work leaves me sometimes without 
vis for anything good.” With regard to official rank, station in society 
