Memoir of W.H. Harvey, M.D., F.R.S., etc., etc., : late professor of botany, Trinity College, Dublin : with selections from his journal and correspondence.

Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoir of W.H. Harvey, M.D., F.R.S., etc., etc., : late professor of botany, Trinity College, Dublin : with selections from his journal and correspondence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Tlius were his ardent desires fulfilled and a new era opened in Lis life. The following confidential letter to Dr. Hooker relates the event and his feelings with regard to it. To Br. Hoolcer. Movley's Hotel, London, 11/25, 1834. My deae Friend, Thou wilt be surprised to get a letter from me from London; but this world is such a whirligig, that I have deter- mined henceforward to be surprised at nothing. After my last letter was written I had much consultation with my friends in Limerick, and seriously weighed the pros and cons of Australia. Their final opinion-, which agrees with thine, was, that I should go out there merely on a botanical tour for two or three years. As to a permaneht residence there, I never contemplated such a thino-. I certainly should be strangely hard-hearted to cut my numerous friends and relatives in that outlandish manner. But circumstances have since occurred which have put my Australian trip out of my head for -the present, and put another in its stead. Just before the Whigs left office, a high official situation at the Cape of Good Hope came into the gift of Ivice, who at once nominated my brother Josepli to the appomtment. I need hardly add that I go with him. To be sure, the Cape is old o-round. Its botany, though beautiful and interesting, has not such charm of novelty as that of New Holland ; but we cannot liave all our wishes. Is there a Flora Capensis ? I had long indulged the hope of muting a Flora of New Holland or ]Sew Zealand, but now I must rest satisfied with one of the Cape^ I shall probably be detained a fortnight in London. Iray enclose me an introduction to Brown. If Bicheno be in town, I can get letters from him to the other botanists. To a Cousin. London, Morlcy s Hotel, December 1st, 1834. Having just returned from my first visit to the greatest botanist in this or in any other age, a visit of ^^^ree hou^ .vnd not being disappointed in my expectations, I must gn e )0U the benefit of my lucubrations. What weak creatures we are Nay, I was not grievously abashed, but actually felt more iiee 1 Mr. Spring Kice, afterwards Lord Montcaglc.
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