thanks for L. cucullatus. I have only one point to answer in your last of the 23rd of March. I feel deeply the proof of your affection in wishing me to be godfather to your child; but you shall judge whether I ought, or not. I must be quite open with you in this as in all things. I could not conscientiously promise it. I have taken much pains to settle my faith; and, thank God, it is settled so as to make me very happy. I am no enthusiast: I look up to one God, and delight in referring all my hopes and wishes to him. I consider the doctrine and example of Christ as the greatest blessing God has given us, and that his character is the most perfect and lovely we ever knew, except that of God himself. This is my religion, and I hope it is not unsound. I have found great good from it; and if not all the good I ought, I feel it is my own fault. But to the point in question. I think godfathers and godmothers an unnecessary form, and even worse, as a religious form that means nothing cannot be innocent. If by it is meant only that I am to be attached nearer to the child than any one except its parents, that I may presume more to advise and study its happiness, very well; but that I shall do without any form or ceremony. I had rather the ceremony, as far as respects me, were dispensed with. But if and Mrs. Davall still persist in your desire, and think it will in any manner attach me closer to you, I submit. you Pray give my best respects and wishes to her. May she soon be a happy mother! and may you ever be happy in each other! My next favourite hope is to come and see you one day.-I long to see Switzerland again, and you I must see; I like to indulge cheerful hope. Thank God I have enjoyed much, and hope to enjoy more ;-if not, His will be done, and I shall not be the worse for having hoped. Adieu! Yours ever, J. E. SMITH. Mr. Davall to J. E. Smith. My dear Friend, Orbe, May 31, 1790. told My time has been so taken up, what with the care of my garden and excursions to collect some. of the plants I wished to send you, that I find myself close to Mandrot's departure.-Now for your last invaluable letter: but I must first say, that I you in my letter of the 27th April, that I should have a good opportunity of sending specimens. It was by a most worthy man, and a very good friend of mine, who was on his departure for England, Mr. Schutz, the Queen's equerry; he dined with me on a Thursday, was to set off in ten days, was taken suddenly ill four days after I saw him, and died. I regret him most sincerely. Nothing can be more perfectly open, sincere and friendly, than your answer to my request of being godfather to my child, if it comes well into this world. I assure you, my good friend, although I have been educated in the Church of England, I consider the office of godfathers and godmothers as unnecessary; as you will judge, that if I had not thought that parents ought to attend to the care of their children's principles, I should not have asked a person for my misfortune far too distant from me, to fill this ceremony. I wished that my child might have you for his friend, and I am certain that it will be so. I may safely say that the reasoning you make use of is in such perfect concord with good sense, that if I were obliged to make a formal declaration of my ideas, they would agree very well with yours; and I would readily infuse them into my child. My devotion is mostly private, though I frequent the church here, and I believe I may any one that is Protestant, without any great impropriety. I at no time feel myself so deeply penetrated with veneration for the Divinity as in the contemplation of his works, and hope that the tears of delight and adoration which often escape me in my herboriza tions, and in examining the wonderful structure and providence so striking in every object, are as acceptable to Him, and as fit to secure me His blessing, as my prayers; and indeed I experience now, with gratitude, more happiness than I could ever have hoped. May Heaven preserve you, my best friend, for botany and me! You are and ever will be the first object of my prayer. My wife and aunts desire their compliments. Your devoted and most affectionate, J. E. Smith to Mr. Davall. My dear Friend, London, July 11, 1790. Nothing could be more unlucky than my being out of town when Mr. Mandrot called. Accept my most hearty thanks for your letter; you and I can never differ much, I believe, even in opinion. I should not have obtruded religious matters on you had I not been obliged, but now am glad I did so. We can never go far wrong with such principles as yours. May the God whom we sincerely endeavour to adore as we ought, bring your child safe into the world, and preserve its mother! July 14.—I have now got your inestimable packet, my dear friend, and know not how to find words to thank you for it. The views* delight me above all; I cannot cease from looking at them. How kind and attentive you are to what may give me pleasure! Your harvest on Mount Suchet was very rich. Now, my dear friend, let me exhort you not to lose any time, but bring out your work directly. You must not wait to make it anything like complete. There is no end of that. I will now confess to you a fault I have been guilty of, as I ought not "to dissemble or cloke before you". I distributed the seeds you sent among Fairbairn, Dickson, Lee, Curtis, and Goodenough; from some carelessness I gave none to Aiton. Will you pardon me for this, and send anything you please to make my peace with him;-I shall mind * of Switzerland; published by Aberli. no expense, and will deliver them directly. Pray be not angry, and write soon to your ever affectionate friend, J. E. SMITH. J. E. Smith to his Mother. Honoured Madam, August 30, 1790. Yesterday Dr. Younge and I set off for Wentworth House, where we were received with all kindness and attention. Lord Fitzwilliam was to have been at York races, but was not well enough to go; so we dined alone, and afterwards went to the new mausoleum erected for the Marquis of Rockingham, which is very elegant and grand: saw the gardens, &c. We were attended by the chaplain and steward, two old servants of Lord and Lady Rockingham's, who thought they could not do enough for me as her friend. Indeed it was pleasing to see how many old servants and workmen gathered about me, making inquiries concerning her, and sending their duty to their old mistress. Lord Fitzwilliam being better in the afternoon, we drank tea with him; and little Lord Milton, who is not five years old, brought me all the botanical books he could find, and told me the Linnæan names of some plants I had just brought out of the garden; he was very loth to leave me to go to-bed. We went to prayers in the evening in the chapel.-Next day after breakfast saw the house at our leisure. Lord and Lady Harewood are at Scarborough, |