Botanists -- United States -- Correspondence; Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 -- Correspondence
We set out accordingly. The room which is occupied by the House of Lords
temporarily, until the New Houses of Parliament are built, is inferior
in size and accommodation to that of the Commons; indeed there is
nothing about it at all remarkable. There was no business of very
absorbing interest before the House this evening, and it adjourned as
early as eight. Still I had the good fortune to hear nearly all those
speak that I particularly cared for except Wellington (who is sick) and
Earl Durham. I heard a long speech from Brougham and a very good one,
except that he took occasion to trumpet his own good works. There was
some fine sparring between an Irish lord I do not remember, Lord Roden,
Lord Westmeath, and Lord Normanby, the late viceroy of Ireland, a young
man apparently, and a man of talent, Melbourne, and Minto; the lord
chancellor, Denman the chief justice, Sir James Scarlett, old Lord
Holland, etc., also spoke. The word “lengthy,” which was not long since
called an Americanism, seems to be pretty well naturalized, as Brougham
used it several times, and Scarlett more than once. Lord Palmerston the
other evening used the word “ disculpate” instead of “exculpate,” which
I fancy is rather modern English....
Friday evening, 12 o’clock, March 1.--I have just returned from a most
pleasant evening and day, as I may say, spent at Mr. Forster’s beautiful
residence on the border of Epping Forest, Essex (Woodford), about ten
miles from here. He is an old man, a banker, one of the oldest
vice-presidents of the Linnæan Society, one of the most kind-hearted
men, exceedingly beloved. He lives in an elegant but very unostentatious
way, in a most beautiful part of the country, the very perfection of
English scenery. He is said to be extremely benevolent, and to do a
world of good....
Saturday evening.--Immediately after breakfast this morning I went down
to Bentham, whom I had not seen for a week; spent two or three hours
there, returned again to my lodgings, went to the City, took an early
dinner with Mr. Putnam, and then we went together in an omnibus to
Hackney; saw Loddiges’ extensive collections of fine plants again,
lovely Orchideæ. The Camellias, of which he has a large house filled
with magnificent trees, were not yet in bloom.
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