misadventures of those who chased the splendid swallow-tail butterflies across the broken and treacherous fens. He used to pause every now and then to lecture on some plant or other object; and something he could tell us on every insect, shell, or fossil collected, for he had attended to every branch of natural history. After our day's work we used to dine at some inn or house, and most jovial we then were. I believe all who joined these excursions will agree with me that they have left an enduring impression of delight on our minds.
Al transcurrir el tiempo en Cambridge, llegué a tener mucha intimidad con el profesor Henslow, y su bondad no tuvo límites; me invitaba continuamente a su casa y me permitía acompañarle en sus paseos. Hablaba de todos los temas, incluido su profundo sentimiento religioso, y era totalmente abierto. Le debo a este excelente hombre más de lo que puedo expresar...
"During the years when I associated so much with Professor Henslow, I never once saw his temper even ruffled. He never took an ill-natured view of any one's character, though very far from blind to the foibles of others. It always struck me that his mind could not be even touched by any paltry feeling of vanity, envy, or jealousy. With all this equability of temper and remarkable benevolence, there was no insipidity of character. A man must have been blind not to have perceived that beneath this placid exterior there was a vigorous and determined will. When principle came into play, no power on earth could have turned him one hair's-breadth...
Al reflexionar sobre su carácter con gratitud y reverencia, sus atributos morales se elevan, como debe ocurrir en el carácter más excelso, por encima de su intelecto.
En una carta al reverendo L. Blomefield (Jenyns), del 24 de mayo de 1862, mi padre escribió con los mismos sentimientos que había expresado en sus cartas treinta años antes:—