etc., to all of which Dr. Purland replied with such promptitude and intelligence that all our friends were soon gathered round to hear the discussion, which went on a long time. Dr. Purland also possessed a most interesting series of scrap-books, in which he had collected an immense number of engravings and woodcuts from old magazines, papers, and books, which, during his life in London, he had picked up at bookstalls or among his friends. These were beautifully arranged in a series of uniform quarto volumes, in some of which he had illustrated his own second marriage by means of a series of appropriate caricatures, showing the courtship, the proposal, the ceremony, the wedding breakfast, the departure, the wedding journey, with numerous incidents to the return home; and occasionally among friends he would go through all these, describing the various incidents in a most humorous manner, so as to keep us all highly amused. When he came to any of our evening receptions, he usually appeared with one of these books under his arm, and it was always a source of much interest to our guests. Besides these books, he had a great collection of odd duplicate scraps, some of which he used to gum on to the envelopes of letters in place of a seal, or inside to illustrate some matter referred to in the letter. I possess about a dozen of his letters-replies to invitations, remarks on reading my early books, or other matters-all so amusing and so well illustrating the character and individuality of the man that I will now print some of them, and give a few in facsimile to show his style of caricature illustration. The letter opposite was, I think, the first I had from him, and I only give it to illustrate two of his peculiarities-his gastronomical taste indicated by "Beer Month" for October, and the "piece of plate" represented by half a beautiful little print in blue of an old willow-pattern plate pasted in opposite the signature. The next letter is in answer to an invitation to tea. He This last day of Bur mouth 1865. I got dome again, to lote B avail, my self of you invite for th 29th Thanks for the Card!. Our extacy is faced ! Plame present Mr. Walm with a piece of plate" "from σ MY FIRST LETTER FROM DR. PURLAND had been reading my "Malay Archipelago," and the reference on the envelope (here reproduced) is to the description of the king bird of paradise, and shows how he was able to introduce appropriate cuts from his large stock. The letter itself is in hieroglyphic form, intimating that he had other engagements, indicating himself by his large nose and scrapbook under his arm. The next I shall give is an account of the sad results of reading one of my books aloud. The heading is a pseudonym for his operating room. "Fang Castle, June, 1870, "Thanks worthy Signor for the entertainment afforded by your Boke on Natural Selection. But good as 'Natural Selection' is, or may be: I like Mutual Selection much better; and to my thinking it is of much more importance: ex. gr. mutual selection is this-A Lady asks me to become her husband-I ax her to become my wife-that's Mutual Selection-ain't it 'Natural'? The question of the 'fittest' is a subsequent affair: as is the Creation by birth, etc., etc. "But the pleasure was sadly and suddenly interrupted: I was reading aloud, and got on pretty well through p. 90-91. At 92 Jaws ached terribly! but at p. 94 and 5, even vulcanite could not stand it; and to my horror my upper set of teeth gave way with a crash! divided between the right lateral and the canine. I was helpless; and but for an old piece in reserve, my enjoyment of a succulent Roast Pig would have been entirely destroyed: it cost me dear-quite the value of a collection: I must give up reading scientific (?) names aloud. "I picked up a good specimen of Lignum ambulans for a shilling a week ago: and it now forms a ominent feature. in our surgery. We are promised a Phyllium in a few days: and a Kallima paralekta. The Rosa Canina is a puzzle at present: I never saw a Red Canine tooth! Speaking of teeth-Huxley in his Physiology says Bicuspids never have more than two fangs-He knows nothing about it. I have them with three-Molars with 4, 5, and 6! In my lecture case, now before me, there are several; they are not as common as dirt or earwigs in the country! but they often turn up. "I begin the second reading to-night-not aloud-oh, no! "With our best Salaam to the Lady, I remain. "Thine in amity, "T. PURLAND." The next letter is so wholly and heartily gastronomic that it appeals to me strongly, and reveals the jovial character of the man so amusingly that it must not be omitted. 66 66 "Fang Castle, 7, Mortimer St., W., "Jan. 9, 1870-1. Now you're wuss and wuss! Tuesday is the 'University' of the High-mighty and pious College of Dentists of England, and everywhere else: the 'Collection' of Officers, and when I am to give an acct. of all the four-penny pieces I have received during the yearfor, and on behalf of the Jaw-breakers in general, and the Council in particular. We begin at 7-close when we have no more to say; and adjourn to St. James's Hall feeding-box, for a trial of the Artificials! "It was lucky I called there this morning. Our Sec. had ordered a Cold Collation-Cold Veal, Ham and Fowls! COLD DEVILS! You may as well eat a Hat-box or Fire-wood. "I have ordered a Hot Supper-Ducks-Giblet PiesPlum-pudding, and such like Comforts-cold grub indeed, and the Glass at 26°. So you see, as I cannot well be in two places at once, and where Duty call one must obey, we shall not have the pleasure of Banquetting upon the 'Cold Greens.' "As to 'Alcohol '-I do not think I shall venture outAunt Loo is going to preside at a School treat in the shape of T., Bunns, Plum cake and sundry indigestibles, one a MagicLanthorn, which they are to devour. Tom and his Cousin Constance go as well: So I shall be alone, as the Gals are at Torquay-capital place for females as it is all Talkée! Talkée! So, as I said before, I shall be alone-and I contemplate the utter destruction of a KIDNEY PUDDING! Think |