Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/176

 172 GALWEY. that the dull routine of such employment, was but little congenial with his inclinations, and he escaped from it whenever he could with propriety do so, to indulge his zeal for scientific research, and to cultivate his taste for music, of which he was passionately fond, and in which he excelled. He availed himself of a l l opportunities t o acquire a practical knowledge o f botany, and was parti cularly conversant i n a l l the new discoveries i n chemistry, which, with geology, were his favourite studies. He was soon, however, drawn from his retired and studious habits t o the south part o f Europe, having suffered for several months b y a n oppression and pain i n the chest, accompa nied with a constant short dry cough, quick pulse, and a l l the symptoms o f a confirmed consumption, from a l l which, however, h e was completely cured before h e landed a t Lisbon, after a tempestuous and protracted passage i n the winter o f 1813. Finding himself s o well, and con ceiving, that his uniform o f a yeomanry officer would afford him much facility i n travelling i n the Peninsula, h e was induced t o g o into Spain; and the few months h e spent i n visiting various parts o f this country, and the delight experienced b y a mind finely stored like his, with diversified knowledge, inspired him with s o enthusiastic a zeal for foreign travel, that although, o n his return t o Ireland, h e re-assumed his station i n the bank, i t was evident that a n opportunity only was wanting t o set him out o n his travels. That opportunity soon occurred b y the ill-fated expedition t o explore the Zaire. On hearing that Captain Tuckey, one o f his early friends, had got the appointment, h e immediately wrote t o entreat h e might b e allowed t o accompany him a s a volunteer. I t was i n vain t o represent how inconveniently h e must b e accom modated, and that h e could not b e allowed even t o take a servant; but h e pleaded the example o f Sir Joseph Banks, a s entirely obviating i n his own case s o trifling a n objec tion; his family remonstrated with him o n the score o f his health being injured from the hardships h e would necessarily have t o undergo, and from the effects o f cli