298 HILLS : E. G. VARENNE, OF KELVEDON, BOTANIST.
of the Kelvedon Liberal Association. His public spirit led him
also, at various times, to take the secretaryship of various other
local bodies, as the Gas Company and the British School.
It has been said that Varenne was a churchman, but this is, I
believe, incorrect. I have been told in Kelvedon that he never
attended the parish church or other place of worship. Indeed,
the people of the town declare with awe that he was "a perfect
infidel." One wonders whether they know what they mean by
the term ! Whether an infidel or not, he was a singularly public-
spirited man, an extremely useful member of society, highly
popular in nearly all quarters, and well remembered to this day.
My friend, Mr. J. W. Moss, of "Threshelfords," and other
Kelvedon people have told me that Varenne, like many people
of his type, had an extreme detestation of everything savouring
of humbug, insincerity, or deceit ; that he was a good reader
of character ; that he had a very keen sense of humour ; and
that he was very fond of, and much liked by, children, who,
however, were sometimes puzzled to know whether he was
speaking to them seriously or in jest.
Varenne was twice married. His first wife was Martha
Anne Piercey, of Hull, in Yorkshire. When he married her—
whether before or after settling at Kelvedon—I know not.
My uncle tells me she was of French extraction, like Varenne
himself, and was a strikingly handsome woman, with elegant
French manners. In Kelvedon, she is still held in special
remembrance, as having been a lady in every respect. My uncle
tells me her closing years were marred by the results of a serious
carriage accident, which permanently crippled her. She died
27 October 1877, at the age of bo, and was buried in Kelvedon
churchyard close to the spot at which her husband was after-
wards buried. Varenne's second wife was Amynta, widow
of William Dixon Green, Esquire, of Colchester. She is still
living at Colchester and has been good enough to assist me
with notes for this article. There were no children by either
marriage.
Toward the close of Varenne's life (so Mrs. John Crow. of
Kelvedon, tells me) his mind failed considerably and he began
to be troubled by loss of memory. Yet. almost to the end, he
had himself driven round the district (the big black horse being
long since dead) for the purpose of paying visits to his many old