During his university career he first showed a liking for botany, and made an excursion into the Scottish highlands in quest of plants.
He published in The Phytologist some observations on Hampshire plants, and then began to amass materials for a Flora of the Isle of Wight, which he did not consider complete even after fourteen years of assiduous labour.
In 1842 he spent some weeks in Ireland, and in January 1844 he started for a six months' tour to the West Indies, spending most of the time in Trinidad and Jamaica.
In September 1850 he embarked for the East, and spent some time in Egypt, penetrating as far as Khartoum, which he described in a letter as a 'region of dust, dirt, and barbarism.'
Continuing his journey, he passed by Jaffa, and stated his intention of leaving Constantinople for Southampton in September, but his last letter was dated "Bairout, 22 Sept.," when he was expecting a friend to join him on a trip to Baalbec and Damascus.