skill in discriminating species for which these gentlemen were so eminent.

Having remained the usual time at a school in Norwich, he went in the year 1780 to the University of Edinburgh, where he distinguished himself by obtaining the gold medal given to the best proficient in Botany.

Upon leaving Edinburgh, he came up to London to finish his studies, and soon became acquainted with the late Sir Joseph Banks. This acquaintance, and the access it obtained for him to men of science, only riveted more firmly his ardent attachment to natural history; and, accordingly, we find Sir Joseph recommending him, as early as 1783, to become the purchaser of the Linnæan collection. As this circumstance laid the foundation of the President's future fame, the history of the transaction shall be detailed.

The younger Linnæus had died suddenly, Nov. 1, 1783; and his mother and sisters, desirous of making as large a profit as they could by his museum, within a few weeks after his death, offered, through a mutual friend, the whole collection of books, manuscripts, and natural history, including what belonged to the father as well as the son, to Sir Joseph Banks, for the sum of one thousand guineas. Sir Joseph declined the purchase, but strongly advised Sir James Smith to make it, as a thing suitable to his taste, and which would do him honour.

Sir James, in consequence, communicated his desire to become the purchaser, to Professor Acrel, the friend of the family of Linnæus, and who seems to have conducted the negotiation with scrupulous honour. The owners now began to suspect they had been too precipitate; having received an unlimited offer from Russia, while also Dr. Sibthorpe was prepared to purchase it, to add to the treasures, already famous, of Oxford. They wished to break off their treaty with Sir James Smith; but the

worthy Swedish Professor would not consent to it, and insisted on their waiting for his refusal.

In consequence of the subtraction of a small berbarium made by the younger Linnæus, and given to a Swedish Baron to satisfy a debt he claimed, a deduction of one hundred guineas was made in the purchase-money; and in October 1784 the collection was received in twenty-six great boxes, perfectly safe. The whole cost, including the freight, was £1,029. The duty was remitted on application to the Treasury. The ship which was conveying this precious treasure had just sailed, when the King of Sweden (Gustavus III.), who had been. absent in France, returned, and hearing the story, sent a vessel in pursuit, but happily it was too late.

* The collection consists of every thing possessed by the great Linnæus and his son, relating to natural history and medicine. The library contains about 2500 volumes. The old herbarium of the father comprehends all the plants described in the "Species Plantarum," except, perhaps, about 500 species (fungi and palmæ excepted), and it had then, perhaps, more than 500 undescribed.

The herbarium of young Linnæus appears to have had more attention bestowed upon it, and is on better paper. It consists of most of the plants of his "Supplementum," except what are in his father's herbarium, and has, besides, about 1500 very fine specimens from Commerson's collection, from Dombey, La Marck, Pourrett, Gouan, Smeathman, Masson, &c. and a prodigious quantity from Sir Joseph Banks, who gave him duplicates of almost every one of Aublett's specimens, as well as of his own West India plants, with a few of those collected in his own voyages round the world.

The insects are not so numerous; but they consist of most of those that are described by Linnæus, and many new ones. The shells are about thrice as many as are mentioned in the "Systema Naturæ," and many of them very valuable. The fossils are also numerous, but mostly bad specimens, and in bad condition.

The number of MSS. is very great. All his own works are interleaved with abundance of notes, especially the "Systema Naturæ," "Species Plantarum," "Materia Medica," "Philosophia Botanica," "Clavis Medicinæ," &c. There are also the

Iter Lapponicum" (which was afterwards published), “ Iter Dalecarlicum," and a Diary of the Life of Linnæus, for about thirty years of his life. The letters to Linnæus (from which a

This splendid acquisition at once determined the bent of the proprietor's studies. He considered himself, as he has declared, a trustee only for the public, and for the purpose of making the collection useful to the world and to natural history in general. He had no sooner obtained quiet possession, than he began to fulfil his engagement; for we find him, in the year 1785, making his first appearance as an author, by translating the Preface to the "Museum Regis Adolphi Friderici" of Linnæus, being succinct and admirable reflections on the study of nature.

In the year 1786 he prepared himself for an extensive tour on the continent, in which his chief object was to examine into the state of natural history in the different cities and towns he might pass through, not neglecting the incidents, especially the fine arts, which usually engage the attention of travellers. At Leyden he graduated in medicine; but it does not appear that he tarried there a longer time than was necessary for this purpose. On this occasion he published his thesis "De Generatione." His "Sketch of a Tour on the Continent," in three vols. 8vo. 1793, though long superseded as a companion to the tourist, is still curious to the naturalist, as showing the state of science at that time. It contains, too, a fund of good sense expressed with facility; and, to those who enjoyed the acquaintance and friendship of the author, will always remain valuable, as furnishing the truest image of his mind,

selection was also published by the President; see pp. 839, 850) are about three thousand.

On the Anniversary of the Linnæan Society following Sir J. E. Smith's decease, the Secretary stated to the members, that the executors of Sir J. E. Smith had offered his valuable library botanical and other collections, to the Society, for the sum of £4,000. The library embraced the original collection of Linnæus, containing 2,500 volumes. The sum of 3000 guineas was ultimately agreed to be paid for the entire Collection and Library; and a subscription was made, as the best and speediest plan for realizing the purchase-money. 3 H

VOL. VI.

reviving his liberal opinions in their recollection, and his easy and elegant manner of communicating them. In the year 1788, when he had returned and was settled in London, he, with some other naturalists, projected the establishment of the Linnæan Society, which had for its object the cultivation of natural history in all its branches, and especially that of Great Britain. This Society, which has grown now into considerable importance, was a scion of the Royal Society, and had its origin in the jealousy which some of the members of the parent Society entertained of the preference which, they alleged, was given to natural history in their "Transactions;" while its then President was thought to favour the subject, to the exclusion of others of equal, if not of greater, importance. There are still some who recollect the argumentative and vehement eloquence by which this side of the question was supported by Bishop Horsley.

It was during this stormy period that Sir James Smith, in conjunction with Dr. Goodenough (the late Bishop of Carlisle), Sir Joseph Banks, and others, laid the foundation-stone of the Linnæan Society *. Its first meeting was held, April 8, 1788.

* There had, however, previously existed a "Natural History Society." This was established in London 13th October 1782. The original members were, Mr. Isaac Dalby, Mr. William Forsyth, Mr. Charles Harris, Mr. George Prince, Mr. John Prince.

"The officers of the Society in 1791 were, Viscount Lewisham, President; Dr. Ash, Rev. Edmund Poulter, Vice-Presidents; Mr. Francillon, Treasurer; Rev. John Hadley Swain, Secretary; Dr. George Fordyce, William Forsyth, Esq. Everard Home, Esq. John Woodd, Esq. James Agar, Esq. Mr. George Prince, and Mr. Day, Committee. The number of members in 1791 was 110, and honorary members 50. The members met originally at a house in Golden-square, on the second and fourth Monday in every month, except August and September, at seven o'clock in the evening, and when five members (the original number) were present, they proceeded to business. The subscription was one guinea a year, and one guinea admission; and nine guineas, besides the admission fee, exempted members from all future