Dr. Smitu’s Introductory Difcourfe. 49 
rather prefer the more cheerful tafk of tracing the fuccefs of his 
labours, and the effect of the fpirit he had raifed, in the enterprifes 
and difcoveries of many eminent naturalifts, feveral of them his 
immediate pupils, whofe deferved fame reflected fuch diftinguifhed | 
honour on the laft years of their great teacher. 
Here however a new difficulty prefents itfelf. In the former part 
of this difcourfe, having principally had'occafion to {peak of authors 
no longer living, and known to us chiefly by their works, I have, _ 
to the beft of my judgment, given an impartial and unreferved ac- 
count of their merits. Glaring defeéts have been generally pointed 
out, but I have more frequently indulged in the more agreeable 
office of praifing merit of all kinds wherever it occurred. In fe 
doing I have not been aétuated by a fenfelefs veneration for former 
times, nor have 1, prepofteroufly aimed by a vain and ufelefs 
homage to 
: € foothe the dull cold ear of death.” 
To excite laudable emulation has been my only intention. But 
now that I find myfelf either treading (to ufe Dr. Johnfon's words) 
on afhes not yet cold, or am to fpeak of naturalifts with whom I am 
perfonally connected, and of others whofe approbation and efteem 
I cannot but be anxious to obtain, even the juft tribute of applaufe 
might appear like fervile adulation. This confideration, added to 
my having already extended my difcourfe to an immoderate length, 
will I hope juftify me in touching now but flightly on many great 
names. and many arduous undertakings, efpecially as I could but 
repeat facts. and circumftances familiar to all, and fhould run the 
rifque of exhaufting the patience of my hearers without giving 
them any information. Iam perfuaded no one whom I have now 
the honour of addrefling needs to be informed of the merits of a 
Thunberg, Sparrman, Pallas, Fabricius, Swartz, or Hedwig, of the 
vaft phyfological difcoveries of a Camper or Hunter, much lefs of 
the liberality and extenfive se of a Banks, or the genius 
H and 
