300 
►r. Smith's Biographical Memoirs 
practical botanist. This was the origin of the Flora Dktetica, pub- 
lished in 1783. It was dedicated to Mr. Crowe, who had fo'r some 
years, as well as several other gentlemen of Norwich, embraced 
with ardour the study of British botany. The Rev. Mr. Bryant 
was by this time settled at his living of Heydon; from whence he 
afterwards removed to Colby in Norfolk, where he died at an ad- 
vanced age in 3799* having never experienced any diminution of 
his fondness for botanical pursuits. Mr. Hudson and Mr. Light- 
foot were, as long as they lived, his constant correspondents* 
Mr. Charles Bryant died before his brother. 
Mr. Pitchford, therefore, was the only survivor of the original 
Linnoean school of Norwich. He had also been a frequent cor- 
respondent of the authors of the Flora Anglica and Flora Scotica* 
But though an admirer of Linnaeus, he was always peculiarly 
partial to Ray ; and though ever so well acquainted with a plant 
by its Linnaean name, he could never rest while any obscurity en- 
veloped it in the works of Ray. The Carices and Mentha, more 
particularly engaged Mr. Pitchford's attention ; and it must be 
confessed the study of them on his plan, of scrutinizing synonyms 
without access to any old English herbarium, was not soon to be 
exhausted. No wonder, therefore, that his conversation and epi- 
stolary correspondence on these subjects found no end. Nothing, 
however, could be more candid and amicable than his discus- 
sions. In the last interview I had with him, he was particularly 
strenuous with me to separate the Mentha hirsuta, with capitate 
flowers, from the verticillatc, M. sativa. I think it but just to 
record the opinion of so indefatigable a practical observer, though 
my own remains unshaken. As some years have now elapsed since 
the Linnean Society published my paper on Mints, I take this. 
opportunity of observing, that subsequent experience has strongly 
confirmed the solidity of the characters taken from the pubes- 
cence 
