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II. Memoir of the late J. S. Miller, A.L.S. Curator of the Museum 

 oftheBristol Philosophical Institution. By A Co R RESPON DENT. 



]V1 R. J. S. MILLER was a native of Dantzig, the only son 

 *-*-* of truly respectable parents. He was designed by his 

 father for commercial pursuits, and served an apprenticeship 

 with M. Bennies, a merchant of his native town. He came 

 to England in 1801, with a full resolution of proceeding to 

 America, and with letters of recommendation to persons in 

 that country. The vessel in which he expected to cross the 

 Atlantic had sailed on the day before his arrival; and being 

 thus detained in Bristol, he formed connections by which he 

 was finally induced to alter his purpose and to fix his abode 

 in this city. Here he endeavoured to establish himself in 

 mercantile business, but his efforts were unsuccessful ; and it 

 happened, unfortunately for his prospects in life, that Dantzig 

 was at this period overrun and pillaged by the French. His 

 father's property shared the common fate; and of fifteen hun- 

 dred pounds which had been left to Mr. Miller, nothing ever 

 came into his possession except a box of valuable coins, which 

 was concealed during two years in a church, and a very in- 

 considerable sum of money. He now devoted himself en- 

 tirely to scientific pursuits, for which he had shown a strong 

 inclination from his early youth, and he soon acquired very ex- 

 tensive information in various branches of natural history. 

 Some curious researches in entomology introduced him at an 

 early period to the acquaintance of Dr. Leach, and this was 

 the first occasion on which his talents became known beyond 

 the circle of his personal friends. The prospect of succeeding 

 Dr. Leach at the British Museum opened a new field to his 

 mind ; and although he was frustrated in this expectation by 

 the appointment of Mr. Children, he applied himself from this 

 time with increased energy to his researches in natural history. 

 An investigation of the structure and nature of the organic 

 remains of the Encnnus, for which the vicinity of Bristol af- 

 fords so remarkable a field, now became his favourite pursuit. 

 It was while he was engaged in the publication of his well- 

 known work on the Crinoidea, that he became known to the 

 Rev. W. D. Conybeare, by whom his merit was soon distin- 

 guished and very highly appreciated. As the work was going 

 through the press. Sir. Conybeare kindly undertook to revise 

 it, and, by correcting the peculiarities of a foreign idiom*, to 



* This, however, was strictly confined'to the correction of such idiomatic 

 inaccuracies as might have obscured the sense to an English reader; in 

 all other cases it was considered in every respect desirable scrupulously to 

 preserve unaltered the author's own expressions. W. D. C. j 



render 



