9^ Biography : — Sir James Smith. 



In 1792 Dr. Smith was invited to give some instruction in his favourite 

 science of botany to the Queen and Princesses, at their rural and elegant 

 retreat at Frogmore, near Windsor ; and how well he was calculated for 

 such an appointment, those who have derived delight and improvement 

 from his lectures at the Royal Institution, at Liverpool, at Bristol, &c., can 

 amply attest. 



In 1796 Dr. Smith was married to the only daughter of the late Robert 

 Reeve, Esq., of Lowestoft, SuiFolk. 



In the following year he retired from London to reside in his native city ; 

 and, with occasional visits to the metropolis, where he had a very numerous 

 circle of scientific friends, as well as an extensive acquaintance in the 

 highest ranks of society, to whom he was warmly attached, and by whom 

 he was reciprocally esteemed, Norwich became his constant residence. 



In 1814 Dr. Smith received the honour of knighthood at the hands of 

 His present Majesty, who was then Prince Regent, and who had graciously 

 condescended to become Patron of the Linnean Society. 



The Horticultural Society was pleased to enroll the name of Sir James 

 Edward Smith as one of its honorary members, in conjunction with those 

 of His late Royal Highness the Duke of York and Albany, His Royal 

 Highness the Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, and Sir Humphrey Davy, 

 LL.D. &c., late president of the Royal Society. 



The health of Sir James Edward Smith had been for some time declining ; 

 but following the even tenor of his scientific pursuits, and blessed with 

 every comfort that a congenial union can afford, his time glided on without 

 the slightest relaxation of ardour in his botanical labours, while his latest 

 and even his unfinished works, attest that there was no diminution either of 

 his zeal or his success, in affording both information and satisfaction to those 

 who were proud to look up to him as one of the first botanists of the age. 

 In 1824, on occasion of the establishment of a museum of natural his- 

 tory in Norwich, through the exertions of a few admirers of the science. 

 Sir James Edward Smith kindly lent the weight of his name in furthering 

 this object, and condescended to become president of that institution. 



Although none of his friends could be altogether unprepared for the 

 melancholy event, still the decease of Sir James Edward Smith was some- 

 what sudden. The feebleness of his frame seemed to have in some degree 

 recovered a little of its former tone during the last week of his existence, 

 so that he was enabled to pursue his accustomed labours, and even to enjoy 

 the exercise of taking a walk without any great fatigue. 



He was attacked, however, on Saturday, March 15., with such an 

 alarming degree of debility as almost immediately to extinguish the hopes 

 of his recovery. Under this attack he gradually sunk, till, at about six 

 o'clock A.M. of Monday, March 17., he placidly resigned his breath, and 

 ** his spirit returned to him who gave it." 



Among the numerous works of which Sir James Edward Smith was the 

 author, it may be sufficient here to mention one or two, perhaps, besides 

 his Tour^ as those upon which his fame was in a great measure reared, 

 and upon which it may be said to be permanently established. 



Of these English Botany is entitled to the first^ consideration, as con- 

 taining a description and a coloured figure of every plant known to be 

 indigenous. This work consists of thirty-six octavo volumes, and con- 

 tains 2592 figures of British plants. 



It is a curious but a melancholy coincidence, that on the very day he en- 

 tered his library for the last time, the packet containing the fourth volume 

 of his English Flora reached him ; and he had the gratification of 

 witnessing the completion of a work, upon which his friends have fre- 

 quently heard him express an opinion that it was the one which would 

 eventually redound most to the estimation of his knowledge as a botanist 

 and his credit as an author. 



