Memoir of William Roscoe, Esq. 221 



ther, and friend, his conduct was most exemplary ; and it would 

 be difficult to point out a man who possessed the fascination of 

 manner which attracts and rivets attachment, in a higher degree 

 than William Roscoe. 



He had deep and Solemn feelings of devotion, which it was 

 not his practice to obtrude on his acquaintances ; but which he 

 occasionally expressed to his intimate friends in the language of 

 heartfelt piety. The beautiful invocation to the Deity, which 

 he substituted for the intended dedication of his great botanical 

 work, breathes the deep fervour of his adoration of the Supreme 

 Creator ; and is also remarkable as the actual suggestion of a 

 poet's dream at the advanced age of 76. 



An innate love of sincerity and truth ; simplicity, combined 

 with a playful vivacity yet suavity of manners ; a generous be- 

 lief in the integrity of others, the consequence of his own recti- 

 tude of purpose ; an anxiety to do justice to the merits of others ; 

 a liberal and judicious patronage of modest talent, struggling to 

 escape from obscurity, joined to a natural cheerfulness of dispo- 

 sition ; all united to convert into devoted and enthusiastic admi- 

 rers, those who first sought his friendship from his literary re- 

 putation. 



The fame of Roscoe belongs to his country : — the memory of 



his inestimable qualities remains to his friends : 



" M ultis ille bonis flebilis occidit 



cui Pudor, et Justitiae soror 



Incorrupta Fides, nudaque Veritas, 



Quando ullum invenient parem ?*' Horat. 



On the Mode of determining Fossil Plants, By Professor 



LlNDLEY. 



W HEN a botanist proceeds to the examination of a recent speci- 

 men of an unknown plant, he directs his views to certain pecu- 

 liarities in the organs, both of fructification and vegetation, ta- 

 ken together ; and from what he finds to be their structure, he 

 judges of the class, order, or genus to which it belongs. But 

 as in fossil plants neither calyx, corolla, stamens, nor pistillum 

 are to be recognised, an opinion has to be formed, not from the 



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