16 Biographical Memoir of the late Sir J. E. Smith. 



university of Glasgow. *' To his extensive botanical aquire- 

 ments, he added the high attainments of an elegant scholar, 

 and a talent of composition which has rendered his writings 

 universally popular, and has been the means of throwing a 

 charm over his botanical writings scarcely known to the science 

 before.^ * 



If much of the secret of human happiness consist, as Paley 

 observes, in the formation of habits of observation, a knowledge 

 of botany largely contributes to that happiness ; for in a soli- 

 tary walk, in a journey, or in the absence of those with whom 

 we can converse, objects are constantly occurring to interest 

 and amuse. Thus botany has sources of enjoyment similar to 

 those so well described by Cicero, when speaking of the hap- 

 piness arising from the study of letters. " Haec studia ado- 

 lescentiam agunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, 

 adversis perfugium ac solatium praebent, delectant domi, pe- 

 regrinantur, rusticantur.'"* It is a noble and delightful office 

 of the man of science, to spread around him the happiness of 

 knowledge, and to put into the power of others the gratifica- 

 tions which science can so liberally afford. But this is a power 

 not granted to all who are in possession of knowledge; for the 

 communication and the possession of wisdom are by no means 

 always united, and surely the value of any man's knowledge 

 is to be estimated very much according to the happiness he 

 diffuses around him. The character of the late illustrious 

 President of the Linnean Society, will thus live in connection 

 with science and its pleasures, and his name be repeated with 

 gratitude by thousands who will consider him as a benefac- 

 tor,- — for having spread before them means of interest and 

 gratification, — for having given them habits of observation and 

 attention to the natural objects around them, by which their 

 sources of enjoyment were multiplied, and pleasures made to 

 spring up at every step. 



• Edinburgh Journal of Science, No. v. p. 161. 



