THE society's heritage from the macleays. 629 



The Rev. R. L. Kang, in his Presidential Address to the Entoraologieal Society 

 of New South Wales, on January 30th, 1865 [Trans. Ent. Soc. N.S. Wales, Vol. 

 i., p. xliii.] quotes extensively from the notice referred to, and also supplements 

 it. He refers to it as "from the pen of an old friend" — probably the Rev. W. 

 B. Clarke, written perhaps, after consultation with William Macleay. 



The cenotaph to his memory in St. .James' Church, is above that in memory 

 of his sister, Mi's. Harrington; but rather too high for close scrutiny. Below a 

 medallion-portrait, head and shoulders, side-view, is the tersely appropriate in- 

 scription : — 



GULIELMUS SH.\RP MACLEAY. 



NATURAE INDAGATOR INDEFESSUS 



IXTERPBESQUE EBUDITDS ACUTISSIMUSQUE. 



VIXIT ANNOS LXSII. DECESSIT DIE XXVI. 



JAN. A.D. ilDCCC'LXV. 



It is, I think, a reasonable conclusion that the marble portion, with the por- 

 trait and inscription, was prepared in England, brought out by George Macleay, 

 and its erection arranged for while he was revisiting Australia between 18G9 and 

 1874. In that ease, it is also a reasonable supposition that the inscription was 

 drawn up by Robert Lowe at George Macleay's request. 



By several writers, W. S. Macleay, in his later years in Australia, is spoken 

 of as a recluse. An explanation of what this was intended to mean, is not hard 

 to find. He was naturally reserved; and his life in Cuba must have been rather 

 a lonely one, as he could have had but few English friends, w'ho shared his tastes 

 and interests. This would lead to habits of self-dependence, and to his finding 

 recreation and solace in his books, in his scientific work and collecting, and in his 

 garden and culture of orchids. The tropical climate prejudicially affected his 

 health, and seems to have prematurely aged him, as is evident from the remarks 

 of Dr. Stimpson and Dr. Scherzer, quoted above. Long before the onset of 

 diabetes, which caused his last lingering illness, he suffered from gout; and, no 

 doubt, like Adam Sedgwick, the geologist, and other sufferers from this complaint, 

 he found that gout was not conducive to amiability. But his friendship with 

 Lowe, Huxley, and others shows that he was no misanthrope or hermit, when the 

 environment was congenial. There is abundant evidence also that, as some have 

 testified, he was always ready to advise and help those who were genuinely in- 

 terested in science, and sought his assistance in a proper manner. W. S. Macleay 

 did not marry. 



W. S. Macleay's collection, as he brought it to Australia in 1839, comprised 

 the specimens left with him by his father for study; what he may have collected 

 or obtained by exchange or gift in Cuba, or at Philadelphia and the other ports 

 of call on the outward and homeward voyages ; and what he may have acquired 

 in England, after his return, by exchange or otherwise; and especially Verreaux's 

 South African collection of insects, which he purchased. Details of what he 

 added to his collection after he came to Australia are not available. Sir William 

 Macleay, in writing to the Chancellor of the University of Sydney in 1874, said 

 that the joint collections of A. and W. S. Macleay amounted to 480 drawers, 

 and his own to 320 drawers. But in addition to the specimens in the cabinets, 

 there were a number of dry specimens on shelves. These are referred to later. 



