48 Transactions of the [Sess. 



three Britons are George III., tlie Rev. Joseph Dalton, and Sir 

 William Hooker. The Mosses known by the name Georgia boast 

 of a name derived from a monarch whose reign is conspicuous in 

 British history. The main facts of George III.'s character and reign 

 may not be estimated alike by us all ; but all will rejoice that the 

 cares of his anxious life were relieved by botanical studies, and 

 that his royal influence was sometimes exerted to encourage those 

 who, under difficulties, were devoting their energies to the study 

 of botanical science. The knowledge of these facts is adapted to 

 quicken our sympathies with the monarch, and to deepen our 

 interest in the history of his life. The Rev. Joseph Dalton is the 

 only clergyman who had the honour of having his name embalmed 

 in the older nomenclature of British Mosses. Not a little that is 

 favourable may be inferred about him from the fact that this honour 

 was conferred upon him by Hooker and Taylor, and that Sir Wil- 

 liam Hooker named his son Joseph Dalton Hooker. This honoured 

 man, we may hope, was not less efficient as a minister of the Gospel, 

 because he was a distinguished botanist. The study of plant life 

 is not incongruous with the study of the Scriptures, or with faithful 

 service in the kingdom of Christ. He who knows most of the 

 great works of God in nature, possesses an unfailing fund of 

 illustration by which he may impressively enforce the highest 

 duties and privileges of men. Side studies relieve the pressure 

 of professional toil, and strengthen for its patient endurance. 



If we linger over the third British name, Sir W. J. Hooker, we 

 shall be excused by the eminence he attained, and by the value of 

 his contributions to botanical literature and research. It was a 

 fortunate circumstance that this Norwich-born lad possessed such 

 a love of nature, that the energies intended for trade were diverted 

 from it and consecrated to the study of plants. He was persuaded 

 to do this by Sir J. E. Smith, to whom he applied for the name of 

 a rare Moss. One circumstance occurred very early in his history 

 which gave promise of a great life, because it revealed the exist- 

 ence of greatness in youth. When about twenty-four years of age, 

 he was returning from Iceland, laden wdth specimens of its plants 

 which he had collected there, and with many drawings and notes 

 respecting them which he had made. In a storm all these treas- 

 ures were lost, and his life was placed in great jeopardy. The 

 great sorrow which Sir Isaac Newton experienced was tasted by 

 him, though from a different cause and under different circum- 

 stances. But by a toil which knew no fatigue, by a memory such 

 as few possess, and by an elasticity of spirit which rose above 

 every discouragement, he succeeded in reproducing all that part of 

 his work which was of special value to botanical science. Can we 

 be surprised to learn that, shortly after accomplishing this great 

 eat, he began to collect a herbarium which became celebrated as 



