LINJTEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON". 37 



nothing would, with more reason, be expected from tlie society 

 than a strict attention to the laws and principles of Linnaeus, so 

 far as they have been found good, and that the most useful scien- 

 tific work they could undertake would be by studying the pub- 

 lications of Linnn?us as a foundation, endeavouring to give them 

 that perfection of which they were capable, and incorporating 

 mth them all new discoveries. He dej)recated the silly vanity of 

 making new systems or arrangements which some undertook 

 merely for the sake of being talked about. 



At this first meeting there were present six others besides the 

 President. 



The Eev. Dr. Goodenough, afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, who 

 will always be remembered by his classical monograph of the 

 British Carices in the second volume of the Society's ' Transac- 

 tions,' was appointed Treasurer. T. Marshamwas elected Secre- 

 tary: for twenty years he continued to contribute papers on ento- 

 mological subjects. Jonas Dryander, a Swede and a distinguished 

 pupil of Linnaeus, was, at the April meeting, appointed Librarian 

 to the Society. Dryander was singularly fitted to lay the foun- 

 dations of our library. He had succeeded Solander as librarian 

 to Sir J. Banks, and to his wonderful knowledge and zeal was 

 mainly due the completeness of that magnificent library which 

 Sir J. Banks bequeathed to the British Museum. He was besides 

 an excellent botanist, leaving many evidences of his extensive 

 and critical knowledge of plants in the herbarium of Sir Joseph 

 Banks, in the assistance he rendered to Alton in the first two 

 volumes of the second edition of his ' Hortus Kewensis,' and in 

 several memoirs published in our 'Transactions,' to one of which, 

 that on Lindscea, I would specially call attention as a model of 

 critical examination and precise description worthy of his great 

 master. Sir Joseph Banks was singularly happy in having 

 Solander, Dryander, and then Eobert Brown as assistants in his 

 herbarium and library. 



James Dickson was also present at the first meeting. He 

 was a gardener from Scotland who had gradually worked his way 

 up until he was able to establish himself as a seedsman and florist 

 in Covent Grarden. He had a good knowledge of British plants, 

 and contributed several papers to the ' Transactions ' ; but he is 

 better known by his work on the Cryptogamous plants of Britain. 

 Dr. J. Beckwith was also at the first meeting. He read a paper 

 on four new British Moths to the Society in the beginning of 

 1789, but was dead when the paper was published in 1794. Mr. 

 J. T. Swainson completes the list. He was a lover of science and 

 transmitted his tastes to his son, the distinguished zoologist. 



At the second meeting, held on the 18th March, only six indi- 

 viduals were present ; but the roll of the foundation members 

 was made up, and consisted of 20 ordinary Pellows, including, 

 besides those who have been already mentioned, Salisbury, Lam- 

 bert, Sibthorp and "William Curtis, 3 Honorary Members, Sir 



