LINNEAX SOCIETY OF LOKDOX. XXXI 



He has also left more than twenty thick volumes of MS. notes, 

 on almost every subject that can be named ; and besides this, an 

 enormous collection of water-colour drawings, most valuable to 

 the antiquarian and naturalist ; and these, during his life, were at 

 the free disposal of all to whom they coidd be of the slightest 

 service. 



Upon his retirement from active ser\dce. Col. Smith fixed his 

 residence at Plymouth, and from this town he never afterwards 

 removed. He became a FeUow of the Linnean Society in 

 1826, and was elected President of the Devon and Cornwall 

 Natural History Society at its formation. He died September 21, 

 1859. 



William Spence, Esg^., F.H.S., was born at Hull in the year 1783, 

 and commenced life there in business. At an early age he con- 

 tracted an ardent taste for the study of Insects, which led to his 

 forming the acquaintance, and afterwards the intimate friendship, 

 of the late Mr. Kirby, in conjunction with whom his name will 

 descend to all time. 



The two friends conjointly published the weU-known ' Intro- 

 duction to Entomology,' of whose merits it is needless to say any- 

 thing, seeing that it has been universally placed in the first rank 

 of English classical Natural History works. The names of its 

 authors will always remain associated with the science of Ento- 

 mology, to the advance of which, by their admirable popular book, 

 they have so very largely contributed. The first idea or plan of 

 the work is believed to have originated with Mr. Spence, and was 

 suggested by him in a letter to his friend in the year 1808. The 

 first volume, however, did not appear till 1815, and it was so well 

 received as to pass through three editions before the publication 

 of the second volume in 1817. The work, in four volumes, was 

 not completed till 1826. In 1856, subsequently to the death of 

 Mr. Kirby, a seventh edition, in a cheaper and more portable form, 

 was the last important contribution of Mr. Spence to his favourite 

 science. Although the original design and plan of the work be 

 undoubtedly due to Mr. Spence, it is impossible, or nearly so, to 

 discern in its execution the hand of the one or the other author; 

 so closely attached and so intimately united, apparently, bv com- 

 munity of thought and feeling, their style is alike, and the two 

 have produced a work as marked by unity of execution as if it were 

 the product of a single mind. 



Besides this "magnum opus," Mr. Spence was the author of 

 numerous contributions to the Transactions of the Linnean and 



