LiyxEAy sociXTT OT i.oyDO>". xhii 



Norfolk clergyman. It consisted exclusirely of hardy plants, but 

 was of considerable extent and of great interest — all the species 

 being named, and tbe whole systematically arranged. 



iVIr. John Curtis, then a young man, unknown beyond his own 

 circle, was taken by IMr. WiUdn as his private secretary and 

 draughtsman, having first been sent by him to study under 'Mr. 

 Edwards, the engraver of Bungay ; and to the opportunity thus 

 afibrded to Mr. Curtis of following the bent of his geniiis the sub- 

 sequent eminence attained by him may be considered as largelv due. 



At one time Mr. "Wilkin seriously contemplated the publication 

 of a complete description of the Lionean cabinet of insects, and 

 for this purpose he spent a considerable time in examining the 

 collection at the residence of Sir J. E. Smith. Had the work been 

 completed, it would doubtless have been of great value in deter- 

 mining with certainty the true Linnean species ; but it proved 

 too long a task to be accomplished by any but the actual possessor 

 of the collection. A sufficient quantity of MS. notes, however, 

 remain to attest the care and diligence with which the labour was 

 commenced. 



He subsequently appKed himself to the preparation of a Cata- 

 logue of British Coleoptera, for which his cabinet aflorded very 

 copious materials. It was probably for this work that some ex- 

 quisite copper plates were engraved by Mr. John Curtis, which still 

 remain unpubKshed : six plates were completed, each containing 

 fi^ires of four insects in duplicate, the lower figures apparentiv 

 intended to be coloured, the upper ones to remain plain. 



The same artist also executed, at Mr. "Wilkin's cost, the whole 

 of the very beautiful plates which appeared in the first and second 

 volumes of Kirby and Spence's ' Introduction to Entomologv ' 

 (see preface, pp. xx, xxi, 1st edition), with the authors of which 

 work Mr. "VTil kin's acquaintance was of an affectionate and enduring 

 character. 



In 1816 a sudden reverse of fortune removed the subject of this 

 memoir from the circle in which he had thus been enjovinof the 

 pleasures of social intercom^e and mutual cooperation in scientific 

 pursuits ; and with a resignation which showed the depth of his 

 religious feelings, and a determination which gave proof of the 

 energy and elasticity of his character, he adapted himself to the 

 strangely altered position in which he suddenly found himself 

 placed. After a brief interval, he entered into business as printer 

 and publisher at Norwich, where he soon identified himself with 

 all movements connected with literatiire and science. 



