MEMOIR. 
XXV 
self made respectable attainments in the funda- 
mental principles of natural science, and even in 
all its separate branches, he was at the same 
time the man of business, the man of fortune, the 
man of prospective leisure, and the man who had 
consecrated that leisure to the interests of science 
and art. 
Not the least among the items for which science 
is indebted to Dr. Binney, must Ave reckon his 
superb library. It numbers many hundred vol- 
umes, and at his death was undoubtedly the most 
important library of works on zoology in America. 
It was by no means the largest ; but it contained 
more of the modern works, on those topics which 
are essential to the study of natural history in its 
present state, than any other one library in the 
country. Many of the books are splendid, rare, 
and very costly works; and all are in elegant 
binding. These he granted free use of, to all 
who desired it; and indeed it had become indis- 
pensable, in the investigation of any important 
topic in zoology, to consult his library ; and for 
this purpose it was visited by gentlemen from all 
parts of the Union. 
Having frequent occasion to travel, and thus 
visiting every quarter of the Union, he formed 
