300 Dr. Smith's Biographical Memoirs 



practical botanist. This was the origin of the Flora Dietetica, pub- 

 lished in 1783. It was dedicated to Mr. Crowe, who had for some 

 years, as well as several other gentlemen of Norwich, embraced 

 with ardour the study of British botany. The Rev. Mr. Bryant 

 Avas by this time settled at his living of Heydon ; from whence he 

 afterwards removed to Colby in Norfolk, where he died at an ad- 

 vanced age in 1799» having never experienced any diminution of 

 his fondness for botanical pursuits. Mr. Hudson and Mr. Light- 

 foot were, as long as they lived, his constant correspondents. 

 Mr. Charles Bryant died before his brother. 



Mr. Pitchford, therefore, was the only survivor of the original 

 Linnrcan school of Norwich. He had also been a frequent cor- 

 respondent of the authors of the Flora Anglica and Flora Scotica. 

 But though an admirer of Linnaeus, he was always peculiarly 

 partial to Ray ; and though ever so well acquainted with a plant 

 by its Linnaean name, he could never rest while any obscurity en- 

 veloped it in the works of Ray. The Carices and Mentha; more 

 particularly engaged Mr. Pitchford's attention ; and it must be 

 confessed the study of them on his plan, of scrutinizing synonyms 

 without access to any old English herbarium, Avas not soon to be 

 exhausted. No wonder, therefore, that his conversation and epi- 

 stolary correspondence on these subjects found no end. Nothing, 

 however, could be more candid and amicable than his discus- 

 sions. In the last interview I had Avith him, he was particularly 

 strenuous Avith me to separate the Mentha hirsuta, Avith capitate 

 floAvers, from the verticillate, M. sativa. I think it but just to 

 record the opinion of so indefatigable a practical observer, though 

 my OAvn remains unshaken. As some years have noAv elapsed since 

 the Linnean Society published my paper on Mints, I take this 

 opportunity of observing, that subsequent experience has strongly 

 confirmed the solidity of the characters taken from the pubes- 

 cence 



