4] 
fathers ; but they were as honest, sincere, and virtuous 
as the present age; and as I am not ashamed to be 
related to them, though many are, I do not blush 
to use their phrase. To say true, I could find no 
better ; and I know, my dear boy, you will not de- 
spise it. 
Mr. J. Pitchford to Mr. James Edward Smith. 
Dear Sir, Norwich, April 1782. 
It is now high time to answer your obliging 
letter. I am very sure you have but little time to 
botanize ; and am far from being jealous, as an ad- 
mirer of Flora, that you should neglect her for the 
more useful parts of science, which I make no 
doubt at this time have taken possession of your 
heart. This is as it should be; nor can I see that 
the competent knowledge of botany, which you 
say is considered at Edinburgh as an essential part 
of medical education, can really be so very necessary; 
unless no more is meant than a knowledge of the 
species employed in medicine. This is so very 
necessary, that Linnzeus, you know, makes one of 
the obstacles to the improvement of physic to arise 
from an ignorance of the species intended. Botany, 
to be sure, ought to be pursued as an amusement 
only (except by those who write upon it); and as 
such this present letter, and I’m afraid my future 
ones, will contain scarce anything else, unless you 
will improve me by informing me what new disco- 
veries are making in physic, and what are the prin- 
cipal studies in which you are at present engaged. 
