44 
filled this letter, she is determined to fill the next 
herself. 
I remain your affectionate humble Servant, 
J. Pircurorp. 
P.S. This afternoon I saw a letter of yours to 
your sister Fanny: I respect you for such a mark 
of your affection to her. Messrs. Rose and Hum- 
phrey desire their compliments. 
Mr. James Edward Smith to his Father. 
Honoured Sir, Edinburgh, 15th April, 1782. 
, myself, and four or five friends, who have a 
turn for natural history, have lately formed a society 
for the prosecution of that study. Dr. Walker the 
new professor, who is a most amiable, worthy and 
ingenious man, no sooner heard of it than he offered 
us his museum to meet in, with the use of his books 
and specimens ; and he begged to be admitted an or- 
dinary member, which he accordingly was, and about 
seven young men besides. Dr. Hope was made 
an honorary member, as he cannot often attend 
us; but Dr. Walker, who has no business to follow 
but natural history, foresees the consequence this 
society may be of to him, and is resolved to support 
it as much as possible. Several men of genius and 
rank have petitioned to be admitted as ordinary 
members, among whom are the Earls of Glasgow 
and Ancram, and Lord Dacre, son to the Earl of 
Selkirk,—three young noblemen of fine parts and 
great fortunes We have had two public meetings: 
