324 
when I can just remember tugging ineffectually 
with all my infant strength at the tough stalks of 
the Wild Succory on the chalky hillocks about 
Norwich, I have found the study of Nature an in- 
creasing source of unalloyed pleasure, and a conso- 
lation and refuge under every pain. Long destined 
to other pursuits and directed to other studies 
thought more advantageous or necessary, I could 
often snatch but a few moments for this favourite 
object. Unassisted by advice, unacquainted with 
books, I wandered long in the dark; till some of 
the principal elementary works, the publications of 
Lee, Rose, Stillingfleet, and a few others, came in 
my way, and were devoured over and over again. 
This kind of botanical education has the advan- 
tages of the necessary drudgery of a grammar- 
school; it trains the mind to labour, it fixes princi- 
ples and facts and terms and names, never to be 
forgotten. At length, however, I found I wanted 
something more, to apply to practice what had 
thus been acquired. I was then furnished with sy- 
stematic books, and introduced to Mr. Rose, whose 
writings had long been my guide. I was shown 
the works of Linneus; nor shall I ever forget the 
feelings of wonder excited by finding his whole 
system of animals, vegetables and minerals, com- 
prised in three octavo volumes. I had seen a fine 
quarto volume of Buffon, on the Horse alone. I 
expected to find the systematical works of Linnzus 
constituting a whole library; but they proved al- 
most capable of being put, like the Iliad, into a 
nutshell. Hence a new world was opened to me. 
