532 
When his health was good, the occupation was 
one he enjoyed. He arranged previously the heads 
of his lecture; but for words he always trusted to 
the ideas which arose in his mind while he was de- 
livering it, and in general he exceeded the allotted 
time, and had more to say than could be compressed 
into the space of an hour. A printed abstract of 
the subject he intended to discourse upon was not 
omitted, for the convenience of himself and his 
auditors; and of these sketches he composed a great 
variety, as the succession of his courses required. 
Of one of these Dr. Goodenough, in the year 1795, 
tells him, “Iam quite charmed with your Syllabus. 
I would advise you, while you are a lecturer (do not 
defer it till you have given up, it will not be half so 
well done), to draw out all that matter at full length, 
and publish it as suits you; it would be another 
Philosophia Botanica in a fashionable dress.” 
Perhaps there is not to be found in the records of 
any scientific association a more gratifying exam- 
ple of the existence and the expression of kindly 
feelings, of the absence of all jealousy, and of the 
most active exertions in the support of science, 
than has been displayed by the members of the 
Linnean Society, not only with a view to maintain 
the spirit and utility of their institution by indivi- 
dual efforts, unfettered by rivalry or intrigue, but 
by a mutual feeling of friendship and esteem exist- 
ing between themselves and him who was so long 
chosen to preside over them. 
The honour which the Society conferred upon its 
