XX OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE 
should lead him to indulge to a certain degree beyond the range of natural objects is not 
surprising; and in collecting the portraits of distinguished naturalists, he was led also to 
those who had eminently cultivated other branches of science, the arts, and literature, and 
in the course of time led him to the formation of a most remarkable collection of engraved 
portraits and topography, consisting of more than 200,000 specimens. The portraits have 
been estimated to be not fewer than 140,000, and the topographical engravings nearly 70,000, 
whilst the engravings in natural history are between 20,000 and 30,000 in number. The 
portraits are arranged, according to the subjects for which the individuals were peculiarly 
distinguished, in Solander cases, the larger in portfolios and guard books. These have all 
been given to the University of Oxford, and are open to the inspection of the public, for 
which he anxiously stipulated. He has been no less liberal in regard to his vast collection 
of drawings in natural history and topography, and to these are attached his books, forming 
a very extensive library of works in all branches of natural history, which serve to elucidate 
his museum. I recollect that when in London, I have seen him at his daily occupation, 
devoting himself to a case of insects, for they required attention at least once a year to be 
preserved from destruction—so fragile is their nature. He had a case, he used to tell me, 
for every day in the year; and latterly, in the arrangement of his engraved portraits, etc.,’ 
he was happy in having as his assistant his amiable and enlightened partner, whose unde- 
viating attention to his pursuits and constant care of his health under great infirmity were 
the admiration of all who had the happiness to enjoy their society and friendship. Of the 
Entomological Society of London Mr. Hope was a founder, and he published various papers 
in the Transactions of that Society ; also in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society; and 
a distinct work, in three volumes 8vo, on the Classification of Coleopterous Insects. Highly 
gratifying as it would be to me to dwell upon these researches, I must yet forbear, as they 
do not come under the denomination of those to which our attention is particularly directed. 
I cannot, however, withhold the mention of a work which is only in MS. at present [as 
it is still in 1874], but which I trust may some day be put before the public, as interesting 
to all classes and to all readers—his Entomologia Sacra—in which the character of, and 
the antiquities connected with, all species of insects referred to in Holy Writ are most 
precisely and learnedly discoursed of. 
Mr. Hope was most liberal in his communications to other naturalists, and it would be 
difficult to form any estimate of the aid given by him to many authors in the production 
of their works!. Looking over some of his MSS.—many of which are fragmentary, but of 
considerable value, left to the University, and I may venture to hope to form the nuclei of 
future essays—I found one, in rough notes, of contributions rendered to the late amiable 
4 [In proof of this statement it may be mentioned that Mr. Hope’s name appears in almost every page of Graven- 
horst’s work in 3 volumes, ‘Ichneumonologia Europea, 1829, as a contributor of British Species of Ichneumonide, which 
he had collected to a very large extent. In like manner his name appears as a very extensive contributor of exotic 
species of Curculionidae to Schonherr’s Work on that Group, in 14 volumes ; and also in M. Gory’s great works on the 
Cetoniide and Buprestide.—J. O. W.] 
