i^Qj. anecdotfs. - 2f>^ 



ffcct preseTvation, it is far bevonJ them all. Lord Gar- 

 denston, in his travelling memorandums, remarks, that 

 after having seen the finest collections of natural history 

 111' France, Italy, and Germany, he had found none in 

 which the oojects were so naturally disposed, or so per- 

 fectly preserved, as in that of Mr Weir. His birds and 

 fiihes especially deserve particular notice. The filhes re- 

 tain the plumpnefs and the frefhnefs of nature, without 

 any thing of that dried, flirivelled appearance so usual iu 

 other collections j nor ever lose any thing of it. And as 

 to birds Mr Weir pofsefses the- rare secret of curing' them, 

 so as to remain entirely free of -vermin of every sort. 

 Dr Walker -has at present in his collection, birds which 

 were prepared by Mr Weir upwards of thirty years ago, 

 whose plumage is as frefh and glofsy as that day they 

 were killed ; and JMr Weir with confidence afserts, that 

 they will continue so for ages. How different this 

 from the birds in the Britifh, and every other muse- 

 nm in Europe I What a pity that a secret, of such singu- 

 lar utility fliould be confined to one man I Why do not 

 the public purchase it from him, for the general improve- 

 ment of science in every part of the globe ? Mr Weir is a 

 man of too liberal principles to with-hold it upon reason- 

 able terms j but it is not to be expected that a man wh» 

 is not in. affluent circumstances, fhould part with a thing 

 of that nature without a proper- compensation. 



ANECDOTES OF ALPHONSO KING OF ARRAGON. 

 This trait of his liberality is well known. One of his 

 treasurers had brought him a sum of ten thousand ducats. 

 \An olficer who was there at that time, said in a low voice 

 to somebody, I fliould a;!v no more than that sum to be 

 'liappy : you Jhall be so, said Alphonso who had heard him, 



