356 Pi'of. Schultes 07i the 



The present Professor of Botany at Cambridge, Mr. Thomas 

 Martyn, having been for many years prevented from lecturing 

 by illness, confided his office of Professor, in so far as it was 

 the foundation of Walker, to the most eminent botanist in Eng- 

 land, the President of the Linnsean Society, Sir J. E. Smith. 

 Most of the members of the University were well pleased with 

 this choice, inasmuch as it advanced the celebrity of the high 

 school at Cambridge. In compliance with the desire of Mar- 

 tyn, Smith sacrificed his leisure, went to Cambridge, and there 

 proposed to renew the lectures on botany, which for many 

 years had been discontinued. But the Pro-rector of this Uni- 

 versity, Mr. Monk, formally laid an interdict on the Knight 

 and President of the Linnasan Society, Sir J. E. Smith, pro- 

 hibiting him from ascending the rostrum, because he was, — a 

 Dissenter ! — that is, a Christian of a different persuasion from 

 Mr. Monk. What would be said of a German University 

 which for such a reason should exclude so distinguished an 

 individual as Smith ? Had Cambridge been now in the situ- 

 ation of France, groaning under the rod of such an obscure 

 fanatic as the Bishop of Hermopolis ; or had Sir James, in 

 any of his publications or in any part of his conduct, shown 

 the least trace of irreligion, — then the University would have 

 been justified in this procedure: but not only have all the 

 works of Smith testified their author to be, in the highest 

 sense of the word, a religious character ; but his whole life has 

 been a series of the exercise of Christian virtue and elevated 

 piety. Who would have believed that an University within 

 the walls of which the immortal Erasmus Roterodamus once 

 taught, and which had produced such a man as Milton, should 

 ever, and even in the twentieth year of the nineteenth century, 

 sink to such a depth of barbarity ! [besiialitat lyBut ^'' omnia jam 

 Jient " &c. ; and we must not wonder that in this island, as well 

 as on the continent, there should be instances of the existence 

 of dull heads and infected hearts in Universities, when the 

 direction of these institutions is entrusted to the learned corps 

 oijrercs ignoi-antins. 



The few hours which Sir James Smith's kindness induced 

 him to devote to me, though he was ready prepared to set oft' 

 on a journey to join his Smithia, (a lady of rare talents,) passed 

 away like a moment of time; just as the sweetest periods of 

 life seem to fleet upon the swiftest wings. I have rarely be- 

 held a more noble countenance; one indicative of such can- 

 dour, simplicity and kindness, united with so much clearness 

 of intellect, as that of Sir J. E. Smith ; and the expression of 

 his features will never be obliterated from my memory. 



Sir James obtained for my son and myself admittance to the 



noble 



