138 Notice of British Naturalists. 
appears to have accomplished during his leisure hours. His pro- 
fessional practice was large; he was by no means unacquainted 
with the writings of preceding Physicians, and his information 
on general topics was such as might be expected from one hold- 
ing the high station in society which he did. What has been 
justly remarked of those among the ancients who wrote on Nat- 
ural History, we may apply, without much change, to Lister,— 
that they were men of enlarged minds, who were far from being 
confined to one study; that their views were elevated, and their 
knowledge various and profound ; and that while no object appear 
ed too minute for their consideration, their depth of thought pre- 
served them from trifling or unimportant investigations. Lister 
may be said to be the father of Conchology in England ; and his 
anatomical examinations prove how correct a view he took of the 
subject. In these writings he has displayed both great accuracy 
of observation, and indefatigable industry in detecting the most 
minute particulars of the economy of this part of creation; and 
we may still refer to his works with profit, instruction, and in- 
terest. 
Sir Roserr Srppatp.—The principal source of information te 
specting him, is from an autobiography written in 1695, recently 
published, with other scraps of Scottish history* under the title of 
“ Analecta Scotica.” He was descended from a noble family of 
great antiquity, and enjoyed the influence of a judicious and ex 
cellent mother, who was very careful of his education. He was 
born at Edinburgh, April 15, 1641, and received his education 1 
the high school and university of that city. He then spent tw? 
years and a half on the continent, studying medicine at Leyden 
and in Paris, and cultivating the acquaintance of the leading 
vans of the day. Having obtained a French diploma of medicine 
he travelled in various parts of France, and returned through Eng- 
Jand to Edinburgh in October, 1662. ‘There was in those days no 
public coach north of York, whence he travelled to Newcastle 
on horseback with a guide, whom he retained through the re- 
mainder of his journey. 
On his return to his native country, he projected the plan fot 
establishing a Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, and W 
active in carrying it into effect. In 1686 he is said to have embra- 
ced Popery; from which, in a few years, he- again room 
* Naturalist’s Library, vol. ix, p. 18. 
