ANNALS 
OF 
PHILOSOPHY. 
AUGUST, 1815. 
Artice I. 
Some Account of the late Smithson Tennant, Esq. 
(Continued from p. 11.) 
Tuat desire of visiting remote countries, of viewing the pro- 
ductions of Nature in more favoured climates, and of observing the 
ractical effects of different systems of laws and government, which 
is common to every man of talents and curiosity, was felt with 
peculiar force by Mr. Tennant, and may be considered as one of 
his ruling passions. He was therefore much disposed, after he had 
relinquished the intention of medical practice, to indulge this in- 
clination, and to travel in those parts of Europe which he had not 
already visited. But the war with France opposed many obstacles 
to continental excursions ; and the uncommon sufferings which he 
experienced from sea sickness, deterred him from forming any: pro- 
ject in which a sea voyage of any considerable length was to be un- 
dertaken. He often regretted that this unfortunate peculiarity of 
his constitution prevented him from seeing the United States of 
America; and he abandoned, but with considerable reluctance, 
those schemes of travelling in distant countries, to which, at this 
particular period of his life, he would otherwise have been strongly 
inclined. 
But although he was thus prevented from indulging in a favourite 
taste, his situation at this period was in many respects one of the 
most enviable in which a man of science could be placed. He was 
independent in his circumstances ; and being free from all profes- 
sional avocations, enjoyed the entire command of his own time. 
His residence in the metropolis gave him easy access to whatever 
was new and valuable in science and literature, as well as the means 
Vor, VI. N° If, EF 
