183 



tvf ItB improvement. His first writings were in the Pliilosophi- 

 cal Transactions for 1713, " On the motion of the Sap in ve- 

 g«tabk^3 and microscopical observations on vegetation and 

 on the quick growth of mouldinoss on Melons," (vol. xxix. 

 p. 48G. and p. 490.) He was elected F. R. S. and afterwards 

 Nov. 10th, 1724, Professor of Botany at Cambridge. This last 

 honour lie obtained in a clandestine and dishonourable manner, 

 besides which he neglected to perform the duties of his pro- 

 fessorship. The University, perhaps too leniently, allowed hiiu 

 to remain nominally their professor, but Dr. Martyn was ap- 

 pointed to deliver the lectures as Reader on Plants. At the 

 close of his life, his conduct was so dissipated, that it was in 

 contemplation to deprive him of his honorary title, and steps 

 were taken to carry this into execution, when death in 1732, 

 snatched him from the disgrace which his talents, and his un- 

 wearied applications had long sheltered him from. The means 

 which he used to obtain the Professorship was a false recom- 

 mendation from Dr. Sherard to Dr^ Bentley ; and boasted as- 

 surances that by his own interest and pecuniary resources he 

 could obtain a Botanic Garden for the University. It was 

 soon discovered these promises were baseless, and that he was 

 ill-qualilied for hisappoi;itment, by being totally ignorant of the 

 learned languages. This is true, although his name is ap- 

 pended as tiie translator of Xenophon's QiLconomicks, he being 

 paid by the publisher to allow the authority of his name.* 



The following is a list of his works, 



1, Kistoria Plantarum Succulentarum, complectens hasce in- 

 sequentes Plantas, Aloen scilicet, Ficoiden, Cereos, Melo- 

 cardium, aliasque ejus generis quoe in Horto sicco coli non 

 possunt, secundum Prototypum puta naturam in tabeliis 

 ceeneisinsculptas, carumdemdescriptiones hncaccedunt et 



* Preface to Dr. Martyn's dissertation on Ihd .Eiiels. Plunkut'i 

 Sketches of Botany, Ac. 



