1 MEMOIR. 



proached in interest and popularity this simple and 

 almost unpremeditated attempt. 



To his brother John he writes (April 1774, four years 

 after Barrington's first suggestion), " Out of all my 

 journals I think I might collect matter enough, and such 

 a series of incidents as might pretty well comprehend 

 the Nat : History of this district, especially as to the 

 ornithological part ; and I have moreover half a century 

 of letters on the same subject, most of them very long ; 

 all which together (were they thought worthy to be 

 seen) might make up a moderate volume. To these 

 might be added some circumstances of the country, its 

 most curious plants, its few antiquities, all which toge- 

 ther might soon be moulded into a work, had I resolu- 

 tion and spirits enough to set about it." The letters to 

 which he refers consist of those to Pennant and Daines 

 Barrington, which constitute the natural-history portion 

 of his book; and of these the greater number are of dates 

 anterior to that of this letter to his brother. Those to 

 Pennant were returned to him when he determined upon 

 taking the important step, and are at present in my 

 temporary possession. They contain some passages 

 which were omitted in publication ; but a few of them 

 have appeared to me worthy of being restored, arid will 

 be found in the notes. 



The intention to publish, however, although never 

 lost sight of, required a degree of courage and reso- 

 lution which time and the stimulus of friendly pressure 

 could alone induce. At length, in the month of Feb- 

 ruary 1776, in a letter to his nephew, Samuel Barker, 

 we find that he has again been urged by Mr. Barrington 

 to publish, but not alone. " Mr. Barrington wants me to 

 join with him in a Nat: Hist: publication ; but if I publish 



