MEMOIR OF DR. WALKER. 4? 



of the university, and of many documents tending 

 to illustrate the history, antiquities, and laws of 

 Scotland, from being deposited in the library of the 

 Faculty of Advocates. But, above all, the posses- 

 sion of a museum of natural history might enable 

 and induce the Society of Antiquaries to institute a 

 lectureship of natural history, in opposition to the 

 professorship in the university. 



The curators of the Advocates* Library, too, were 

 likewise induced to join in the clamour against the 

 Society, and to write to the Lord Advocate to pre- 

 vent the obnoxious Antiquaries from becoming an 

 incorporated body, lest their own magnificent col- 

 lection should be impeded in its progress by the 

 interception of ancient Scottish manuscripts and 

 muniments destined for them, but which might be 

 sent to enrich the repository of a new and active 

 competitor. The Lord Advocate, however, wisely 

 judging that no such pernicious consequences would 

 follow, but that both might exist prosperously toge- 

 ther, and, acting as honourable rivals, by mutual 

 emulation promote the common cause, rather for- 

 warded the application, and on the 6th of May, 

 1783, the royal charter to the Society of the Anti- 

 quaries of Scotland was finally ratified, his majesty 

 George III. having voluntarily declared himself 

 their patron. Mr. Smellie's lectures, however, did 

 not proceed, but they afterwards appeared in a 

 more permanent form, under the title of " The 

 Philosophy of Natural History," forming two re- 

 spectable quartos. 



