54 MEMOIR OF 



given at the commencement of this volume,* and 

 his character, as thus delineated by his faithful 

 and impartial friend, who was almost daily in his 

 company during nearly half his life. 



By the aid of merely that natural skill in phy- 

 siognomy which most persons believe themselves 

 to acquire in their intercourse with the world, it 

 seems easy to read in his countenance that per- 

 fect subjugation of the animal propensities and 

 omnipotent supremacy of intellect that unearthly 

 purity, modified by deep resources of benevolence 

 that accurate contemplativeness which allied him 

 to the sublimest occupations and purposes. It is 

 our beau ideal of a naturalist's countenance. 



In the year 1653, and the eighteenth year of 

 Mr Willughby's life, we find him a fellow com- 

 moner at Trinity College, Cambridge. During his 

 residence in the University, he formed an acquain- 

 tance with several persons, afterwards dis- 

 tinguished by their learning and talent, among 

 whom were Mr, afterwards Dr, Isaac Barrow, 

 the celebrated divine and mathematician ; but 

 the chief and most remarkable of his friends was 

 Mr Ray, or Wray y as that eminent writer spelt 

 his name at this period, and who, having been 

 born in the year 1628, was seven years older 

 than Mr Willughby; and having been chosen 

 minor-fellow of Trinity in the year 1649, must 

 have been a fellow of between three and four years 



* It is derived from an original painting, now al 

 Wollaton, 



