MEMOIR OF DRURY. 51 



met with was highly favourable, and its sale con- 

 siderable. The author presented a copy to Linnseus, 

 accompanied with the following letter, which is 

 well worthy of being transcribed. 



" To Dr. Linnaeus. 



" Address Regiaa Scientiarum 



Societati Upsaliensi Upsala. 



" London, Aug. 30, 1770. 

 " Most excellent Sir, 



" I cannot better express the strong inclination I 

 have of testifying my respect to you as the greatest 

 Master of Natural History now existing, than by 

 presenting you a copy of a work I have just pub- 

 lished here. 



" Believe me, Sir, it is not from vanity I take 

 the liberty of making you this offering, nor, poor as 

 it is (for I am truly sensible of its defects), would 

 I make it to any person that is inferior to Linnaeus 

 in the study of Nature. But to whom should I 

 pay my acknowledgments of this sort, but to the 

 Father of Natural History ? You, Sir, I consider 

 as that father, and therefore I beseech your kind 

 acceptance hereof, a circumstance that will do me 

 great honour and favour, and at the same time 

 countenance my weak endeavours to promote a 

 study that, I must confess, I prefer to every other. 



" Permit me also to take this opportunity of con- 

 gratulating you on the effects which your Systema 



