MEMOIR OF DRURY. 53 



afford few or no new speculations, we must not ex- 

 pect it. A Banks and Solander are to be found 

 only in an age ; and the wonders of creation must 

 not be expected to be opened and displayed but by 

 slow and gradual means." 



He had resolved not to publish a third volume ; 

 not because he was less anxious than formerly to 

 do every thing in his power to promote his favourite 

 study, or that he was dissatisfied with the success of 

 the two first, but because the pressure of business 

 denied him the requisite leisure for such an under- 

 taking. From this cause we find him proposing to 

 devolve the task on Smeathman, as it was to him 

 that he was indebted for most of the subjects of 

 which it was to be composed. " Could you not," 

 he asks, in a letter dated 28th January, 1773, " do 

 this business for me ? How ? you will say. I will 

 tell you. I can from time to time send you the in- 

 sects I would compose it of, which you might 

 describe, and if you would write the natural history 

 of some of those you find, they might be inserted, 

 and embellish it so much as to make it sell with 

 avidity. I would be at all the expense of engraving, 

 colouring, &c. The advantage of it you would 

 share jointly with me, or I would pay you for the 

 whole at a stated sum. The duty I owe mankind 

 makes me wish I could bring this about, for I really 

 know nobody so capable to give the natural history 

 of these animals as yourself, both from your situa- 

 tion and abilities. If I cannot get it done by some 

 such means, I shall certainly never publish any 



