46 



All accounts agree that Peter Collinson left behind him many ma- 

 terials to aid and interest in the study of Natural History. The devo- 

 tion to Horticulture for the last half century, on both sides the water, 

 and its present refined taste, owe much to his untiring industry and 

 successful exertions in its behalf. Philip Miller, the great London 

 gardener, whose " Gardener's and Botanist's Dictionary," as edited 

 by Martyn, has never been surpassed either in extent of information 

 or accuracy, and which furnishes so large a portion of the contents of 

 all the most valuable recent works on the subject, was his right-hand 

 man and frequent fellow counsellor. The Duke of Richmond of his 

 time, as well as both the Lords Petre in succession " and others of 

 the first rank in life and letters were his friends j and he was continu- 

 ally urging them to prosecute the most liberal improvements." 



The portrait of him, by Miller, prefixed to Dr. FothergilTs letter, 

 is said by those of high authority, to be " excellent." 



The one preceding this Tribute is copied from it, being selected as 

 the best among five sent over by Dr. Boott, with a very curious and 

 interesting collection of Collinsoniana, gathered and neatly bound up, 

 for the author of the Memorials after their appearance in England. 

 Indeed, many have recently interested themselves to hunt up every 

 thing pertaining to the cherished name and good doings of this most 

 excellent and extraordinary man. 



We follow out the suggestion as to his descendants. 



the day, throughout a long series of years, form a very extensive and valuable collection of facts, 

 respecting both men and things. His application, even at that period of life when, with most 

 indulgence takes place of activity, and intellectual exertions yields to necessary repose, was truly 

 extraordinary. To a new object, or to the renewal of acquaintance with one imperfectly inves- 

 tigated, he applied with all the ardour of youth, but with the perseverance of more mature 

 age. Of the evils and afflictions incident to humanity he experienced a full proportion. On 

 being married to the daughter of Mr. Hinton Brown he became a partner in the banking house 

 of Brown & Co., the unexpected failure of which closed his prospects of future affluence for- 

 ever. He declined again entering into business, preferring the independence of leisure, which 

 enabled him to follow his favourite pursuits in science, to the risk and toil of renewing his for- 

 tune, which he felt was not a duty incumbent on him, having only one child, of whom and of 

 his wife he was the survivor. In the first calamity, among other keenly-felt disappointments, 

 he witnessed the dispersion of his noble library, of more than 10,000 volumes collected with 

 superior judgment and attention. On this melancholy reverse he was surrounded by a few 

 much respected and truly respectable friends, who administered every consolation to his 

 wounded feelings that benevolence and philanthropy could suggest (for to a mind liko his. of 

 exquisite sensibility, his sufferings were in the highest degree acute;) but after his first shook 

 had subsided, his conscious rectitude and unimpeached integrity enabled him to sustain his 

 situation with the dignified composure of a philosopher, and the resignation of a Christian. 

 He was a member of the religious society of Friends, to which he adhered through life, and 

 maintained its principles with unvarying consistency. His political sentiments were uniform, 

 and were those of the Old Whigs ; to several of the leading characters of which party he was 

 intimately knp,wn about the middle of the last century. Of so excellent, so estimable an indi- 

 vidual, this is a brief, and very imperfect record; but while memory remains, his friends will 

 not cease to revere a character equally distinguished by powers of intellect, moral rectitude, 

 liberality of sentiment, and urbanity of manners." 



