24 MEMOIR OF 



in somewhat singular terms. " He filled the Chair 

 of Natural History in the university of Bologna 

 so successfully, that he appeared to bear away the 

 palm of distinction not only from those who lived 

 before him, but from those also who should succeed 

 him" ut omnium ante se genitorum diligentis- 

 simtis, etiam post futuris hujus palmce gloriam 

 prceripuisse videatur* 



And we the less wonder at this elegant compli- 

 ment, as our naturalist, in occupying this depart- 

 ment of science, found himself in that situation 

 which was most congenial to the earliest bent of 

 his genius, and the enthusiastic prepossessions of 

 nis whole soul. This we can fortunately exhibit on 

 Ms own testimony, and that of scarcely less com- 

 petent witnesses. And if these his sentiments be 

 produced somewhat at length in his own words, and 

 in those of his intimate friends, we feel that no 

 apology is required, as, beyond all question, these 

 are the most authentic vouchers of the truly philo- 

 sophic ardour of our distinguished Naturalist. We 

 may remark in passing, that it seems highly proba- 

 ble that he soon vacated his chairs of Philosophy and 

 Logic ; while those of Botany and Physic he pro- 

 oably retained. 



Having occasion, at an advanced period of his 

 /ife, to allude to the labours of his immediate pre- 

 decessors in the prosecution of Natural History, 

 Aldrovandi gives the following account of himself: 



* Miraeus, Loc. cil. 



