279 



scientific, the study of antiquities, for which the locality afforded 

 great opportunities, and, most of all, the pursuit of his earliest and 

 latest love, the observation and investigation of insect life. He had 

 been a collector of insects from his early boyhood, but it was during 

 the two years of comparative leisure following the close of his ap- 

 prenticeship (from about July 1824 to November 1826), that his 

 entomological studies assumed consistency and form. 



The Canterbury Philosophical and Literary Institution afforded 

 means of instruction of which George Newport, at this time, took 

 full advantage, having joined it as a member in 1825. Its library, 

 its collections, both in natural history and antiquities, and its lec- 

 tures, were to him the source of endless recreation and instruction, 

 advantages, which he was soon able to repay, in kind, by contribu- 

 tions both to its museum and theatre. In September 1825 he began 

 an elementary course of lectures on mechanics, and gave other lec- 

 tures on the same subject, at intervals, both during this and the 

 subsequent session of 1826; and in October of the latter year he 

 was appointed General Exhibitor of the Museum, with a small 

 salary. During this and the following year he gave some general 

 lectures on entomology, as well as numerous demonstrations on the 

 same subject, from his own collections and the specimens in the 

 museum ; and his name stands on the books of the Society as a 

 large donor of British insects collected and preserved by himself. 



Mr. Newport gave much satisfaction in his management of the 

 museum, and made numerous friends among its chief visitors, the 

 young men of the city, several of whom, subsequently, gave a 

 striking proof how highly they estimated his character and services. 

 Among the members, and one of the occasional Honorary Lec- 

 turers of the Society during the time of Mr. Newport's curatorship, 

 was a Surgeon then residing at Sandwich. The intimacy arising 

 from position and from pursuits of a kindred character, led to a con- 

 nexion which ended in Mr. Newport's leaving Canterbury and going 

 to reside at Sandwich ; Mr. Weekes agreeing to receive him as his 

 apprentice without the payment of any premium, but also without 

 any remuneration for services, even in the form of board and lodg- 

 ing. All that he had of present or prospective means to meet the 

 exigencies of such a position, consisted of a small sum in hand set 

 apart from his own scanty earnings, and the generous offer of such 



VOL. VII. 2 E 



