MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 23 



employ the greater part of the night, and occa- 

 sionally even whole nights together, in devouring 

 some new publication, which either awakened his 

 curiosity, or which bore upon his more immediate 

 researches. With the view of extending his infor- 

 mation, he took several journeys to the sea-coasts, 

 and more especially into Sussex. 



Being at length summoned by his father to return 

 home, the young naturalist quitted London with 

 regret, in the latter end of April 17^2, and repaired 

 to Harwich, in order to embark for Holland. Here 

 he was detained by contrary winds ; and while most 

 men would have regarded this circumstance as a 

 grievous annoyance, he turned it to profit, and re- 

 joiced in the opportunity it afforded of examining 

 the coasts and shores, and collecting a variety of 

 marine productions. On the 13th of May he landed 

 in Holland, and passing through the Hague, Ley- 

 den, and Amsterdam, arrived in Berlin on the 12th 

 of June. 



Previous to commencing the practice of his pro- 

 fession, his father sent him to Hanover, for the pur- 

 pose of procuring the post of surgeon in the allied 

 army ; but as peace was soon concluded, he returned 

 to his native city, where he spent a year, employed 

 chiefly in preparing materials for a " Fauna Insec- 1 

 torum" or "A Description of the Insects in the 

 March of Brandenburg." 



Animated by his predilection for natural history, 

 and encouraged by the favour and patronage of the 

 great Gaubius, he at len^h prevailed with his father 



