30 MEMOIR OP GESNER. 



John Bauhine, the well-known botanist, to accom- 

 pany him back to Zurich on foot, that they might 

 have abetter opportunity of conversing by the way on 

 the subject of tlieir common study. This arrange- 

 ment, however, could not be effected, and Gesner 

 returned alone. It was soon after this that he 

 wrote a long letter to the English botanist. Turner, 

 in which he gave a particular account of all his 

 writings up to that date. 



Although Gesner at no time jieglected any of the 

 great branches of natural history, but used every 

 exertion to improve his various works, which may 

 be said to embrace them all ; yet, during the two 

 or three last years of his life, botany was his prin- 

 cipal study. One of the great objects of his ambi- 

 tion was, as has been already intimated, to produce 

 a history of plants, and foreseeing, doubtless, that 

 his life was not destined to be a long one, he re- 

 doubled his exertions to attain the purpose he had 

 so much at heart. This formed his chief occupa- 

 tion in 1563. He had plants in a living state 

 brought to him from all parts of the country ; 

 Bauhine sent him many dried specimens ; and even 

 when his health was most precarious, he was in the 

 habit of swimming in the lake of Zurich and others 

 in that neighbourhood, for the purpose of collecting 

 aquatic species. The utmost exertions were at the 

 same time made to have these plants drawn and en- 

 graved, which was done entirely at his own expense. 

 The number, qualities, and ultimate destiny of the 

 engravings thus accumulated, we shall afterwards 



