MEMOIR OF GESNER. 31 



have occasion to allude to. This, and numerous 

 other avocations, both of a literary and profes- 

 sional nature, were interrupted by a recurrence of 

 his old complaints, w^liich occasioned a fourth visit 

 to Baden, the only quarter to which he was now 

 accustomed to look for relief, nor were his expec- 

 tations disappointed even on this extreme occasion. 

 Knowing the favourable opinion which the Em- 

 peror Ferdinand entertained of his services to science 

 and literature, Gesner felt desirous of obtaining some 

 public expression of his regard, not only as an en- 

 couragement to others to follow his example, but 

 as an honorary distinction to his family. This was 

 no sooner intimated by his friends, Alexander, 

 Amorfort, and Craton, physicians to the court, than 

 the wish was immediately complied with; and letters 

 patent were issued granting armorial bearings to 

 Gesner and his family, with a statement of the cir- 

 cumstances for which this honour was conferred. 

 "Without attempting to describe the shield in the 

 technical language of heraldry, it may suffice to say, 

 that the devices were all emblematical of the sub- 

 jects which Gesner had illustrated by his writings. 

 Each of the four quarters was occupied by an ani- 

 mal — an eagle with expanded wings, a lion ram- 

 pant, a basilisk, and a crowned dolphin ; the crest, 

 a swan sitting on a crown of laurel, with three stars 

 on its breast, and a like number on each of its ex- 

 panded wings. As Gesner was childless, he obtained 

 permission that the same arms should be borne by 

 his uncle, Andrew Gesner, an old man of eighty. 



