IV PREFACE 



Natural Science into his College and University in a way 

 which might have been difficult for a more forceful but less 

 acceptable advocate. Not that Daubeny was a weak or 

 superficial person ; on the contrary, he was a man of sound 

 sense and genuine attainment, and if he held, in those days 

 of pluralism, three Professorships, he did good work in the 

 subjects of each and all. 



His books on Volcanos, on Roman Husbandry^ on The 

 Influence of the lower Vegetable Organisms in the Production 

 of Epidemic Disease, his early welcome to Darwinism in his 

 tractate on The Sexuality of Plants these and many other of 

 his writings have long since been duly appreciated. As a 

 writer and observer, he has received then probably adequate 

 recognition. But to his efforts as a teacher, and to the 

 value of the institutions and collections which he left as 

 his legacy to subsequent generations, less justice has been 

 done. To repair that omission is the purpose of the present 

 volume. 



The long list of those who attended Daubeny 's lectures, 

 first at the Ashmolean Laboratory and afterwards at the 

 Botanic Garden 1 , will come as a revelation to many both in 

 Oxford and outside, in regard alike to the number and the 

 distinction of the names which it contains. 



That this frequentation was entirely prompted by enthu- 

 siasm, or was altogether spontaneous, must not be asserted. 

 But the genuine popularity of these lectures is still vouched 

 for by living witnesses. And even a ' soft option ' may also 

 be an interesting option, and an agreeable course may 

 also be an instructive course. Mr. Gunther has indicated 

 a few of the most distinguished auditors, but old Oxford 

 men will note in addition names such as those of Bishop 

 Hobhouse, ' Charlie ' Neate and Mr. Edward Poste, of 

 Oriel, Father Benson, Sir Edmund Monson, and Mr. E. H. 

 Pember, K.C. 



The subsequent history of the Laboratory which Daubeny 

 founded and to some extent endowed, continues to be inter- 

 esting after its originator had passed away. It has at times 

 1 Appendix E. 



