Uxvi INTRODUCTION. 



might procure. He kept up a continual communication 

 with the fishermen of Plymouth, and constantly received 

 from them baskets filled with the rubbish they dredged 

 from the bottom of the sea ; and this he examined with 

 diligence and attention, preserving all the new objects that 

 he discovered, and making descriptions of them. He vi- 

 sited, occasionally, the Brixham, Plymouth, and Falmouth 

 fishermen, and made excursions with them. He very often 

 left Kingsbridge in an open boat, and remained absent for 

 a long time together, during which, he dredged when the 

 tide was full, and examined the shores when it was out. 

 At night he slept in his boat, which he drew on shore ; and 

 when the weather was too stormy for marine excursions, 

 he would leave his boat and proceed to examine the 

 country and woods for insects, birds, &c. The remarks 

 with which he accompanied the infinity of new objects 

 Avhich he discovered, are invaluable ; many of them have 

 been, and the rest shall be hereafter, made public." 



In this way Avas Mr. Cranch employed for the collec- 

 tion of natural history in the British Museum, at the time 

 when the expedition to the Congo was planned : for such 

 an expedition, a person of this description was invaluable, 

 and Doctor Leach recommended him to Sir Joseph 

 Banks, as one in every Avay fitted for the undertaking. 

 On his part, an appointment so suited to his pursuits, and 

 so flattering to his hopes, was the height of his ambition, 

 and he at once accepted it, though not without some 

 painful struggles to -his feelings. It seems he had a sort of 

 presentiment that he should never return, and that the ex- 

 pectation of such an event became weaker and weaker, 

 as his country faded from his view. His conduct, however. 



