LIFE OF MILLER. 34:1 



merit. Enriched by experience, it was dedicated 

 to Hugh Percy Smithson, Duke of Northumber- 

 land, one of the many noblemen of the time who 

 consulted Miller on various matters relative to 

 planting and gardening. A copy of the book, on 

 account of its great merit, is lodged in the Britisli 

 Museum. 



In the course of his residence at Chelsea, Miller 

 collected, principally from the garden, an ample 

 herbarium, which was purchased by Sir Joseph 

 Banks. He occasionally sent many dried specimens 

 to Linnaeus. 



Miller continued to attend to his duties and his 

 favourite pursuits to an advanced age ; but he was 

 obliged, at length, on account of his infirmities, to 

 resign the charge of the garden. About two years 

 after this event, he died at Chelsea, December 18th, 

 1771? in the eighty-first year of his age, beloved 

 by his friends, respected by his opponents, and 

 honoured by his countrymen in general. 



It has been well observed, that he who makes two 

 blades of- grass grow, where one only has been 

 produced before, is a benefactor to his species. If 

 this be the case (and it can scarcely be denied), no 

 one will dispute that Miller is justly entitled to this 

 honourable designation ; for he has not only greatly 

 increased and improved the number of plants 

 previously cultivated in this country, but, by the 

 combination of his talent and industry, he has 

 introduced others, the cultivation of which was 

 before considered impossible. Amidst an un- 

 genial soil and a forbidding climate, he has suc- 

 cessfully produced the rarest and most beautiful 



