Bibliographical Notice* 46^ 



when students, as neglecting the opportunities afforded them at Cam- 

 bridge. We venture to say that there is not one of those men who 

 does not now look back to the time of his residence at Cambridge as 

 the period when, under the guidance of Henslow or Sedgwick, he 

 acquired or largely increased the habit of mind and power of observa- 

 tion which has rendered him what he is. 



Henslow was the chief founder of the now well-known Cambridge 

 Philosophical Society, which originated from conversations with 

 Prof. Sedgwick during a geological tour in the Isle of Wight. Not 

 having at that time attained the degree of Master of Arts, he appeared 

 less prominently amongst the original members of the Society than 

 was due to his real connexion with its establishment. 



Henslow commenced his study of nature with geology and minera- 

 logy ; and in 1822 he became Professor of Mineralogy in succession 

 to the celebrated traveller. Dr. E. D. Clarke. He only held that chair 

 for a short time; for in 1825 the Professorship of Botany became 

 vacant, and he was elected to that office, which he retained until his 

 lamented death. He immediately commenced lecturing on botany, 

 and obtained a good class at once. He also took pains to become 

 acquainted with the students of nature, and opened his house to 

 them on one evening in each week. This had an excellent effect, by 

 making those men acquainted who had congenial pursuits, by help- 

 ing them in their difficulties, and creating emulation amongst them. 



Henslow' s attention was soon turned to the improvement of the 

 Botanic Garden, which was small and surrounded by houses, and 

 utterly insufficient for the uses to which such institutions are turned 

 in the present day, although, when founded, it was excellently 

 suited to the wants of that time. He hoped to raise the garden to 

 "a level with some other establishments of the same kind," and 

 happily lived to see his wishes attained to a very considerable extent. 

 The garden was removed to the outskirts of the town, very much 

 extended, and an efficient curator appointed. 



He also commenced the formation of a herbarium ; for very little 

 was left by the Martyns, and even that little in a deplorable state of 

 decay. He took active measures, and has left an immense and valu- 

 able accumulation of specimens in the possession of the University. 

 When the requisite accommodation is provided for them, and his 

 successor has been thus enabled to complete their arrangement^ 

 Cambridge will possess an excellent herbarium. 



Unfortunately for the University, although happily for himself and 

 most providentially for the parish, he was in 1837 appointed to the 

 valuable living of Hitcham in Suffolk, and permanently established 

 himself there in 1839. From that time the University became to 

 him necessarily the second object, his parish taking the first place. 

 Cambridge had the advantage of his presence for only about six 

 Avceks in the year. How he converted a place notorious for crime, 

 immorality, and ignorance into a model parish must be sought in 

 in Mr. Jenyns's book. It is a beautiful lesson to clergymen similarly 

 situated, and ought to be studied by all who are intended for the 

 ministry ; but it is a gubject foreign to our Journal, Nevertheless 



