Xii MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



him has been continued to the present time. As a student he 

 was characterised by steady application, great aptitude in 

 acquiring knowledge, and a comprehensive power of appreciating 

 its relations. He devoted his attention to the various branches 

 of science usually included in the curriculum for a medical 

 degree, and was elected by his fellow- students President of the 

 Eoyal Medical Society of Edinburgh, in which office he dis- 

 tinguished himself by superior abilities and attainments. Judging 

 from his writings, conversation, and correspondence, I have no 

 hesitation in saying that his intellect is acute, exact, profound, 

 comprehensive, and logical in no ordinary degree. He combines 

 the powers of accurate observation, analysis, and induction, with 

 the power of clear expression ; and his manner of communi- 

 cating the great and valuable store of scientific information 

 which he possesses is at once lucid and logical. I have con- 

 sidered his personal friendship as a source of pleasure and 

 advantage ever since I knew him, and shall consider any College 

 or University fortunate that shall enrol him amongst its pro- 

 fessors in the branch of science to which he has devoted his chief 

 attention Botany. ' ' 



The following is Sir J. D. Hooker's testimonial of the same 

 date : " Mr. H. C. Watson has been personally known to me 

 for nearly fourteen years as a zealous and excellent botanist, 

 from whose writings and experience I have derived great in- 

 struction. His knowledge of plants is very extensive, and of 

 European, especially British, species, complete, and acquired by 

 actual investigation. In the departments of physiological, 

 structural, and systematic Botany he is well grounded ; and his 

 numerous works on that of Geographical Botany are pronounced 

 by all to be of the highest order. Mr. Watson's education, 

 general information, and gentlemanly manners, together with 

 his desire of, and facility in, imparting information are so 

 obvious, that his society was greatly desired both by the pro- 

 fessors and students in Botany in Edinburgh and Glasgow, 

 during the many seasons when as a distinguished student of 



