MEMOIR OF DRURY. 5J 



the value he set upon the collection was 1000, 

 and he considered it, even at that time, as the first 

 in the world. In writing to Dr. Pallas, and asking 

 him to endeavour to find a purchaser, he speaks of 

 it as follows. " I don't know whether the Empress 

 of Russia has any collection of Natural History ; if 

 she has, her munificence and bounty may induce 

 her to accept the offer I make of the disposal of 

 mine. Do not think me vain when I tell you that 

 I look upon it as the first in the world. The great 

 number of specimens procured from Africa (I mean 

 that part near Sierra Leone) and the Brazils, I think 

 cannot fail to render it superior to any yet known. 

 The incredible pains and trouble I have taken to 

 procure so vast a variety, I do not urge as a cir- 

 cumstance in its favour ; it best speaks its own 

 value ; but believe me, I would not go through the 

 same trouble again for a thousand pounds. My 

 third and last volume, likewise, which I am now 

 preparing, w r ill inform you what amazing additions 

 have been made to it since the publication of the 

 two first, the great expense of procuring which I 

 am pretty certain will not be repaid me by the price 

 I set on it. I also intend to dispose of all the origi- 

 nal drawings from which the engravings have been 

 taken. These, I must inform you, are wonderfully 

 fine : Mr. Harris, the painter, who executed them, 

 and also engraved and coloured my work, having 

 exerted his utmost skill in making these drawings. 

 The latter I value at 325." * He likewise wrote 

 * These drawings, we are informed, are now in possession 



