VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 45 



CXII. On some of the more Rare English Plants observed in Leicestershire 

 By W. Watson, M, D,, ^c. p. 803. 



This account of some of the more rare plants, growing spontaneously in Lei- 

 cestershire, was transmitted to Dr. Watson, by Mr. Richard Pulteney, an apothecary 

 at Leicester,* whom Dr. W. describes as a person of real merit, well skilled not 

 only in whatever related to his profession, but also in various parts of natural 

 history. That his botanical knowledge was very extensive, and that he was very 

 zealous in promoting it. That he had already laid before the public, though 



• Dr. Richard Pulteney was born at Loughborough in the county of Leicester, on February I7th, 

 1730. His parents had 13 children, of whom he alone arrived at the age of maturity j and he 

 himself was affected at an early period of life with a pulmonary complaint, which indicated consider- 

 able delicacy of constitution. Though the circumstances of the family were easy, yet they did 

 not admit of an expensive education, and the subject of these memoirs was placed in an ordinary 

 elementary school, and was afterwards apprenticed to an Apothecary. His taste for Natural His- 

 tory commenced in very early youth, and in his hours of relaxation he used to wander about the 

 fields, examining the plants that he happened to see in his way. At the termination of his appren- 

 ticeship he settled in business at Leicester, where he remained some years. Having commenced 

 an acquaintance and correspondence with Sir "William Watson, he was by him introduced to the 

 Earl of Macclesfield, (then President of the Royal Society,) Mr. Hudson, author of the Flora 

 Anglica, and other scientific people; and it was suggested to him by the Earl of Bath, one of his 

 patrons, and to whom he was in some degree related, that his situation in the profession was not 

 adequate to his character. He therefore obtained, with much reputation, a diploma from the Uni- 

 versity of Edinburgh, in the year 1764. Not long after this period he removed to Blandford in 

 Dorsetshire, where he continued to practise during the rest of his life. He was the author of many 

 useful and ingenious papers, relative to botanical and other subjects, in the Gentleman's Magazine, 

 and of many valuable papers in the Philosophical Transactions j and, conceiving that the science of 

 Natural History in general would be benefited by a general view of the writings of Linnceus, he pub- 

 lished a most elegant and agreeable work under that title, which appears to have met with its de- 

 served reception and encouragement in the literary world. He afterwards published historical and 

 biographical sketches of the progress of Botany in England, from its origin to the introduction of the 

 Linncean system. This publication is very highly esteemed, and affords a concise and satisfactory 

 view of the gradual improvements of botanical knowledge, and of the lives of its principal culti- 

 vators in this kingdom. Dr. Pulteney during his hours of leisure employed himself in the study of 

 Natural History, and was possessed of a very valuable herbarium, a good collection of shells, &c. 

 On the 7th of October, 1801, he was attacked with symptoms of pulmonary inflammation, and of 

 this disorder he died on the 13th of the same month, in the 7 1st year of his age. He bequeathed 

 his valuable Museum to the Linnaean Society of London. 



During 40 years of successful practice. Dr. Pulteney acquired a very considerable fortune, his 

 professional character stood very high, and his whole conduct in private life was exemplary and 

 amiable. In his general intercourse with the world he was somewhat reserved, but to those of his 

 more particular acquaintances, and to the young and inquisitive student, he was always open and 

 communicative. In his person he was rather below the ordinary stature, and somewhat slender, 

 with regular features and countenance, indicating unusual intelligence aud superiority of mind. His 

 view of the writings of Linnaeus has been republished, with large and curious additions, under the 

 care of Dr. Maton, from whose memoirs the preceding account is chiefly extracted. 



