228 Notice of the late Mr. George Caley. 
affect the future destiny. But the then irksome predicament, 
and the determined spirit with which Caley pursued his fa- 
vourite object, will be best described in his own artless narra- 
tive, as addressed to his newly acquired friend : — 
“¢ Dealers in horses,” observes Caley, ‘‘ have an opportunity 
of seeing the natural and accidental deformities that these ani- 
mals are subject to; and their horses, through high keep and 
little exercise, are liable to many diseases, for w hich there is 
often call for the farrier. As every blacksmith pretended to 
be a farrier, I, having a good opportunity of hearing them 
discourse, saw that they did not understand the structure of a 
horse, and might as w ell style themselves physicians and sur- 
geons. ‘ere happened to be inthe house an odd volume of 
Gibson’s Farriery, in which were some anatomical figures, 
and receipts for the curing of diseases. ‘This old book stimu- 
lated me to search into fie errors of farriers, or, at least, had 
liked to have done so. In his prescriptions were a anniek of 
herbs : I began to search after them; but had no sooner done 
that than I wanted to know more about plants. In the course 
of time, I got some petty herbals ; but these not satisfying my 
mind, only tended to perplex me, or rather excited me the 
more. At length I got Johnson’s Gerard, thinking, then, I 
should go on boldly; but, alas! I was oe again. 
Then I heard of your Botanical Arrangement. It was not 
long before I got a copy of the second edition : I was now at 
a greater loss” qa ever, for I really could not tell what to 
make of them. However, I concluded that it would be non- 
sense to let the books lie idle. Winter was then approaching, 
and no plants to be seen: I resolved to learn the Introduction, 
and soon gained a tolerable idea of it. I then wished for to 
see some foe ers; but still a dreary winter was before me. I 
was obliged to put up with the inconvenience, so that Jlearned 
the Introduction over and over before the spring. When the 
plants began to flower, I began to try my strength in the 
science; but knowing a good many plants before, I used to 
cover the names, in order “hat I might not favour one charac- 
ter more than another. Sometimes I was right, sometimes 
wrong; but, by this method, I gained a good knowledge of 
investigation. ‘By this, and ike practice e during winter, I have 
thought oftentimes to equal those who have been nder the 
mitten of botanical lecturers. Now I began to find out bota- 
nical companions (for, before, [had laboured by myself) ; but 
they, following some manufacturing: branch, my employ ment 
world not permit me to spend the time that they did. Here- 
upon I determined J would learn to weave. I had no sooner 
gained a fair idea of that business than there was a stagnation 
