22 MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 
mentioned above as composed at Gottingen. This 
Thesis seems to have been his first work, and was 
published in the nineteenth year of his age. 
At this epoch, the possession of numerous colo- 
nies all over the world, as well as the first and 
longest established rank in commerce, had accumu- 
lated a vast number of rare natural productions in 
the several museums of Holland, and natural history 
itself was receiving a new impetus, from the taste 
and attention bestowed upon it by the gifted mother 
of the last Stadtholder. We cannot be surprised, 
therefore, that during’ his stay at Leyden, this 
science should have become the predominant pas- 
sion of our enthusiastic student, who employed all 
the time he could spare from his professional pur- 
suits in visiting the public and private museums, 
and in carefully noting what was most worthy of 
attention. 
Having visited the principal cities of Holland, 
Pallas directed his course to London, where he 
arrived in July 1761; the ostensible ‘objects of his 
journey to England being to improve his know- 
ledge of medicine and surgery, and to inspect the 
hospitals. He was now, however, so much absorbed 
in his contemplations on zoology, that he neglected 
every other pursuit, and gave himself up entirely to 
his favourite branch of science. At this juncture 
his zeal was so ardent, that after having passed the 
day in curiously examining the various collections 
of natural history, and perusing the principal works 
he could procure on the subject, he would frequently 
