MEMOIRS 
OF THE 
LIFE AND WRITINGS 
MR. WILLIAM CURTIS. 
—=2080 es 
Severat sketches of the life of the late Mr. William 
Curtis have appeared in different forms before the public 
eye; but none has been attached to the Botantcat Macazing, 
which was one of his principal Works. It was therefore 
thought desirable, that a short Memoir should be affixed 
to it, as affording matter of interest to the Subscribers, 
many of whom were the personal friends and acquaintance 
of the late author. 
It would be useless and unentertaining to enter largely 
into the early life of a person who had to struggle with the 
world in a profession he did not like, not only for his own 
maintenance, but to provide for sundry little expences his 
adopted fancy required, and which claimed every moment 
of his leisure, as well as time also borrowed from his pro- 
fessional duties. 
The subject of this Memoir was born at Alton, in 
Hampshire, in 1746, and educated at a village called Holly- 
bourn, about two miles from that town (not at Burford), 
and at a suitable age was placed as an apprentice to his 
grandfather, in the same town, to learn the Arts and Myste- 
ries of the Medical Profession. After going through the 
routine of studies requisite to his commencing practice on 
his own account, he left his native town for London, carry- 
ing with him his favorite taste for Natural History in 
every branch,—a taste in unison with Medical research, if 
a 
