Vill MEMOIRS OF THE 
bours of Ray, Hudson, Sir John Hill, and Miller, the know- 
ledge of plants and their uses was but little better understood 
than in the times of the writers of the old Herbals. From 
this chaotic mass order was to be brought forth, by strictly 
examining every plant then known ; observing all that had 
previously been written on it; and by the most scrutinizing 
observation of its habit, uses, and favourite places of growth, 
to draw forth the probable conjectures of how far each 
plant might be made more useful to man under proper 
culture. Here was the field laid open; and although an 
undertaking scarcely within the compass of a long life to 
accomplish, it was arently entered on, and pursued with 
zeal during the remainder of his life. 
His discernment into the hitherto hidden parts of 
nature was soon appreciated by his friends and acquaint- 
ances. His friend Mr. Hudson, the well-known author of 
the Flora Anglica, gave up his appointment in the Apothe- 
caries’ Company, and, in 1772, Mr. Curtis was elected to 
the vacant office of Demonstrator of Plants and Prefectus 
Horti of that Company, an office more honourable than 
lucrative. His ardour in accepting this appointment was 
for the advancement of the scientific knowledge of plants; 
and he proposed to give Lectures on this branch of his 
profession (Medical Botany) before the members and stu- 
dents in medicine, at the hall of the Company, which pro- 
posal was accepted by the Committee at that time ; but 
what prevented its being carried into effect does not 
appear. He continued in this office until 1777, when he 
resigned it for want of time to attend to the duties of it, 
and was succeeded by his friend Mr. Thomas Wheeler. 
His zeal for the advancement of Botany was too ardent 
to be restrained by the want of proper artists to enter into 
his views of the subject; and one of his first productions 
was a Key to the Linnean System, which he drew and 
etched himself [This incident must have given him the 
