x MEMOIRS OF THE 
It does not appear in any of Mr. Curtis’s papers, at 
this early period of his researches, that he constantly em- 
ployed any one artist; but as cases occurred, requiring 
faithful representations, he sought and became acquainted 
with those who had good taste in drawing from nature. 
Mr. Milton, the celebrated engraver (a descendant of the 
eminent poet), assisted Mr. Curtis at this time; although 
his after avocations rendered his time of too much import- 
ance to be long retained in this inferior branch of his art. 
But it is most likely, from Mr. Curtis’s finances, and the 
constant occasion he had for a person who could readily 
delineate on paper the nicer distinctions in plants, that he 
found it requisite to bring up in his own habits, an artist of 
his own selection. Mr. Sansom was at first intended to have 
supplied this place ; but his skill was more confined to en- 
graving, than drawing from nature. Several of the early 
plates of the Flora Londinensis and Botanical Magazine, 
however, bear his name as draftsman and engraver ; and 
he continued to engrave the whole of the plates of the 
latter work until he became blind, several years subse- 
quent to the death of Mr. Curtis ; after which calamity, his 
son executed them for the remainder of both his father’s 
and his own life. But the artist of most use to Mr. Curtis 
was Mr. Sydenham Taste Edwards, who was introduced 
to him for the purpose of his patronage, by a Mr. Den- 
man; who (if we are not mistaken,) was, at the time, 
town-clerk of Southampton ; and Mr. Denman being of a 
scientific turn of mind, and happening to be at Aberga- 
venny, noticed young Edwards, whose father was a school- 
master, and the organist there. Young Edwards, whilst a 
boy, had copied some of the plates of the Flora Londi- 
nensis, which were shewn to Mr. Curtis: who was so 
pleased with the performance of them, that he sent for him 
to London, and had him instructed in drawing, &c.; in 
which he improved very rapidly, and soon became able to 
