LATE WILLIAM CURTIS. xi 
draw and etch the plates of the Flora Londinensis and 
the Botanical Magazine. The drawings of the Magazine 
were entirely his own for many years, and were executed 
with a correctness not before known in periodical publica- 
tions. It was not to plants alone that Mr. Curtis had 
directed the genius of Edwards ; he attended him on most 
of his excursions into the country, in search of Natural 
History ; and whenever any curious bird was shot, any 
curious insect taken, or any natural object of curiosity pre- 
sented itself, it was his business to make a correct draw- 
ing of it; to which Mr. Curtis attached a most minute 
description ; which was often so intermixed with short-hand, 
for brevity sake, as to be unintelligible to most persons but 
himself; more especially as many of his characters were 
his own. In this manner many years were spent ; and 
Edwards was the companion, rather than the servant of his 
patron up to the death of Mr. Curtis ; at which time, ma- 
terials, on subjects connected with Natural History, had 
accumulated to a very great extent ; but which were doomed 
to a state of uselessness by this much to be regretted event. 
After the death of Mr. Curtis, Edwards continued for years 
to draw entirely for the Botanical Magazine ; which taking 
up but a small portion of his time, he was noticed and 
employed by many persons of distinction, who were either 
fond of science, or lovers of correct and highly finished 
drawings of plants or animals. He published a work on 
dogs, in large quarto, on his own account; and it would 
have been more in unison with common gratitude ; and 
more to his own peace of mind, in his last illness, if he had 
not been persuaded to begin a work in direct opposition 
to the Botanical Magazine ; by which he had risen, and 
which work, after his patron was dead, was the support of 
his widow, daughter, and grandchildren. Besides, there 
was no necessity for such a work, as the public were well 
satisfied with the Magazine, in every respect, without 
