11 



PREFACE. 



of a large collection of specimens in various branches of natural 

 history ; but from the great expense necessary to secure their 

 publication, I was without the means of rendering them generally 

 serviceable. 



The Presidents of the Linnean, Zoological, and Geological 

 Societies, having given me their opinion respecting the utility to 

 be derived from publishing these materials, I addressed a letter 

 to the Right Honourable the Chancellor of the Exchequer 





(T. Spring Rice, Esq.) informing him of the circumstances 



under which I hoped that I might venture to solicit the aid of 

 Government. In reply, I received a communication (as below) 

 announcing to me that the Lords of the Treasury, from their 

 readiness to promote Science, were willing, under certain con- 

 ditions, to give me the most liberal assistance. 



£( 



" Sir, 



Treasury Chambers, August 31, 1837. 



"It having been represented to the Lords Commissioners of Her 

 Majesty's Treasury, from various quarters, that great advantage would be 

 derived to the Science of Natural History, if arrangements could be made for 

 enabling you to publish, in a convenient form, and at a cheap rate, the result 



my 



sum 



whole one thousand pounds, in aid of such a publication ; upon the clear and 

 distinct understanding that the Work should be published, and the plates 



manner 



of arrangement to b 



attainments 



