v> 1LLIAM MACLURC. 31 



lent efforts were restricted to those extended schemes 

 of usefulness to which we have SO often adverted. 

 Far. very far from it. His individual and more pri- 

 vate benefactions, were such as became his affluent 

 resources, influenced by a generous spirit. He ha- 

 bitually extended his patronage to genius, and his 

 cordial support to those plans which, in his view, 

 were adapted to the common interests of humanity. 

 There are few cabinets of Natural History in our 

 country, public or private, that have not been aug- 

 mented from his stores: and several scientific pub- 

 lications of an expensive character, have been sus- 

 tained to completion by his instrumentality. While 

 in Europe he purchased the copper-plate illustrations 

 of some important works both in Science and Art, 

 with the intention of having them republished at 

 home in a cheaper form, in order to render them 

 accessible to all classes of learners. Among these 

 works was Miehaux's Sylva. which is now going 

 through the press in conformity to his wishes. 



He was singularly mild and unostentatious in his 

 manner: and though a man of strong feelings, he 

 seldom allowed his temper to triumph over hi- judg- 

 ment. Cautious in his intimacies, and firm in his 

 friendships, time and circumstance in no degree 

 ikened the affections of his earlier years. Though 

 affabb- .ind communicative, Mr. Maclure was rerj 



