2 



APPENDIX. 



smith, to whose attentions and encouragement he owed much, and 

 with whom a friendship was formed which terminated only upon the 

 death of Mr. Lee. He also had the happiness to become known to 

 Sir Joseph Banks at the period when the latter was a Student at 

 Oxford. The ardour with which Mr. Dickson pursued his enquiries, 

 not only in Botany, but in Ornithology and Conchology, strongly 

 recommended him to the attention of that eminent Naturalist and 

 Patron of Science ; and many years after, when Sir Joseph fixed his 

 winter residence in London, and was surrounded by the most 

 learned of his country, he renewed his friendship with Mr. Dickson, 

 who was a frequent guest at his table. 



Mr. Dickson was among the earliest members of this Society, 

 being one of the eight who first met to consider of its foundation, 

 and he was one of the Vice Presidents originally named ; an ap- 

 pointment which was annually continued till his death. He was also 

 an early Member of the Linnean Society, and to both Societies his 

 attentions were constantly directed, as is shown by the various 

 communications from him in the Transactions of the respective 

 Societies. 



It is often curious to remark what the impulses are that actuate 

 the minds of youth in forming their choice of a pursuit ; an anec- 

 dote which I have heard is interesting, as shewing how trifling an 

 occurrence directed the mind of our deceased Vice President, in 

 the first instance, to the study of Botany. While yet a boy his 

 attention was awakened to Botanical research by his hearing one 

 of his playmates enquire of another the name of a wild plant, the 

 Star of the Earth (Plantago Coronopus) which grew near them ; and 

 finding the boy applied to able to answer the question. Excited by 

 this circumstance, young Dickson became desirous of also knowing 

 the plants he met with in his walks, and from that moment resolved 

 to apply himself to the study of them. 



Few resolutions made so early have been so steadily adhered to, 

 during a very long life, uninterrupted by ill health. Mr. Dickson 



