Jan. 28, 1780. 



A S it appears from fome of the foregoing effays that I have paid 

 attention to fome particular articles of Natural Hiftory, Itake this 

 opportunity of laying before the public my poor endeavours, as an 

 unworthy member of the Royal Society, for the promotion of 

 knowledge in this branch of fcience, as it chiefly relates to an 

 agreement with the prefent King of Spain for that purpofe ; which 

 is ftill unaccomplished on the part of his Catholic Majefty. 



The Royal Society hath almoft from its firft inftitution collected 

 fpecimens for a mufeum ; which, fo far back as the year 1681, 

 had become fo considerable, that Dr. Grew published a hand fome 

 catalogue, in folio, of the feveral articles, together with engrav- 

 ings ; and that great architect Sir Chriftopher Wren gave a well- 

 confidered plan for the building a repofitory to receive thefe na- 

 tural productions, which was not only approved of by the fociety, 

 but carried into execution, 



This elegant room, together with the fpecimens, were almoft 

 totally neglected ; and I had the good fortune to prevail upon the 

 council of the fociety (about nine years ago) to lay out fome money 

 in neceffary repairs and alterations. 



Having been the occafion of this expence, I then thought it 

 was incumbent upon me to do what lay in my power to add to 

 the collection of fpecimens ; when it occurred, that our forts in 

 Hudfon's Bay would probably fupply thofe which were moft rare, 

 as this is the moft Northern part of America inhabited by Euro- 

 peans, and was never vifited by any naturalift. 



I accordingly applied to Mr. Wegg, V. Pr. and Treafurer of 

 the Royal Society; who, in concert with the other directors of 

 the Hudfon's Bay Company, moft obligingly gave orders, that 

 many of the animals near their forts mould be fent over by 



the 



