LATE JAMES LEE. 



XiX 



although he had, what is proverbial, plenty of bow- 

 ing, still he was courted by the great, rather for 

 his attainments in Botany, and clear vigorous un- 

 derstanding, than for a politeness which appeared 

 in him natural : he was very conscientious in all his 

 dealings ; he was generous to a fault ; his garden 

 was the resort of science, nor was his house, or purse, 

 ever shut against persons of that description : having 

 received a better education than gardeners usually 

 get, he passed with the vulgar, and mankind in ge- 

 neral, for a prodigy in knowledge : he was temperate 

 in his way of living, hence he attained a green old 

 age : he had a wife, who was kind and most affection- 

 ate, by whom he had one son and three daughters, 

 the eldest of whom, Ann, was so eminent as an ar- 

 tist, that he r botanical drawings are esteemed as 

 chef d' cenvres : he had the good fortune to live to see 

 them all well-married ; I mean, as relates to both 

 happiness and competency ; and his son, the present 

 Mr. Lee, who inherits the wisdom, liberality, and vir- 

 tues of his father, is blessed with a daughter, who 

 has drawn all the numerous heaths' (Ericas), so as 

 even to rival her aunt. 



I shall conclude my memoirs with wishing the 

 surviving family all prosperity and happiness, and 

 my readers many particles of that sacred flame, 

 which animated old Lee in his love for plants, to the, 

 very latest period of his life, 



