president’s address. 
649 
of Ray, and even the Historia Muscorum of Dillenius, 
had long been familiar to the more learned students among the 
botanists in Norwich, and it was for these students that Rose 
wrote “ The Elements,” together with the Appendix, “ wherein 
are described some plants lately found in Norfolk and Suffolk.” 6 
The Norfolk plants were a geranium “ found near Spixworth 
Church, in 1771, by Mr. Wm. Humphry”; Holosteum 
umbellatum first noticed and examined by Mr. John Pitchford 
in spring, 1765 ” ; Tillaea muscosa, “ found on Drayton 
heath and several other places near Norwich, . . . first 
examined and ascertained by the Rev. Mr. Bryant, in 1766”; 
Ophrys paludosa, “ found on Felthorp bogs by Mr. Charles 
Bryant, in 1769 ”; and Hydnum auriscalpium, “ found last 
autumn near Norwich, in a small plantation of Scotch pines 
called Hardy’s Grove,” by Rose himself. 
Numerous pupils were eager to improve themselves by the 
assistance of such masters as Mr. Rose and the Rev. Henry 
Bryant. The latter, a distinguished mathematician, was 
assistant clergyman at St. Peter Mancroft church ; later he 
was vicar of Heydon, rector of Colby, and vicar of Langham. 
Dr. Smith tells us that Mr. Bryant began to study botany 
in 1764, after the death of his wife. 18 
In 1779 Mr. Rose was afflicted with incurable blindness, but 
his interest in botany never flagged. Smith always showed the 
greatest consideration for his teacher — when away from home 
sending messages to him by mutual friends rather than writing. 
In 1788 Rose dictated a letter to his former pupil, signing it 
by touch, not by sight, “ H. Rose.” 37 
It is usually considered that Mr. Rose remained at No. 8, 
Tombland, till 1783, if not later; but the Poll-book of the City 
proves that before September, 1780, the blind apothecary had 
retired, as “ Hugh Rose, gent.,” to No. 4, Pottergate street. 
This street then included Bedford street and extended from 
London Lane to the City Wall, but No. 4 was at the St. 
Andrew’s end, for Rose was a voter in St. Andrew’s parish. 
On the flyleaf of Rose’s “ Elements,” now in the library of the 
Linnean Society, Sir James Smith had written : “ Died April 18, 
