PRESIDENT’S address. 
661 
Norwich, and one of the principal contributors to it was John 
Pitchford — this was probably the father. I cannot discover 
which of the two Pitchfords belonged to the Hole in the Wall” 
debating club, which took its name from a Tavern in Wymer 
street (St. Andrew’s Parish). The members assembled weekly 
in the evening, among them Dr. Frank Sayers, William Taylor, 
and Thomas Amyot. 
Some of our great botanists, like Hooker and Lindley, left 
their native city when they reached manhood and before entering 
on their life-work. Sir James Smith returned to Norwich to 
spend the last thirty years of his life. In 1796 he married 
Pleasance Reeve of Lowestoft. She was a woman of striking 
beauty, painted as a gipsy by Opie in 1797. Disliking London 
she persuaded her husband to move, in the autumn of 1796, to 
29, Surrey street, Norwich, the house now occupied by Mr. 
Blaxland. 
The Smiths brought with them to Norwich the Linnaean 
library, herbarium, and collection of insects. Smith had sold 
the minerals in March, 1796 ; they were very heavy and he was 
not so much interested in them. They were put up to public 
auction in 113 lots, but only realised £l\ 8s. 6d., and, being 
purchased by several people were dispersed. The seven-feet- 
wide cabinet with more than sixty drawers was sold for a 
guinea (teste Dr. B. D. Jackson). 
A Norwich man and Norwich money had introduced the 
possessions of Linnaeus to London ; Lowestoft influence and 
Lowestoft money brought them to Norwich. And here they 
and their owner were visited by entomologists and botanists 
from far and near. Many strange plants were grown in the 
garden behind the house, and Sir James Smith’s library — the 
room facing the street, next to the front door — acquired European 
fame. Hans Adolphus Noehden, of Gottingen, was staying at 
Yarmouth in 1800, and came to Norwich for a day. He was 
escorted by Mr. Pitchford, whom he describes as “a good honest 
fellow advanced in years,” to Dr. Smith’s house. There they 
dined, and then inspected the Linnaean museum, especially some 
of the plants. 60 
