MR. F. D. PALMER ON OLD-TIME YARMOUTH NATURALISTS. 
least favoured in these respects, and that any pre-eminence she 
might enjoy was altogether owing to the industry and talents with 
which her resources had been investigated and developed. And 
when I call to mind, that in the short space of my own life, I have 
known and associated with such men as Sir James Smith, Mr. Crowe, 
Mr. Woodward, Dr. Rigby, Mr. Whitear, Mr. Burrell, Mr. Bryant, 
Mr. Wigg, Dr. Hooker, Professor Lindley, and probably many 
others, whose names have at this moment escaped me, all of them 
natives of and residents in Norfolk, the probability of such an 
assertion will be easily admitted, even by those who have not had 
an opportunity of investigating its truth.” 
Passing to our subject, I find several former men of mark, of 
whom the following appear worthy of special notice. 
Thomas Diverson, who died in 1785, aged 76, is mentioned by 
Sylas Neville as a “Republican, to his honour be it spoken,” — 
to use his own words ; lie was also Collector of Salt Duties 
at Yarmouth. On his decease, his collection of shells, fossils, 
petrifications, and curiosities was purchased by Mr. Bartlett Gurney, 
lie seems also to have had a fine collection of medals. 
John Dawson Downes, who died in 1829, aged 71, was a verv 
remarkable man. He lived for many years in the house, then a 
bookseller’s, at the south-west corner of Row 55, on the Hall Quay, 
which he purchased, with his partner, Mr. Marsh, in the year 
1<84, when they had leave from the Corporation to “box 
out ” the whole length of such shop 5 feet 7 inches. He was a 
man of singular skill in the breeding of domestic animals, the 
cultivation of fruit trees, and the training of birds. On retiring 
from business he took up his residence at Gunton Old Hall, near 
Lowestoft, where he was most earnest in his endeavour to revive 
the once favourite pastime of hawking. Here he was visited 
by Lord Rivers, Colonel Wilson (afterwards Lord Berners), 
Sir John Sebright, Mr. Brigg, Pountaine of Narford, and other 
gentlemen, who took an interest in the same pursuit. In his 
walks he was usually attended by a tame Heron. He proved 
satisfactorily that the same Swallows revisited the same places 
annually, and usually on or about the same days. Downes was 
an open, plain-speaking, matter-of-fact man. He possessed a good 
libi.uy, containing, among other rare books, some curious old 
