24 
MEMOIR OF 
abroad, either of private gentlemen or princes. It 
consisted of miniatures, drawings, shells, insects, 
medals, natural things, animals, (of which divers, 
I think one hundred, were kept in glasses of 
spirits of wine,) minerals, precious stones, vessels, 
curiosities in amber, christal, agate, &c. all being 
very perfect and rare in their kind, especially his 
books of birds, fish, flowers, and shells, drawn 
and miniatured to the life. He told us that one 
book stood him in £300; it was painted by 
that excellent workman whom the late Gaston, 
Duke of Orleans, employed. This gentleman’s 
whole collection, gathered by himself travelling 
over most parts of Europe, is estimated at £8000. 
He appears to be a modest and obliging person.”* 
“ March 11, 1690, I went again to see Mr 
Charlton’s curiosities, both of art and nature, and 
his full and rare collection of medals, which, taken 
altogether, in all kinds, is doubtless one of the 
most perfect assemblage of rarities that can be 
any where seen. I much admired the contortions 
of the thea root, which was so perplexed, large, 
and intricate, and, withal, hard as box, that it 
was wonderful to consider.”! 
“November 30, 1691, I again saw Mr 
Charlton’s collection of spiders, birds, scorpions, 
and other serpents, &c.”J 
* Evelyn’s Diary. + Ibid. + Ibid. 
