XXIX 
George Bent ham, F.RS. 
taxonomical, and descriptive work, not paying attention 
to the Cryptogams below the Ferns, nor to vegetable 
anatomy, physiology or palaeontology. He was what may 
be called a botanist of the old school. Up to middle age, 
and beyond, he used rather to regard himself as an amateur, 
pursuing botany as an intellectual exercise. “ There are 
diversities of gifts,” perhaps no professional naturalist made 
more of his, certainly no one ever laboured more diligently, 
nor indeed more successfully over so wide a field, within 
these chosen lines. For extent and variety of good work 
accomplished, for an intuitive sense of method, for lucidity 
and accuracy, and for insight, George Bentham may fairly 
be compared with Linnaeus, De Candolle, and Robert Brown.’ 
This is a just tribute to his memory, to which I would add 
my own, that method, grasp of subject, and thoroughness, 
were his watchwords. 
It remains to allude to his personal characteristics. He 
was tall, of spare habit, with a slight stoop in his gait ; 
his features were strongly marked, his complexion rather 
dark, his hair black and eyebrows bushy. The likeness 1 
accompanying this memoir is an excellent one. In dieting 
himself, he was extraordinarily abstemious, taking but 
two meals a day, and those most sparing. Though shy 
and reserved in manner, he was a most amiable, warm- 
hearted man, the kindest of help-mates, and the most 
disinterested of friends. As a companion or guest he was 
charming, high bred, and courteous, communicative of stores 
of anecdotes and reminiscences of the events he had wit- 
nessed, the interesting people he had known, and the places 
he had seen all over Europe. To which must be added 
his musical gift, which was at the service of whoever asked 
for it. To recognitions and honours he was indifferent. He 
gratefully received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society, 
awarded in 1859, an d the Clarke Medal of the Royal Society 
1 It is a reproduction of the portrait, painted in 1870 by Lowes Dickinson, in 
the possession of the Linnean Society of London, by whose kind permission it has 
been here reproduced. 
