Norwich and Halesworth, 1785-1820. xxvii 
and simple, and this was so throughout his life ; but his lavish 
expenditure on his own unremunerative publications, and on 
the purchase and beautiful binding of expensive entomo- 
logical, ornithological, and especially botanical and even 
archaeological and artistic works, had crippled his resources, 
and he had now a wife and family of four to provide for. 
Under these circumstances he wrote to his friend Sir Joseph 
Banks, requesting that he might be informed, should he hear 
of any opportunity of applying his botanical knowledge to the 
improvement of his income. Sir Joseph promptly answered, 
that the Professorship of Botany was vacant in the University 
of Glasgow, and that he was ready to use his influence to 
obtain it for him should he desire to become a candidate. 
My father answered favourably, and at once left for Spring 
Grove, where he was hospitably received by Sir Joseph 1 , 
who told him that the emoluments of the Chair, though small, 
would certainly increase ; that it was freed from all medical 
duties 2 ; that a really noble botanical garden had been formed 
at Glasgow, to which the University had given ^2,000 and 
the city ^3,000, and towards the development of which 
he could assure him that Kew would place all its resources. 
1 The securing this professorship for my father was probably the last of the 
good deeds of this truly noble soldier of science. He died in the following 
June (19), aged 77. 
2 The Chair had been held conjointly with that of medicine by Dr. R. Graham, 
who was now transferred to Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Chair, as was that of 
Glasgow, had been first offered to Robert Brown, who declined both, on the score 
of his obligations to the aged Sir Joseph Banks, whose librarian he was. Sir James 
Smith had been a candidate for the Edinburgh Chair. 
C 2 
