268 
MEMOIR OF H. C, WATSON, ESQ. 
In January, 1833, Mr. Watson finally quitted Edinburgh, and went to reside 
with his brother-in-law, Captain Wakefield, near Barnstaple. But not liking 
this neighbourhood, he settled in Thames-Ditton, fifteen miles South of London, 
at the end of the same year; and there he still resides, on a moderate inde¬ 
pendency. 
At the close of 1832 Mr. Watson printed his Outlines of the Geographical 
Distribution of British Plants , which he considered too imperfect a work for 
publication, although the bringing together its materials had required much 
patience and labour, as being the first work of its kind published in this country, 
except a few short essays on local Botany. 
In 1835 he published the Remarks on the Geographical Distribution of British 
Plants , and also the first volume of The New Botanist’s Guide; the second 
volume of the latter work following it in 1837- These were intended, the latter 
as a collection of details, the former as a generalised sketch, on which he might 
found a larger and more comprehensive work, in the preparation of which the 
author is now engaged. But as this larger work will take several years to com¬ 
plete, it will probably be printed in successive Parts, for private distribution 
amongst persons of congenial taste; Mr. Watson being averse to publish parts 
of a work which he may not live to complete. 
Mr. Watson has also contributed various articles to the Magazine of Natural 
History , the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal , The Naturalist , and other 
periodicals, on subjects connected with Botany, Entomology, and Meteorology. 
In consequence of illiberal reports which have been repeated to him, he requests 
us distinctly to state, that he publishes all his works with a certainty of pecuniary 
loss, and that he would decline to receive payment for any article sent to a 
periodical. 
In 1836 Mr. Watson published a 12mo. volume entitled Statistics of Phren¬ 
ology ; for the purpose, as he stated, of encouraging phrenologists, by showing 
that their science was making great and rapid progress in public estimation. 
This work is nearly out of print, and will not be re-printed, its purpose having 
in the authors opinion been effected. In the same year his friendship and esteem 
for Mr. Combe induced him to write and publish his Examination of Mr. Scott's 
Attack on Mr. Combe’s “ Constitution of Man.” This pamphlet was speedily out 
of print in London, only a hundred copies having been sent to the Publishers 
there, and no second supply being given to them. It is probably by this time 
out of print in Edinburgh, to which city a much larger supply was sent. 
In the Autumn of 1837, Mr. Watson obtained the copyright of the Phrenolo¬ 
gical Journal from Messrs. Combe and Simpson, and became its Editor as well as 
Proprietor ; commencing a New Series, somewhat changed in plan, though it wa s 
not until January 1839, that his name appeared on the cover as the avowed 
