1808-1822.] 
BUCKLANUS COLLECTIONS. 
43 
It was during his journeys, at home and abroad, that 
Buckland laid the foundation of a collection which became 
famous as the first of its kind in Europe. In its forma¬ 
tion he expended a large portion of his private fortune, 
and if there was a good specimen to be anywhere 
obtained, he would secure it at any price. The collection 
of cave bones from England and the Continent is unique. 1 
The other specimens were selected with a view to their 
fitness for illustration of certain definite points. Some 
are of the most delicate texture ; others again are of 
such gigantic size and ponderous weight that they show, 
as Professor Phillips remarked, “ the courage of the man.” 
Not only did he spend his own money, time, and strength 
in the formation of his collection ; friends were also 
working for him in all parts of the globe. Writing in 
1819 to Lady Mary Cole, he says :— 
“ My treasures in Geology continue more than ever to 
accumulate. I have just heard from town that three large 
Russian boxes from Mr. Strangways are sent off to Oxford, 
and in his last package I received a diploma from Moscow, 
for which I am indebted to his kindness. You will be 
pleased to hear I am likely to get extensive importations 
from all the British colonies over the w r orld, through the 
kindness of Lord Bathurst, who lately sent me a message 
requesting I would draw up a list of instructions for 
collecting specimens in Geology, of which he would 
transmit copies to all the colonies connected with his 
office, and adding that it is his intention to deposit the 
specimens that may be sent home for the purpose of 
illustrating my lectures.” 
1 F. Buckland’s memoir of his father, prefixed to the “ Bridgewater 
Treatise,” 3rd edition. 
