
          304 Transactions British Mycological Society

to have the Honour of Dedicating and presenting it to Your Grace, would afford the
Greatest and most sincere Happiness to him, who is not further ambitious, than to
make Himself serviceable To the Noble Duchess Dowager of Portland.

Halifax 21 st Sep.r 1784,

James Bolton

This shows that the first volume was prepared under the patronage
of Her Grace, Margaret Cavendishe, Duchess Dowager of Portland.
The Duchess having died before the work was completed the later
volumes were prepared and the History published under the patronage
of the Earl of Gainsborough; as is indicated in the fourth volume of
the manuscript dated November 3rd, 1787, and also on the title-page
of the first volume of the printed work, 1788.

Each illustration is enclosed in a rectangle carefully drawn with red
ink. All the writing is very clear and distinct, and all of the plates and
the manuscript appear as clean and fresh as though they had been
made recently. The facsimile (p. 303) of the “Memorandum” in
vol. iv is a good example of the handwriting of the author:

MEMORANDUM

In this and the three preceding Volumes,
the Objects (one Hundred and Eighty two species)
which are exhibited in about five Hundred figures,
were all gathered in their native places of growth
by me, or sent by my Friends when newly gathered,
and every figure drawn immediately from those
Objects hy my own hands.

There are many species of English
Fungii mentioned by Authors, which are not
here figured, and yet may possibly some of
them grow near me, tho I have not disco¬
vered them in my researches, which have
been now regularly pursued for more than
twenty years;—I shall go on in the inquiry
as long as Health and strength permit, and
such as I may have the good fortune to meet
with I will take care to add to your Lord-
ships store; For my desire is to acquit
myself as propperly and faithfully as
I can to all those whose Generosity enables
me to follow my favourite pursuit. I am
My Lord with the truest sense of
Humility and Gratitude,
Your Lordships
most Obedient Servant
James Bolton

Halifax
Nov.r y. 3 d
AD 1787.

“My Lord” referred to is the Earl of Gainsborough.
        