think you will deserve to live on "Sordid scraps on surly proud men s doors." Your judgment and abilities strongly enforce ye necessity of it, not only as an emolument to yourself but as a duty you owe to every speculative man, and depend on it much is due from every man of ability in his respective sphere. [In the third volume of the Illustrations Drury quotes many biological observations by Smeathman.]
(20) To Dr. Giseke. July 13, 1772.
I imagine you have heard before this of the situation of Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander with respect to their intended Voyage. They neither of them go any more a kingdom hunting; a misunderstanding between them and our government is the occasion, and Mr. Rheinhold Forster, who published several things, as Centuria Prima Descript. Insectorum, a translation Kalm s Travels in North America etc. is pitched on to go in their room, nay he is actually gone, and tho his abilities are not considered as equal to those of Banks and Solander yet great expecta tions are formed by government from him. The event will prove whether they are well founded. I think if I am not mistaken I men tioned in one of my letters my desire of knowing what was become of Dr. Pallas, whether any letters had been received from him lately, and what success had attended his physical voyage? If you can give me any information of these matters I beg you will do it in your next let ter. I have not received a line from him these three or four years nor have I been able to get any intelligence about him. (21) To Mr. Latham, Surgeon in Dartford. July 31. 1772. Mr. Whiting and Bartlet long to see your Collection of Birds, and if Thursday next will not be inconvenient we will all pack ourselves in a post chaise; but if that day should not be quite agreeable I will beg you to favor me with a line by Monday s post and we will appoint some other time. (22) To Dr. Kerr at Calcutta. Feb. 12. 1773. [Writes a long letter begging Dr. Kerr to obtain insects for him, and pointing out the interest of the subject] Let me observe further that if your speculations should extend so far as to inquire into the way of life of numberless insects you will have such [word lost] opend as will astonish you and at the same time that you receive the highest entertainment. Mankind may be improved by committing your observations to paper, for we in Europe are ig norant of the Nat. Hist of thousands of animals that live between the Tropics, particularly those of India. (23) To the Rev. Mr. Devereux Jarrat, May 5, 1773. I should think myself unpardonable to neglect writing to you by the opportunity that now offers itself. The bearer, Mr. Abbot, is a
