:: f ; ^ » - J
lover o f this iubjeCt w ill thus be enabled to arrange a cabinet o f ihells with facility and
precifion, and quickly become an adept in this pleafing and elegant lludy. M ay he
alio, -without incurring the imputation o f vanity, be permitted to intimate, that many
other and very important advantages to the fcience o f Conchology will probably refult
from this publication ? One at leail cannot but be immediately obvious, that the prefent
undertaking w ill contain the mo il lively reprefentation o f many rare and unique ihells,
which no labour nor co il can ever reaibnably hope to afiemble in one cabinet.
A nd here the Author begs permiffion to mention, as a tribute o f ju ilic e to the
liberality o f the poffeffors, the ieveral collections in this kingdom to wh ich h e is
indebted for fome o f the more beautiful fubjeCts in thefe volumes.
A mo n g theie, the firil praife is confefledly due to the fuperb collection o f the
Dutchefs Dowager o f Portland ; io rich a diiplay in the number as w ell as rarity and
perfection o f thefe fubjeCts, together w itli every other fpecies o f marine productions,
perhaps is not to be equalled. In this branch o f fcience her Grace’s fuperior knowledge
is as w ell known as it is eminently demonilrated, in the critical arrangement o f this
immenfe cabinet ; wh ich altogether juilifies the very great expenfe o f time and money
employed in the formation o f it.'
Should w e attempt to give an adequate idea o f the noble collection o f Shells formed
b y the Righ t Honourable the Countefs o f Bute, it would require a detail far exceeding
the limits o f the prefent plan; it is fufficient to lay, that almoft every thing requifite to
conilitute a perfect cabinet is found in this, and that in the dillribution o f the contents
order and elegance are happily united^
• F ew ladies have lludied more attentively, or fucceeded more happily in this branch,
than Mils Fordyce*, as every fubjeCt in her truly capital collection is a pro of o f that
peculiar care and difcernment requifite to form fo rich a {uits o f Shells, including fome
unique, and many others o f the fcarceil fpecies. T h e whole are clafled and arranged
with the mo ll critical judgment and elegant tafte, affording at the lame time inilruClioq
and delight.
M rs . Heron-|- has made a confiderable progrefs towards forming an excellent
afiortment o f Shells. So laudable a beginning, together with a happy turn which this
lady poffefies for this pleafing lludy, prelages the accomplifhment o f a very reipeCtable
cabinet.
* Daughter of Dr. George Fordyce, of Eflex Street, Strand,
f Wife of Thomas Heron, Efq. of Chilham Cattle, near Canterbury,
[ t2. n
M r s . Barclay* has allb made the lludy of. Shells her favourite amufement. So choice'
an aflemblage o f thefe bodies, w ith the fcientific arrangement in which they are placed
in her cabinet, indicates her perfect acquaintance with the iubjeCt.
M rs. Walker’s-f- attention to thefe obje&s is rendered fufficiently conlpicuous in the
acquirement o f fo many rare and finely preferved Ihells which enrich her cabinet. From
the well-informed mind, and liberal fpirit o f the amiable poffeffor, this collection will
no doubt foon become truly interelling.
T he cabinet o f the late D r. Hunter, lince the addition- o f that great collection'
formerly in the pofleffion o f D r. Fothergill, is truly magnificent; as many unique
ipecimens, and others o f extremely rare fpecies in the feveral branches o f Shells,
Echini, and Corallines, may here be feen. T o attempt even a faint defcription o f the
various other departments o f this llupendous mufeum, would be as difficult as it is here
unneceffary. I t is fufficient for the author to have mentioned a repofitory, wherein is
treafured, for the inilruCtion and wonder o f the prefent, as well as o f future ages, an
aflemblage o f literature, antiquities^, natural hiflory, and anatomy, far exceeding any ever
y e t formed by an individual, and-reflecting an honour on the country, as well as on the
name o f the immortal founder.
. S ir Aihton Lever’s Holophu£con§ prefents to the mind the.richefl and mofl fuperb;
receptacle o f the kind probably now exifting in the world. T h is ju i l praife, it is
prefumed, w ill readily be admitted b y thofe perfons. who have even curibrily feen the
contents. I t includes a large and beautiful fuite o f Shells, and almofl every known fpecies
o f the feathered tribe, as well as other animals, in the highefl prefervation, elegantly fet
up in cafes, or inclofed in ipirits; added to thefe are innumerable ipecimens o f various
native, as w ell as figured fofiils, and a wonderful diiplay o f Natural and Artificial
Curiofities. T h e view only can give a perfect idea o f the unequalled grandeur produced
b y fo many different and v ail cplleCtions, fo methodically and happily diippfed.
I t is impoffible in fo trivial a iketch to convey a ju i l idea o f the effect w ith which
the mufeum o f Mr. John Hunter || ilrikes the fpeCtator, as the greateil exertions, mull
have long been made in feleCling the admirable variety o f its fubjeCts. His cabinet o f
* Wife of Mr. John Barclay, Cambridge Heath, Hackney.
+ Wife of Ifaac Walker, Efq. of Arno’s Grove, Southgate, Middlefex.
t The cabinet of medals is more particularly worthy the attention of the curious, and is perhaps fecond to
none of the moft celebrated in Europe.
§ Leiccfter Houfe. . || Of Leicefter Square.
Shells