world, possesses all his valuable recipes
and herbal remedies!

FOOTNOTES:

[281] The moral and literary character of Henley has been developed in
"Calamities of Authors."

[282] The twenty-six folios of his "Vegetable System," with many
others, testify his love and his labour. It contains 1600
plates, representing 26,000 different figures of plants _from
nature only_. This publication ruined the author, whose widow
(the sister of Lord Ranelagh) published "An Address to the
Public, by the Hon. Lady Hill, setting forth the consequences
of the late Sir John Hill's acquaintance with the Earl of
Bute," 1787. I should have noticed it in the "Calamities of
Authors." It offers a sad and mortifying lesson to the votary
of science who aspires to a noble enterprise. Lady Hill
complains of the _patron_; but a patron, however great, cannot
always raise the public taste to the degree required to afford
the only true patronage which can animate and reward an
author. Her detail is impressive:--

"Sir John Hill had just wrote a book of great elegance--I
think it was called 'Exotic Botany'--which he wished to have
presented to the king, and therefore named it to Lord Bute.
His lordship waived that, saying that 'he had a greater object
to propose;' and shortly after laid before him a plan of the
most voluminous, magnificent, and costly work that ever man
attempted. I tremble when I name its title--because I think
the severe application which it required killed him; and I am
sure the expense ruined his fortune--'The Vegetable System.'
This work was to consist of twenty-six volumes folio,
containing sixteen hundred copper-plates, the engraving of
each cost four guineas; the paper was of the most expensive
kind; the drawings by the first hands. The printing was also a
very weighty concern; and many other articles, with which I am
unacquainted. Lord Bute said that 'the expense had been
considered, and that Sir John Hill might rest assured his
circumstances should not be injured.' Thus he entered upon and
finished his destruction. The sale bore no proportion to the
expense. After 'The Vegetable System' was completed, Lord Bute
proposed another volume to be added, w