owledge. One and the
other will expect a person in that office who has sufficient
knowledge: he must be able to give account of every article,
freely and fluently, not only in his own, but in the Latin and
French languages.

"This the world, and none in it better than your lordship,
sees is not a place that any one can execute: it requires
knowledge in a peculiar and uncommon kind of study--knowledge
which very few possess; and in which, my lord, the bitterest
of my enemies (and I have thousands, although neither myself
nor they know why) will not say I am deficient----.

"My lord, the eyes of all Europe are upon this transaction.
What title I have to your lordship's favour, those books which
I have published, and with which (pardon the necessary boast)
all Europe is acquainted, declare. Many may dispute by
interest with me; but if there be one who would prefer
himself, by his abilities, I beg the matter may be brought to
trial. The collection is at hand; and I request, my lord, such
person and myself may be examined by that test, together. It
is an amazing store of knowledge; and he has most, in this
way, who shall show himself most acquainted with it.

"What are my own abilities it very ill becomes me thus to
boast; but did they not qualify me for the trust, my lord, I
would not ask it. As to those of any other, unless a man be
conjured from the dead, I shall not fear to say there is not
any one whoever that is able so much as to call the parts of
the collection by their names.

"I know I shall be accused of ostentation in giving to myself
this preference; and I am sorry for it: but those who have
candour will know it could not be avoided.

"Many excel, my lord, in other studies: it is my chance to
have bestowed the labour of my life on this: those labours may
be of some use to others. This appears the only instance in
which it is possible that they should be rewarded----."

In a subsequent _Inspector_, he treated on the improvement of
botany by raising plants, and reading lectures on them at the
British Museum, with the living plants before the lecturer and
his auditors. Poor Sir John! he was born half a century too