The general consensus of opinion, much of which does not appear to have been independently arrived at, is that Hill's nature contained little that was commendable. At the same time his remarkable industry and versatility were recognised. His independent and quarrelsome nature, coupled with his mode of attack and fearlessness in expressing his opinions, made him cordially hated, and caused much that he did to be viewed with a prejudiced eye; for instance, it is generally stated that he obtained his degree of Doctor of Medicine (St Andrews, 1750) by dishonourable means. Mr Anderson, Librarian and Keeper of the Records of St Andrews University, has kindly looked the matter up and informs me that there is nothing whatever to warrant such a statement; the degree was granted according to the practice of the time. It is important to remember that Hill in his earlier days suffered much from penury, which, to a certain extent, may have embittered his nature. However this may be, he learnt subsequently the advantages conferred by a good income, and was not desirous of becoming reacquainted with his earlier experiences. This may explain much of his peculiar behaviour. Disraeli[95] suggests that, in offering himself as Keeper of the Sloane Collection, at the time of its purchase for the British Museum, Hill was merely indulging in an advertisement. Hill probably was sufficiently shrewd to realize that a ready sale for his wares would obtain so long as he kept within the public eye, and much of his extraordinary behaviour in public may have been merely self-advertisement. The portrait of Hill prefacing this sketch is after Neudramini's engraving of Coates's portrait (1757); the plant represented is a spray of a species of _Hillia_, named in honour of Hill by Jacquin. FOOTNOTES: [59] Sir John Hawkins, _Life of Samuel Johnson_, London. 1787. [60] A Letter from Henry Woodward, ... to Dr Hill ... London, 1752. [61] _Loc. cit._ [62] _Short Account of the Life, Writings and Character of the late Sir John Hill, M.D.,_Edinburgh, 1779. [63] Fitzgerald, _Life of Garrick_, London, 1868. [64] Isaac Disraeli, _The Calamities and Quarrels of Authors_, London, 1865. [65] London, 1848. [66] _Biographica Dramatica_, 1812. [67] See also _Lucine sine concubitu_. A Letter addressed to the Royal Society, London, 1750. _A Dissertation on Royal Societies_, London, 1750. [68] _Short Account of the Life, Writings and Character of the late Sir John Hill, M.D._, Edinburgh 1779. [69] See Bates, _The Naturalist on the River Amazons_. Edited by Ed. Clodd; London, 1892, p. 80. [70] _Short Life_, _loc. cit._ [71] _Loc. cit._ [72] _Biographica Dramatica._ [73] _Dict. Nat. Biog._ [74] His second wife, the Hon. Henrietta Jones, sister of Charles Viscount Ranelagh. She published "An Address to the Public setting forth the Consequencies of the late Sir John Hill's acquaintance with the Earl of Bute," 1788. [75] _Historical Account of Kew to 1841_, _Kew Bulletin_, 1891.