PREFACE. iil 
He soon after, in that year, made a short excursion to Trinkamaly ; and early in the following year 
he made a second excursion to Columbo. : 
In the beginning of June, 1782, Dr. Patrick Russell, on his arrival in India, had the pleasure of 
meeting with Dr. Koenig at Tranquebar, who not only communicated the catalogue of his Coromandel 
collection of plants, but as an inducement to engage in Indian Botany, favoured him with a number 
of specimens. From that time commenced a correspondence, which was continued till within a fort- 
night of Dr. Koenig’s death. 
In 1784, Koenig fulfilled the promise he had given of a visit to his old friend Mr. Claud Russell, 
then chief at Vizagapatam. It was on his way to Bengal ; but as he made some stay at Vizagapatam, 
Dr. Russell had time to submit to his examination a pretty large collection of plants made in that 
district, and to profit by his assistance in arranging them.* He took the opportunity also of urging to 
Dr. Koenig, (what he had more than once hinted before in correspondence, } the propriety of trans- 
mitting to the Court of Directors, a select Fasciculus of drawings and descriptions, by way of specimen 
of his labours; at the same time, earnestly recommending his making such a disposition, in respect to 
his manuscript papers, as might, in case of death, insure their falling into the possession of some one 
qualified to appreciate their merit, and not less able, than liberally disposed, to employ them in the 
manner most conducive to the writer’s reputation. 7 
In this last view, Sir Joseph Banks was considered, of all others the person most eligible. Koenig 
had been in correspondence with Dr. Solander, from the year 1774; and had from time to time trans- 
mitted specimens and seeds of plants for Sir Joseph. 
Koenig departed from Vizagapatam, impressed with the justness of what had been suggested to him ; 
but eager in the pursuit of new objects on the journey, and immersed in various avocations at Calcutta, 
he delayed from day to day, what he was conscious it was wrong to procrastinate, and on his return 
to Vizagapatam in April, 1785, he had executed no part of his former resolutions ; though the declining 
state of his health at that time, rendered it more than ever expedient to prepare for an event, which © 
he himself appeared to consider as at no great distance. 
After a rest of two or three weeks at Vizagapatam, in which time he remarkably recovered his 
strength and spirits, he proceeded to Jagrenatporum, with a full resolution of immediately setting about 
the proposed selection ; but towards the end of May, his distemper which was a flux, ) returning, he 
gradually sunk under it, in spite of the skill and friendly attentions of Dr. Roxburgh, and on the 26th 
of June expired. 
On the 6th of that month he had made his will, bequeathing the whole of his manuscripts, and 
specimens of plants, to Sir Joseph Banks; of which he acquainted Dr. Russell in a letter dated the 12th. 
Some days before his death, he himself saw such papers as he was then in possession of, sealed up in 
the presence of Dr. Roxburgh, by whom they were despatched to Sir Joseph Banks, and arrived safely ; 
but those dispersed in different places, particularly at Tranquebar, (among which unfortunately was his 
Ceylon Journal,) have hitherto not appeared, though Dr. Roxburgh and Dr. Russell did all in their 
power in India to recover them. 
‘Though these manuscripts contained many valuable descriptions and observations, there was nothing 
* On Dr. Russell's leaving India, the cabinet containing the above collection, considerably augmented, was presented by 
him to the Company, and deposited at the Presidency, with the approbation of the Governor in council. 
