BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 31 
feet. The proofs hence appear clear of a gradual sinking of the Hima- 
laya: I could obtain no signs of a rising, but abundant evidence of 
the contrary. The glaciers have certainly receded 7,000 feet. 
And now it is high time to draw this long letter to a close ; I fear 
it is but a poor attempt to inform you of what I am doing. Dr. 
Thomson and myself intend to continue our explorations here till 
November, and then to visit Cachar, Chittagong, and Arracan, from 
whence we embark for Calcutta, and England in the early spring of next 
year. Our conjoined collections will be enormous. His consists of 
4,000 species, from the Plains of India, Thibet, the north-western’ 
Himalaya, Kashmir, and Lahore ; and mine of nearly as many, from the 
Sikkim-Himalaya and Bengal. We have since, unitedly, gathered here 
upwards of 3,000, and we expect perhaps to add another 1,000 in 
Chittagong and Arracan. The vegetation is wonderful; we have twenty 
Oaks alone from the Khossya mountains, and an equal number from 
the Himalaya mountains. 
- Mr. Hodgson, of Darjeeling, always desires his grateful acknow- 
ledgments to you. 
I rejoice to’hear of your continued good health. The news of his 
Prussian Majesty's accident reached me, and I thought it would afflict 
you very much. It is a matter of rejoicing that a sovereign who has 
the true interests of science so much at heart should have recovered. 
Believe me, with feelings of grateful and affectionate regard, 
Your faithful and obedient friend, 
Josera D. Hookzn. 
Plants Jor Sale. 
Mr. Samuel Mossman has lately returned from New Zealand and 
Australia, with a considerable number of dried plants, which he has - 
placed in the hands of Mr. S. Stevens for sale. The New Zealand 
collection is from the Northern! Island, and contains more than 100 
species. The Australian collection consists of South Australia, New 
South Wales, and Van Diemen’s Land plants, amounting to about 
400 species. 
We learn with much satisfaction, that Mons. E. Bourgeau, the - 
botanical traveller and collector for the Société Française d’Explora- _ 
tion, has arrived in Paris with a fine collection of plants from the — 
