BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 981 
names of any that I have misnamed or left unnamed, as I shall publish 
_ 4n account of our visit before our return. 
“5. Cape of Good Hope.—1 need not say a single word about the 
botany of this well-explored district, further than that you will find up- 
wards of 300 species of plants in my collection. 
“6. St. Paul, South Indian Ocean.—The few plants composing the 
scanty vegetation of this little island are of such peculiar interest to 
me, that I should feel extremely obliged by your giving me the names 
of the indigenous species, especially the common Grass of the island. 
We were at St. Paul about eleven days. We found a party of four 
people from Bourbon, collecting fish for the supply of that island. 
“Nothing occurred of consequence to delay our voyage, and we 
reached Sydney on Friday, the 18th. Thus ended our voyage to the 
starting-point. l 
“Since writing the preceding part of this letter I have packed up 
the plants which I send you. ‘The plan for our future proceedings has 
not yet, I believe, been matured: much depends on the condition of 
the ‘Torch,’ which may be expected in a few days. I believe however, 
from what Captain Denham (who has behaved towards me with uni- - 
form kindness, and affords me every assistance, such I believe as cap- 
tain never before offered to a naturalist) has told me, that in about a 
month hence we go to the Isle of Pines, and return to Sydney after a 
six weeks’ or two months’ eruize. Of course I anticipate a rich harvest 
at that place, although much of my time will be taken up in vocabulary- - 
making. Our first work of importance will be the survey of New Cale- 
donia; and as our exploration will be more than a survey of the coasts 
for hydrographic purposes, I look forward with hope to our anticipated 
explorations in the interior, with a sufficient force to secure us from 
molestation from the natives. The following year, it is proposed, will 
be devoted to the Fijees, etc. 
“Sydney has altered more than I expected to have found after so 
short an absence. Of course gold is the all-absorbing topic of conver- 
sation, and we already in our own little circle are becoming quite fami- 
lar (in zalk only, however) with the gold-fields. It has been found in 
New Caledonia, and some of us may pick up a nugget or two there ; 
and T shall take care that mine are not preserved as mineralogical spe- 
cimens. I have seen Mr. Moore here, but have not had a long con- 
versation with him yet. The gardens are exceedingly creditable to his 
VOL. V. 20 
