148 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



gree, from which it results that, when we boiled our kettle, we had 

 attained an elevation of 6543 metres (21,466 feet) of perpendicular 

 height upon Chimborazo, to which mountain Humboldt assigns an ele- 

 vation of 6544 metres (21,469 feet). 



Whether our calculations be accepted as positive and undeniably 

 correct or not, we at least ascertained the fact that the summit of 

 Chimborazo is not inaccessible. — Jules Remy. 



BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



BOKNEO. 



The following extract of a letter from James Motley, Esq., will be 

 read with much interest : 



Kalanyan Banjermassirig, S. Borneo, Jan, 10, 1857- 



Press of business only has prevented my writing to you ; for I have 

 been at this place quite alone, except my pupil (now my assistant), 

 Mr. Van Heckeren ; and having to combine the functions of engineer, 

 overlooker, doctor, head carpenter, and cashier, and to snatch occasional 

 days for surveying also when I could, my hands have been pretty full 

 of work. Mr. Wynmalen, the administrator of the Company, is now 

 however on the spot; the doctor is also here; and I have a Euro- 

 pean assistant to superintend the carpenters and smiths ; so I shall be 

 able to go about exploring and surveying a little more, and this is not 

 only the pleasantest part of my work, but the most productive in 

 plants. 



Before I write anything else, I must thank you for the very valuable 

 books you have been so kind as to send me : they were a treasure in- 

 deed. Also the microscope, which Mitten has procured for me ; it is 

 a very good little instrument, and very manageable. With the Intro- 

 duction to the ■ Flora Indica 5 I was very much delighted, and above 

 all with that most excellent chapter on variations of species. If a sort 

 of Botanical Tract Society would only print it in a broad-sheet, and 

 circulate it widely among the sect of hair-splitters, it might work some 

 excellent conversions. It is there indeed well said, that a long course 

 of observations in the Tropics must convince anybody of the inconve- 

 nience, almost even the absurdity, of hair-splitting. What magnificent 



