218 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
Interesting fragments of other lichens accompany the specimens, 
which resemble Parmelia fulgens and P. coarctata ; but the remains are 
too imperfect to determine with any certainty. 
BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
Intelligence of Mr. SPRUCE, in a letter to G. Bentham, Esq. 
Barra do Rio Negro, Nov. 7, 1851. 
Two nights ago reached me your letter of July 22nd, and also the 
Indians I had been long expecting to take me up the Rio Negro. 1 
am now hard at work packing up my collections for you, and arranging 
“ negocios ” for the voyage. It is no use taking money up the Rio 
Negro, and, except a little copper, I am laying out my whole fortune in 
prints and other fabrics of cotton, axes, cutlasses, fish-hooks, beads, 
looking-glasses, and a host of sundries. The trafficking of these involves 
a serious loss of time, but there is no alternative. 
We had sad news lately from Para: Singlehurst’s vessel, the Princess 
Victoria, was lost in entering the mouth of the river, and nothing of 
her cargo was recovered. Miller went out in a boat from Para to see 
the wreck, caught a constipacad, which excitement aggravated into 
brain-fever and speedily carried him off. I have not a word from the 
young men in his employ, and I know not whether the business will be 
carried on or forthwith wound up. You will of course learn from Sin- 
glehurst if all is to go on as usual. I had reason to expect there would 
be on board for me a case containing drying and packing paper, jars 
for succulent fruits, and several other things, sent by Sir W. Hooker. 
_ The loss to me is great, especially of the fruit-jars. 
Poor Miller was a very fine young man, and his loss to me is irrepa- 
_ rable, as he was so ready to do anything I needed, even to putting 
himself to inconvenience. He was a schoolfellow of Gardner, and was 
stationed at Aracati when Gardner visited that place, where he ren- 
dered him great assistance. 
T am much obliged for the catalogue. Any remarks with which you 
favour me on my plants will always be thankfully received. Will you 
