The Scottish Naturalist. i 1 5 



William Roberts to David Booth. 1 



"Forfar, \2>th January 1814. 



" Dear Sir, — Mr Rodger says he wrote to you yesterday 

 communicating the unpleasant news of the death of our friend, 

 George Don, but had omitted to request you to write a short 

 sketch of this singular and celebrated botanical genius, and to 

 cause the sketch to be published in one of the English diurnal 

 newspapers. To stimulate you to this is my chief object in writ- 

 ing at present. If the article appear in one newspaper, it is 

 probable it will be copied into all the other papers. 



" A man of eminence in any art or science is entitled to notice, 

 and when he leaves the world it argues a degree of inexcusable 

 insensibility to devote no attention whatever to his memory. 

 George was not only a self-taught man of science, but he was 

 our particular friend. I therefore expect that you, who knew 

 every trait of his character, will not delay a moment in taking 

 up your able pen to celebrate his memory. Your description 

 will aid a benevolent plan which a number of your acquaintances 

 here have formed in behalf of the unhappy orphans left by our 

 friend. Judge, then, how anxiously we will look for the effusion 

 of your pen on departed genius and modest worth. 



" George's family consists of five sons and one daughter. The 

 two elder sons, George and David, have studied botany under 

 their father, and have made considerable proficiency. They 

 know the greater part of the immense variety of plants in his 

 botanic garden. The second son, David, is a fine boy of about 

 sixteen years of age, modest, communicative, and sensible, and 

 the knowledge he has already acquired of plants would astonish 

 you. Were his genius to be properly cultivated, I have not a 

 doubt that he would soon be little inferior to what his father was 

 in the science of botany. 



"A number of individuals here have it in contemplation to 

 support these two young men, to enable them to reside with, 

 and provide for, the three infant sons. With a view to this 

 benevolent plan, letters are to be sent to those gentlemen who 

 corresponded with George on the subject of botany, soliciting 

 their aid. Perhaps a small fund may be raised in this way to 

 preserve the family from starving, and to enable the two elder 

 sons to follow their pursuit in the knowledge of botany; and if 



1 Addressed to Mr Booth, Mr William Godwin's, 41 Skinner Street, 

 London. 



