186 Da FRANCIS HAMILTON on the Plants of India, 8fc. 



climate. I accordingly returned to Calcutta, to prepare for my 

 journey ; and, in the mean time, on the death of Dr ROXBURGH, 

 took charge of the Botanical Garden, having been appointed his 

 successor by the Court of Directors. While preparing for the 

 journey, I was deprived by the Marquis of HASTINGS of all the 

 botanical drawings which had been made under my inspection 

 during my last stay in India, otherwise they would have been de- 

 posited, with my other collections, in the Library at the India 

 House. By this ill-judged act of authority, unworthy of this 

 Nobleman's character, the drawings will probably be totally lost 

 to the public. To me, as an individual, they were of no value, 

 as I preserve no collection, and as I have no occasion to convert 

 them into money. 



In February 1815 I embarked for Europe, and in September 

 presented my whole collections to the Court of Directors, with 

 an order from the Lords of the Treasury for their being deli vered 

 free from duty, an order which was granted with the utmost li- 

 berality and urbanity. 



