WIGHTS BOTANICAL LKTTERS. 179 



they should prove distinct. I hope to send you the series 

 down to Euphorbiacece; but these are so numerous, and as yet 

 all in confusion, that I must stop there for a day or two, but 

 will immediately after resume the business and hope to have 

 a second remittance, bringing the series to a conclusion by 

 the first ships of next season. I will not lose an hour that I 

 can save, as I heard about a month ago, that there is a pro- 

 bability of my being employed to make a Botanical survey of 

 the Neelsherries and some hi^h hills in the neifjhbourhooil, 

 and I am in almost daily expectation of receiving the order, 

 although I cannot say that my hopes of its arriving are very 

 sanguine. If I do not obtain it, I intend forthwith to make 

 application for a garrison appointment, in which I am more 

 likely to succeed, and shall then set myself dow^n to enjoy as 

 much of the otuan of a stationary appointment as my profes- 

 sional duties will permit. I wish something of the kind 

 would turn up, for I am tired of my present uncertain kind 

 of life, and I can never feel sure but that the next post will 

 bring me an order to hold myself in readiness for a march, 

 on which account, I cannot supply myself with those com- 

 forts and conveniences which are so essential to a domestic 

 character like me, who never wishes to go from home ; jovial 

 society has no charms for me, and such is the usual kind of 

 society in this country. I have for some time back occupied 

 myself during the evenings in writing papers for the Madras 

 Journal^ and letters for one of our newspapers on the advan- 

 tages likely to accrue to the country from the Government 

 encouraging the diffusion of science among its servants. One 

 has been published, the second will be so in the course of a 

 week, the third is brewing in my brains, and the subject of 

 the fourth is determined on. This freak originated in the 

 disgust I feel for the eternal frivolous conversation about 

 hunting, shooting, dogs, horses, &c., to which I am exposed 

 in the limited society of this place. I received this evening 

 the first remittance from my Malabar collectors, and have 

 looked over part. On opening the parcel, I was quite horror- 

 struck at finding it soakinfj wet, owing to heavy rains which 



