BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 207 



of the inland provinces. The others getting into a miserable 

 state, I was obliged to sell them for almost nothing, and since 

 then I have been obliged to hire mules at a considerable ex- 

 pense to take me on. Harrison's people are the agents for 

 this mine, and from Mrs Herring, the lady of the Chief Com- 

 missioner — he himself at pj-esent being at Rio — and from Mr 

 Crickitt, who is acting in his place, I have received the 

 greatest kindness and attention. Mi-s H. is intimately ac- 

 quainted with De Candolle, of whom she often speaks. She 

 tells me also that the unfortunate Sellow %vas a frequent visi- 

 tor at their house during his journeyings in Minas. I have 

 been very particular in my inquiries both of her, and many 

 other individuals of his acquaintance, respecting his death ; 

 and I am happy to be able to inform you, for the sake of the 

 memory of this excellent man, that the universal impression 

 is, that it was accidental and not intentional. Between Tiju- 

 co and this place I have made another splendid collection of 

 plants, which I am sure will give satisfaction to my subscrib- 

 ers. I have in all now somewhere about 2400 species. Of 

 late I have been very ill off for want of money, and I thought 

 it very hard to be travelling in the famous El Dorado without 

 a sixpence in my pocket. I am now however in a place 

 where all my wants are willingly supplied. It is indeed a 

 great satisfaction to me to have met with the great kindness 

 which I have experienced here after a journey of about 

 3000 miles through the inland deserts of Brazil. I ex- 

 pect to be in Rio about the middle of October, and will then 

 send you a long letter. You did right in sending my collec- 

 tions, for distribution, to Pamplin. The long letter which I 

 have received from my friend Dr Joseph, I intend to answer 

 also from Rio. With every good wish for the happiness of 

 yourself and family, believe me ever to be, your most grateful 

 and obliged servant, 



George Gardner. 



