146 Linnean Society. [May 24^ 



blishment of the Messrs. Dickson of Broughton near that city, then 

 among the finest in Scotland. Late in 1819 he removed to London, 

 and soon after became librarian to Mr. Lambert, in whose house he 

 was domiciled, and of whose extensive herbarium he had charge. 

 About this period he published " Descriptions of several new or rare 

 native Plants, found in Scotland chiefly by the late Mr. George Don,^ 

 of Forfar;" and wrote "A Monograph of the Genus Saxifraga," 

 which appeared in the 13th volume of our 'Transactions.' These 

 publications brought him into favourable notice, and in the year 1822 

 he became Librarian of the Linnean Society, an office ■which he con- 

 tinued to hold till his death, and in which he acquired the universal 

 respect and esteem of the Members by the wide extent of his infor- 

 mation and the liberality with which he was at all times ready to 

 impart it. 



On the death of Prof. Burnet in 1836 he succeeded to the Bota- 

 nical Chair at King's College, which he also retained till his decease. 

 His constitution was apparently robust, but towards the end of 1 840 

 a tumour appeared in his lower lip, which it was found necessary to 

 remove. The disease, however, after a short respite, reappeared in 

 the neck, and assuming by degrees a decidedly malignant character, 

 left no hope of his long surviving. He died on the 8th of December 

 last, worn out by severe suffering, which he bore with the most 

 exemplary fortitude, and was buried on the 15th of the same month 

 in the Cemetery at Kensal Green. He was married, but left no 

 children. 



As a systematic botanist his character stands deservedly high. 

 His knowledge of plants was most extensive, and his appreciation of 

 species ready and exact. The most important of his publications are 

 his " Prodromus Florae Nepalensis ;" his monographs of Saxifraga 

 and other genera, and of the family of Melastomacece ; his memoirs 

 on CompositcE, in our ' Transactions ;' and his papers, especially those 

 on the plants of Peru and Chile, in the ' Edinburgh Philosophical 

 Journal.' The following is believed to be a nearly complete cata- 

 logue of his works : — 



I. In the ' Transactions of the Linnean Society :' 



1. "A Monograph of the Genus Saxifraga," in vol. xiii. 



2. " Descriptions of nine new species of Carex, natives of the Hi- 

 malaya Alps in Upper Nepaul," in vol. xiv. 



3. " Description of Cowunia, a new genus of Plants ; and of a new 

 species of Sieversia," in vol. xiv. 



4. " Description of a new genus (^Lophospermurn) belonging to the 

 Natural Family of Plants called Scrophularlnea," in vol. xv. 



