BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 155 
in Seotland, I relate to you my melancholy tale, trustiug to your 
kindness to make it known to those it must so deeply interest. 
Poor Gardner arrived here yesterday at three o'clock, in high health 
and spirits, and was going on an exeursion with me to the Horton 
plains. Never did he seem so well, and never more cheerful or agree- 
able; so much so, that when some of us went out to ride at four o’clock, 
we remarked it. He took some luncheon, and he said he should go to 
his room and rest after his journe 
** We had not ridden two miles when an express was sent to us to 
. Say he was taken severely ill. Dr. Fleming, (the ablest physician in the 
island,) was with me at the time, when we immediately returned an 
fouud him lying in a fit of apoplexy. Every possible means that 
science and skill could invent were employed, but nothing proved of 
any avail:—he breathed his last at eleven o'clock last night, in my 
presence, and I can truly say, surrounded by as many sorrowing hearts 
as if his own relations had been here. It appears from the acecunt 
ofthe Rest-house keeper, that hearing him scream in his room, and 
exclaim, ‘I am going to die!" he rushed in, when poor Gardner fell 
into his arms and said :—‘ Fleming ; bleed!’—He must have been in 
the act of taking off his boots. 
** We hear he had for the last two or three days been complaining 
of pain at the back of the head ; and it is to be feared that he had becn 
labouring too hard on the book which he was preparing for the press, 
and leading too sedentary a life. I remained with him from the mo- 
ment I arrived, and you may assure his friends that every attention 
was paid to him. I can honestly say; that the colony and the public 
in general have experienced a severe loss in this talented and excellent 
man :—one who was loved by all. Never did I see so amiable a person ; 
one who possessed more benevolence, or. was more ready to impart in- 
formation to those who asked for it. He is to be buried this evening, 
at six o'clock, and everybody will attend to pay the last mark of respect 
to our lost friend. 
“I sent an express, last night, to the Agent at Kandy, to put a seal 
on all his papers and property. I know not if he has made a will, nor 
am I acquainted with the state of his affairs; but his botanical col- 
lections shall be carefully secured till I hear from you or some of his 
One work, I know, is ready for the press, and was on the 
point of being sent home for printing. As the mail leaves aln ost at 
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