THE LATE ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 289 
the dysenteric irritation I have overcome ; tonies are now my 
only medicines, and these taken regularly at stated periods. 
Thus much of myself." 
The termination of the life of this truly estimable man, 
however, was fast approaching. On the 24th of June he was 
removed from his lodgings in Sydney to the cottage in the 
Botanic Garden, for change of scene and air.—* On the 
26th, after the visit of an old acquaintance, a clergyman, he 
expressed himself in these words: * If it be the will of God 
that I recover, I will go to England; but if not, I submit 
myself with patience and resignation to the divine will? 
‘On Thursday, the 27th, he was undressed and placed in bed; 
and just as he had lain down, he took Anderson's hand and 
clasped it firmly for some minutes, when suddenly the grasp 
relaxed, and his spirit had flown, without a struggle, to those 
realms where, I pray God, we may all meet when our time 
comes. You will thus be pleased to hear that our poor 
friend's last hours were passed in quiet; nothing happened to 
disturb him, and his last breath was sighed away in the arms 
of his faithful friend James Anderson.* Ever since Cun- 
ningham's return from New Zealand his health has declined, 
and his favourite pursuits of Botany and Geography have 
been rather neglected, except in the active movements of his 
mind; indeed almost his last rational words were connected 
with inquiries relative to the new colony of Port Essington, 
from which letters had been that morning received. Alas, 
poor Allan! he was a rare specimen—quite a genus of him- 
self; an enthusiast in Australian geography ; devoted to his 
own science, Botany ; a warm friend, and an honest man; 
and, to crown all,when the time came, he resigned himself 
into the arms of his Saviour, without a murmur.” t 
Thus died Allan Cunningham, at an age far short of that 
allowed by the Psalmist as the period of human vigour, 
exhausted, doubtless, by the twenty-five years of unwearied 
* His successor in the superintendence of the Botanic Garden 
: + Extract of a letter from Mr. Cunningham's old commander and much 
. attached friend, and finally executor, Captain Phillip Parker King, R.N. 
