him. But he had repeated failure of the heart's action, and to 

 this he eventually succumbed. He spent his life strenuously and 

 with distinction in the service of his country and in the interests 

 of science, and the end came with the simple exhaustion of his 

 physical powers. 



Almost his last inquiry was as to the progress of his book. 

 This fortunately had been left in a state which enabled Mr. W. B. 

 Hernslev, F.R.S., the Keeper of the Herbarium, to see it through 

 the press with little difiiculty. I think Collett felt no real anxiety 

 as to its fate. He hoped that it would stimulate an interest in 

 a subject which he himself had found a pleasant recreation in the 

 midst of official duties. Those who use it will speedily discover 

 that it is no mere couipilation, but the outcome of conscientious 

 and independent work. Collett had the true scientitic tempera- 

 ment. He had no respect for scientific authority and distrusted 

 textbooks. He was never content without verifying the facts for 

 himself. He described his plants fresh from the field, and at once 

 entered in his notebooks copious memoranda and excellent 

 drawings, and these he coustantlv used iu working up his material 

 at Kew. 



At first sight there may seem something anomalous in a dis- 

 tinguished soldier devoting his years of retirement to botanical 

 studies, still more perhaps in prosecuting them in the midst of his 

 professional duties. As a matter of fact, the obligations of 

 botanical science to the Army are very great ; it is sufficient to 

 recall the names so familiar to botanists of the late General 

 Munro, "CB. ; of the late Colonel Grant, C.B., C.S.I., and of 

 Lieutenant-General Sir Richard Strachey. G.C.S.T. The flora of 

 Tibet would be hariily known to us but for the collections made 

 by military officers, of whom Captain Deasy, the late Captain 

 Wellby and Captain Malcolm, D.S.O., may more particularly be 

 mentioned. Nor is it easy to estimate the position our knowledge 

 of the Indian flora would occupy without the labours of a long 

 series of officers of the Indian Medical Department. And among 

 Russian officers the name of General Przewalski will always stand 

 out pre-eminent for his botanical work in Western Asia. The 

 fact is that the qualities that make for success both in the soldier 

 and the botanist are largely identical : they are quick observation 

 and the power of rapidly drawing correct observations from 

 niinute facts. When Collett discovered his giant rose through 

 his field-glass he was using his eyes and his reasoning powers 

 precisely as he would have done in a military reconnaissance. 



CoUett's personality had something wholly out of the common. 

 Rather below the average height he had a spare, erect and well- 

 knit figure. A bright, frank and alert expression was accompanied 

 by a singular charm of manner. In many ways he constantly 

 reminded me of the late General Gordon. And as with hiui a 

 keen glance would sometimes flash from the eyes which showed 

 that stern resolution would not be wanting on occasion. There 

 was nothing about him of the beau sabreur, but he had all the 

 impress of a man destined to lead and command. As with most 

 distinguished soldiers, his address was singularly modest and 

 simple ; at the same time he held decided views on most subjects 

 and with extreme tenacity, though rarely caring to give expression 



