65 



though now my thoughts are taken up otherwise. 

 Poor Francois is no more ! He had a good jour- 

 ney with Dr. Sibthorp as far as Athens, and they 

 were much satisfied with each other *. 



I shall dedicate a genus to him, as a martyr to 

 botany, and try to do justice to his merits in the 

 New Holland Botany very soon. I know you will 

 lament his unfortunate fate ; it is consolatory to 

 hear how much everybody esteemed him. It is a 

 severe loss to me, for he was truly good and amia- 

 ble, as well as intelligent. I think he had more 

 acuteness in finding out specific differences of plants 

 than anybody I ever knew. 



Poor Afzelius has lost all his MSS. and collec- 

 tions by the descent of the French savages at Sierra 

 Leone; but happily he is alive and well. His friends 



of his family are deposited, appears the following inscription to 

 their memory, from the same hand : — 



Tears for the dead unprofitably flow, 



Their virtues yet a richer tribute claim ; 

 Let emulation sanctify our woe, 



And raise a living trophy to their name. 



Hither may still each kindred mind retire, 

 If boisterous passions urge, or vice allure, 



Muse o'er these sacred relics, and aspire 



To keep their bosoms pure, as these were pure. 



That when to these their mouldering dust may come, 

 O'er their cold urn may fall the filial tear, 



Still fond remembrance dwell upon their tomb, 

 And virtue find a fair example here. 



* Sir James's epitaph on the death of Francesco Borone ap- 

 peared in the volume of Tracts. 

 VOL. II. F 



