117 



From Mr. James Lee. 

 Nursery, Hammersmith, March 11, 1806. 



Dear Sir, 



We cannot procure any Fuchsia seed, and Dode- 

 catheon does not ripen in England, and it is now 

 impossible to send anything to Naples. We should 

 have wrote to you about this before, but at this 

 season are so overpowered with business that you 

 must excuse me. You may depend on it that no 

 one will be able to make an impression on our 

 minds unfavourable to you : we have such high 

 esteem for your abilities, such gratitude in store for 

 what you have done for science, for the public, and 

 for us, that we shall always be willing to defend 

 you on all occasions, and at all points. 



We are sorry to have to communicate to you the 

 death of our dear friend Masson, who died at Mont- 

 real in January last. We lament his fate most sin- 

 cerely. He was hardly dealt by, in being exposed 

 to the bitter cold of Canada in the decline of life, 

 after twenty-five years services in a hot climate, — 

 and all for a pittance. He has done much for bo- 

 tany and science, and deserves to have some lasting 

 memorial given of his extreme modesty, good tem- 

 per, generosity, and usefulness. We hope, when 

 opportunity serves, you will be his champion *. 

 I am, dear Sir, &c. 



James Lee. 



* " Francis Masson," Sir James informs us in his biographical 

 memoir of this excellent naturalist, — " a name which ranks very 



