183 



From Mr. James Lee. 



Dear Sir, Hammersmith, July 9, 181 2. 



I received your kind letter of the 12th of May 

 with a packet of seeds from Russia, for which ac- 

 cept our best thanks ; and also your other of the 

 22nd June concerning the particulars of the life of 

 Mr. Masson. I mentioned to you that I thought 

 he had been ill paid, considering what he had done 

 for the science of botany. He explored the Cape 

 of Good Hope twice, Madeira, the Canaries, Azores, 

 Spain, Gibraltar, Tangier, Minorca, Majorca, the 

 West Indies, and Canada. Masson was of a mild 

 temper, persevering in his pursuits even to a great 

 enthusiasm, of great industry, w r hich his specimens 

 and drawings of fish, animals, insects, plants and 

 views of the countries he passed through, evince; 

 and though he passed a solitary life in distant coun- 

 tries from society, his love of natural history never 

 forsook him. Characters like him seem for the pre- 

 sent dwindling in the world, but I trust they will 

 revive. 



I am, dear Sir, with great respect, 



Your much obliged Servant, 

 James Lee. 



From J. A. Pavon. 



Madrid, the 22 of July, 1813. 



To the must celebrated Botanist Sir J. E. Smith. 

 I conserve in my power and to your order a little 

 offering, which I make to the merit that Sir Smith 



