363 



had cut him oft* in the midst of his labours." Yet 

 as such things will occur, I see with pleasure you 

 still continue to add to the great mass of know- 

 ledge and information on scientific, and particu- 

 larly on botanical subjects, for which the world is 

 already so highly indebted to you ; and that not 

 merely by your own valuable labours, but by giving 

 to the public the productions of your eminent pre- 

 decessors, and rendering them immortal in the 

 offspring of their own mind. 



Almost the only relaxation which I have for 

 some time past been enabled to take, has been in 

 extending and examining my collection of Scita- 

 minea, which are now so numerous as to form an 

 important class, capable of as correct an arrange- 

 ment as any in the system. In the course of this, 

 I have diligently studied and copied your excellent 

 remarks in Rees's new Cyclopaedia. 



By the liberality of Dr. Carey of Serampore, and 

 Dr. Wallich of Calcutta, we have for some time 

 past been furnished with all the living plants of this 

 tribe that India can afford ; many of them from the 

 remotest parts of Napal, and a splendid collection 

 of seeds chiefly from Napal and Subhatoo. 



My present arrangement of Curcuma is the 

 finest and most numerous of the whole order. Of 

 Hedychium I have 15 or 16 species ; 5 of Roscoea, 

 &c, which wait for your sanction and name. 



I beg my most affectionate respects and condo- 

 lence to Lady Smith, and am, dear Sir James, 



Yours, 



W. Roscoe. 



