PRESENTATION TO HUGH CLEGHORN OF STRAVITHIE. 203 



the exhibits in the Indian Section. In 1852, finding my health 

 improved, I returned to Madras ; and, having resumed military 

 duty, Sir Henry Pottinger, then Governor, appointed me to the 

 Chair of Botany and Materia Medica in the Madras Medical College. 

 To this the duties of Port and Marine Surgeon, and afterwards of 

 the District Surgeoncy of St. Thome, were added. I remained in 

 Madras till 1856, when I was transferred to the Revenue Department 

 by Lord Harris, and called upon to undertake the formation of the 

 Forest Department in the Madras Presidency. In 1861, I received 

 instructions from the Governor-General of India (Lord Canning) 

 to proceed to the Punjab to examine the forests of the Western 

 Himalaya, and to institute a systematic plan of Conservancy and 

 management. I spent three years in exploring the countries 

 adjacent to our north-west frontier, including part of Kashmir and 

 the Trans-Indus territory. During this period, I learned much 

 from my laborious and experienced friend and coadjutor, Sir D, 

 Brandis. 



In 1869, 1 retired from Indian life, and have since lived amongst 

 you, endeavouring to discharge such duties, public and private, as 

 have devolved upon me. 



After Sir William Muir's kind allusions, I need not refer to the 

 part which fell to me in connection with the International 

 Forestry Exhibition in 1881, or to such assistance as I was able 

 to render in stirring up public interest in the claims of Forest 

 Education upon the State, towards which some progress was liiade 

 in the recent appointment by the House of Commons of a Select 

 Committee to deal with the subject. That Committee has reported 

 in favour of a Forest Board, and I venture to hope that in due 

 time we shall see one or more Schools of Forestry established. 



I cannot sit down without again acknowledging the great kind- 

 ness which has prompted this Presentation. The list of donors to 

 the Testimonial, which has been handed to me, has greatly touched 

 me, and I notice with special pleasure that it includes not a few of 

 the junior officers in the Forest Department of India. To me it 

 has been a pleasant duty to aid many young recruits in their train- 

 ing for the Indian Service, and I have been much gratified by 

 receiving a visit from some of them at my home in Fife when 

 they return on furlough. I notice also the names of a large 

 number of Scottish foresters, old and young, whose faces are well 

 known to me, as I have often had the pleasure of meeting them 

 at our annual gatherings. 



