326 BOTANICAL NEWS. 
jects of natural history ; and a cruise of upwards of twelve montlis, among the 
islands of the South Pacific, amply rewarded him for his toils in dredging and 
collecting hy sea and shore. On his return to Yalparaiso, he prepared for a 
voyage of more extended duration along the western coast of America ; and 
his reputation being now widely extended, he started under peculiar advan- 
tages. After two years spent in esploring the coast, from the Island of Chiloe, 
in lat, 44° S., to the Gulf of Conehagua, in lat, 13° N., Mr. Cuming returned 
with all his accumulated stores of plants and animals to his native land. In 
1835 he determined to undertake a new expedition, and fixed upon the Philip- 
pine Islands, rich in natural productions, little explored, and where his tnow- 
ledge of Spanish would be of gi^eat advantage, as the scene of his labours, 
fetters of recommendation from the authorities at Madrid to the Grovemor- 
General at Manila, to the governors of the various provinces into which the 
islands are divided, and to the Archbishop of Manila, procured him a hospit- 
able welcome. After four years spent among the isUnds of the Phihppine 
group, and short visits to Malacca, Singapore, and St. Helena, Mr. "Cuming re- 
turned to England with the richest booty that had ever been collected by a 
single man. His dried plants^ which numbered 130,000 specimens, were im- 
mediately distributed, as well as his living Orchids, which were numei'ous and 
of great beauty. Large number of birds and reptiles, quadrupeds and insects, 
were also added to the museums at home and abroad. Eut his collection of 
shells formed by far the most important part of the spoils which he had se- 
cured, Mr, Cuming had long been subjected to chronic bronchitis and an 
asthmatic affection, each successive paroxysm of which afforded his friends 
more and more serious grounds of alarm. His last attack came on the 26th of 
July, after a visit to the Crystal Palace ; di'opsical symptoms, to wliich he had 
before been subject, reappeared ; and he died on the 10th of August, at his re- 
sidence in Gower Street, surrounded by the collections which had been the 
object and solace of his life. 
Sir W, J. Hooker was born in 1785 ; his father, who was in business at 
Norwich, being a man who devoted all his leisure to reading, especially travels 
and German literatm'e, and to the cultivation of curious plants ; by which, 
doubtless, was laid the foundation of that love of natural history for which his 
son was distinguished. Sir William's education was received at the High 
School of Norwich. Having at an early age inherited an ample competency 
from his godfather, William Jackson, Esq., he formed the design of devoting 
his hfe to travelling and natural history. Ornithology and entomology first 
attracted his attention ; but, being happily the discoverer of a rare Moss, which 
he took to Sir J. E. Smith, he received from that botanist the bias which de- 
termined his career. Henceforth, botany was his sole aim ; and, with the view 
of collecting plants, he made expeditions to Scotland and its islands, France, 
Switzerland, and Iceland, and made preparations for a prolonged exploration 
of Ceylon, — frustrated by the disturbances which broke out in that island. 
During this period, 1806-14, he formed the acquaintance of many of the prin- 
cipal scientific men in England and on the Continent. In 1815 he married the 
daughter of Dawson Turner, of Yarmouth, himself well knowTi as a good 
