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College ; but having, on the return of Dr. Wallich from the Cape, re- 

 sumed his place at Malacca, he was there seized with disease of the 

 liver, and died at the early age of thirty-four, having already acquired 

 a distinguished reputation, — having, in every capacity wherein he serv- 

 ed the government, received its approbation and its thanks ; and 

 having given a promise of such further services to botanical science 

 as few have had either the opportunity or the talent of aflfording. In 

 all his varied and extensive journeys his courage and his energy never 

 failed him; whether in the jungles of Assam, or the hills of Affghani- 

 stan, he still pursued his researches, undeterred by danger, either of 

 disease or of violence ; and if disabled, as he was more than once by 

 fever and debility, his first convalescence found him ever ready for 

 fresh exertions. He had thus, by the application of extraordinary 

 powers of observation, and in researches extending through the vast 

 regions which have been enumerated, formed large and valuable col- 

 lections, and brought together materials for a great botanical work ; 

 and he looked with impatience to a period of repose for compiling a 

 scientific Flora of India, when he sunk under his last fatal illness. 

 Perhaps no more impressive picture of the energy of this extraordinary 

 man, and of his devotion to his favourite science, can be given than 

 that which may be drawn from the following extracts from a letter 

 dictated by him on his death-bed, and addressed to Dr. M'Clelland : — 



" I write this by deputy, being seriously ill of hepatitis ; the attack 

 has been very severe, and the treatment necessarily active, so that I 

 am reduced to an extreme state of weakness. Although my adviser 

 does not despair, still the issue is doubtful, and under this impression 

 I commence a few lines to you on business. 



" Mrs. Griffith (supposing the result of this illness to be fatal to me) 

 will bring up with her all the collections at Malacca, and they being 

 added to those at the export warehouse, and all having been previous- 

 ly cleaned and packed, I leave you to present to Government, for the 

 Honourable Court of Directors, to be sent home without any delay. 

 As you know the trouble I have taken with these collections, and the 

 hopes I had entertained of making them subservient to a general sci- 

 entific Flora of India, I need not impress on you how much I am 

 interested in their proper disposal, and their being brought properly 

 before the scientific public ; and I would say the same regarding my 

 drawings and manuscripts, which will accompany my wife to Calcutta, 

 should it so happen that I leave her. 



" In all the plans which I have consigned to your execution, both 

 regarding my wife and collections, I am confident your own feelings 



