1862.] IN MEMORIAM. 79* 



the amiability of the character which he has done his best to de- 

 scribe, for he never had much personal intercourse with the de- 

 ceased, and he never had any pretensions whatever to the enjoy- 

 ment of his intimacy or friendship. Therefore what has been 

 advanced may be unhesitatingly received as the belief of one who 

 is neither biassed by interest nor by social friendly tendencies. 

 The writer, as above stated, would rather that this duty had 

 devolved upon some one who was more intimate with the de- 

 ceased than he, and consequently better qualified to do justice 

 to his memory; but, as no one has come forward to supply 

 the readers of a periodical held in high estimation by the de- 

 parted with a brief sketch of one of its most distinguished sup- 

 porters, it was incumbent on him to perform the task himself 

 according to his ability. 



It should also be stated that this is composed for the readers 

 of the ' Phytologist/ and exclusively for them. Most of the con- 

 tributors knew their late co-contributor personally, and all of 

 them know the high rank he held in the estimation of British 

 and foreign botanists. None of them, we are confident, will 

 deem this simple sketch a too highly- coloured panegyric of our 

 lamented friend. It is a plain honest statement of facts, noto- 

 rious to all who are conversant with the literature of botany 

 during the past forty years. 



No more needs be stated about the scientific eminence and 

 the liberality and personal sacrifices of Mr. Borrer. These facts 

 are on record, they are attested by testimony which will not be 

 disputed, and they are well known to many of our readers. We 

 rely on the fidelity of our correspondent for the truth of our 

 statements about his benevolence, his charity, his personal exer- 

 tions to ameliorate humanity, and to raise up the fallen, to 

 relieve the distressed, to reform the bad, and to prepare the 

 younger members of society for another life. 



We are far from stating or believing that the efforts of our 

 late friend in improving mankind, relieving destitution under 

 its many forms, in mending the morals of his neighbours, and in 

 imparting religious truth, are in the present day singular and 

 isolated facts. We know and are thankful that there are many 

 who delight in doing equally praiseworthy deeds. Therefore we 

 take courage, and we pray that their number may be increased a 

 hundredfold. 



