FRANCIS HAMILTON (ONCE BUCHANAN). xxix 
By my elder brother’s death I have succeeded to his landed property, and have bec d 
necessity of relinquishing the name of Buchanan, and adopting my indus name of Hemilto p" 
have not yet commenced arranging my botanical papers, that science being at present rather ты 
| able in this country. I have prepared for the press an account of Nepal which will appear in N 
ber; an account of the Gangetic fishes which will appear in January; and an чыш ai баа 
І am now busy in preparing genealogical tables of the Kings and Princes of India, I find ish ы 
difficulties in residing so far from Lordon where my collections are deposited; ді {һе шап B я 
оғ my lands and the healthiness of a country life render, іп шу opinion, the poem eee enm 
am more desirable. Nothing indeed I detest more than the life led in overgrown Capitals such ë 
London. I was very unwell for some time after my arrival but my health is now com way 
restored. Please remember me to all old friends that may be talking of me, especially Sir J A 
Royds, Dr. Russell and Mr. Leny, and believe me to be most truly yours.” 
In 1819, the year which saw the appearance of three of Hamilton's published works," 
le paid, in spring, as we find from the following letter, one of his visits to Edinburgh ; 
the letter is dated Edinburgh, 12th March 1819:- 4 
“A short time ago I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 9th October 1817, and it was 
fortunate that you sent a copy of that of the 25th of July as the original did not reach ше? The 
success you have had especially in procuring plants from the northern mountains gives me the 
greatest pleasure. I have shown your letters to two of the most eminent cultivators in this country— 
Mr. Macnabb, who has charge of the Royal Garden here, and Mr. Shankly, of the house of 
Dicksons & Co., who has a most astonishing collection—I think more curious than the late Lee of 
Hammersmith near London. Both are eager to participate in the spoils of Nepal, and I em anxious 
to assist them because they would give me a share of every hardy plant they could rear, and my 
favourite object at present is to naturalize as many hardy exotics as I can in my woods and 
mountains at Leny. I hope therefore that you will have the goodness to send seeds of every kind to 
Mr. Macnabb, who has given me the accompanying letter to commence a direct correspondence with 
you. Не will be an excellent correspondent for the garden as being both able and willing to send 
you plants from a'l the warmer parts of America and the West Indies. Не is a most skillful 
cultivator and has many of our Indian plants in a very thriving state. 
Mr. Shankly being a dealer of course wishes chiefly for ornamental plants with which Nepal 
abounds. All those from Go:aingsthan I am sure would thrive here and even the greater pari of ` 
those from the hills surrounding Kathmandu will, I am persuaded, bear our winters as many of the 
plants of Japan, Spain and the Cape of Good Hope do. The grand Rhododendron in particular 
ought to be tried.. Mr. Shankly is anxious especially for all new species of Rhododendron, Viburnum, 
Androsace, Lonicera, Gentiana, Hydrangea, Clematis, Gaultheria, Andromeda, Fritillaria, Caryophyl- 
laces, Primula, Lysimachia and Orchidim, but there are many others equally interesting, especially all 
trees from the higher parts of the mountains. 
The seeds sent to him should be addressed to Messrs. Dicksons & Co., Seedsmen, Edinburgh, 
care of Messrs. Menier, Nash and Edmonds, Seedsmen, Strand, London. 
In this country there is at present little turn for Botany as a science, but there is a great 
demand for exotic shrubs, trees and ornamental herbs, with which most country gentlemen have their 
seats adorned to a much greater extent than was done formerly. $ 
` Owing to my living so far from Londen I find the utmost difficulty in having access to my 
collection which I consider as in a great measure lost. I hope you will take greater care of yours 
and never part with it. ° 
1 The Account of Nepal, the Genealcgies of the Hindus and the Genealogical Tables that are associa iated with 
the second work. 
2 Note by Dr. Wallich: "It was sent by the missing Atlas in 1817.” 
