Ix A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
Cuvier found the same difficulty in dealing with those fishes not illustrated by drawings. 
But, in a letter written by the late Mr. J. B. Hamilton of Leny, Hamilton's son and 
successor, there is a reference to an interview with Dr. Günther who, speaking of this 
work on the fishes of the Ganges, informel Mr. Hamilton that— 
“he always kept it on his table for reference, аз he had implicit reliance оп it as ап authority, 
for it was the work of one who recorded in absolute truthfulness the results of his own observation 
and nothing more or else." 
While this work was passing through the press Hamilton, as we have seen, was 
engaged in preparing the catalogue of his 1807—14 botanical collection, which 
unfortunately was never published, though the preliminary sketch, intended evidently as 
an introduction to a series of botanical papers corresponding to the geographical series 
which he did sueceel in completing, was read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh 
on 18th June 1821. In this paper he incidentally summarises his own Indian journeys, 
and gives a valuable general sketch of the physical, botanical, historical and political 
geography of India” "The geographical treatment was intended to provide а key to 
the loealities he might subsequently cite, and the references to his own journeys were 
made in explanation of the circumstances under which the different collections were 
proeured, and of the places in which they might be consulted, Тһе necessity for such 
а key arose from his determination to employ their ancient Sanskrit names for the 
provinces he had explored. This determination was due to his considering the method 
at once more scientific and more useful, because probably more permanent, than aay 
other There is much to be said in favour of his design though it has not been 
adopted by subsequent Indian botanists. As Hamilton very justly says, the Sanskrit 
names of localities continue, after the lapse of ages— 
- “to be known to all Hindus of learning, while each new invasion or revolution sinks into 
immediate oblivion the unknown appellations. imposed by modern rulers, whether Muhammadans 
or Christians." 
The settled system of Government that has prevailel since Hamilton wrote has 
made the system adopted by him less immediately necessary, but we can only congratulate 
ourselves that Hamilton should have formed the resolution he did, since it has biu the 
means of giving us, in the excellent map of ‘India according to the ancient. divisions 
used in the Sanskrita language’ the first western attempt to illustrate cartographicallv 
шй ыл uen de mee his energies instead to the preparation of commentaries on the 
orks o е and Rumphius. He seems to havo begun the two commentaries 
қ 4. 2 Leny, March 24, 1894, addressed to H. Beveridge, Esq., Eastbourne 
ome notices concerning the ts of vari i i i 
MUN. наз. try various parts of Indis, and concerning the Sanscrita names of those Regions : 
x 27 Hortus: Indicus Malabaricus, 12 vols. fol. Amsterdam : 1678—1703 
umphius: Herbarium Amboinense. 6 vols. fol. Amsterdam : 1720 : 
