138 MEMOIR OF DR WRIGHT. 



pondents, as he believed to be most capable or most 

 disposed to promote the progress of the infant institu- 

 tion. In answer to a letter from Dr Wright, an- 

 nouncing his readiness to lend his aid on the occasion, 

 as well directly as through the medium of his friends, 

 Dr Currie, after treating of other matters, in a let- 

 ter of the 10th of October 1801, makes his acknow- 

 ledgments as follows : 



" What shall I say to you of the very great debt I owe 

 you — in which, indeed, my best friend Roscok takes his 

 share — for the interest you take in our new institution for 

 natural science ? We feel your kindness, and the value of 

 your friendship, in the most sensible manner. I communi- 

 cated your letter to him ; and we have certainly felt properly 

 on the occasion, though we have not acted as we ought to do, 

 in being so slow to express our acknowledgments. Your vast 

 knowledge and your extensive correspondence, render your 

 friendship of the greatest importance; but really I do not know 

 how we can accept your kindness, without the means of re- 

 munerating you for all your exertions, and very valuable 

 specimens. Our garden is now advancing. The ground is 

 levelled, and the walls building. They include a space of 

 23,000 square yards, so that the ground is very ample. The 

 house of the gardener is also building, and the green-house. 

 We shall have an engraved plan soon, of which you shall 

 liave a copy. 1,1 



Soon afterwards Dr Wright makes the following 

 communication to Dr Currie. 



" Dr Roxburgh, at Calcutta, has sent home a very large 

 collection of dried specimens, of which I am to have a share. 

 They arc to be divided with Sir Jose pit Ranks, and Mr A. 

 R. Lamih'ht, Vice-President of the Linnean Society; but I 



