PLANT COLLECTORS, ETC. 113 



Colonel Robert Patton, who succeeded Mr. Brooke, 

 about 1801, continued to promote the views of Sir 

 Joseph Banks and to take a watchful interest in the 

 St. Helena Gardens. 



The East India Company had an appalling task at 

 this period of their history. But their political troubles 

 did not render them unmindful of the material benefits 

 which it was possible to furnish for the people subject to 

 their government. There was always a select body 

 among the officials, high and low, that had these things 

 uppermost in their minds. The great granary in Behar, 

 raised by Warren Hastings, will always be an honourable 

 monument to his memory. His successor, Lord Corn- 

 wallis, exerted himself in many ways to soften the rigours 

 of existence among the native population. Cornwallis 

 arrived out in 1786, as Governor of Bengal, At this date, 

 plans were being arranged for transplanting fruit and 

 other trees into Bengal which should improve the sup- 

 plies of food. One scheme was to bring the sago palm 

 from Malacca, in order to form a stock at Calcutta, from 

 which a system of transportation to the principal towns 

 in the province might be established, so that in time every 

 village should possess the boon. The Persian date palm 

 was another importation, which it was hoped would 

 become a constant resource against famine. 



Sir George Yonge was in frequent communication with 

 Lord Cornwallis, and entered into these projects earnestly. 

 It appears to be due to the pertinacity of Colonel Kyd, 1 

 that a Botanic Garden was at last established in Calcutta ; 

 and it was presently placed under his superintendence. 



Meanwhile, there were several ardent Naturalists, 

 either settled in India or wandering about the archi- 

 pelago. They were frequently in communication with 



1 Robert Kyd, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Bengal Infantry. Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, who visited Calcutta Botanic Garden in his early days, 

 has word of high praise for Colonel Kyd's work, 



I 



