REVIVAL OF BOTANICAL EXPLORATION 277 



does honour to the Science of the Country, promotes 

 in some degree its commerce, and aids its population. 



The two young Scotchmen were sent off in October, 

 1814, first to the Brazils, with very satisfactory results. 

 In 1816 Cunningham 1 went to New South Wales and 

 New Zealand. He joined John Oxley's Expedition to the 

 Macquarie River, which turned out extremely interesting 

 in a botanical point of view. He remained a Kew Collector 

 until 1831, and his work is commemorated in a grand 

 monograph of the New Zealand flora. James Bowie 

 went, in 1817, to the Cape, and was occupied there for 

 several years with very great success. His plants are in 

 the Herbarium of the Natural History Museum. Some 

 drawings of his are in the Kew Collection. 



Another emissary was Dr. Clarke Abel, who held a 

 medical appointment under the East India Company. 

 When Lord Amherst's embassy to China was in prepara- 

 tion, Banks proposed to the Company that Abel should 

 go with him as naturalist. An ample outfit was provided 

 for him, in apparatus, etc., and James Hooper, a Kew 

 gardener, appointed as his assistant. This man turned 

 out a most valuable help. His industry as a Collector 

 was unremitting. Unfortunately he suffered shipwreck, 

 with three hundred packages of seeds in his custody, 



1 Allan Cunningham is one of the most remarkable men who entered 

 the ranks of Botanical Collectors. Born at Wimbledon, of a Renfrew- 

 shire father, he was first sent to a conveyancer's office in London ; but 

 a fondness for botanical pursuits led him to the notice of W. T. Aiton. 

 He became associated in the production of the second edition of 

 Hortus Kewensis, and being introduced to Robert Brown, who speedily 

 detected his talent, Cunningham remained an employee at Kew, adding 

 to his knowledge and botanical qualifications. His life's opportunity 

 came when Banks required a new emissary as above mentioned. 



Cunningham's adventures are of the most abounding interest, both 

 in Brazil and New South Wales. His manuscript journals, and some 

 letters to Sir Joseph Banks, are still preserved among the treasures of 

 the Natural History Museum, together with the collection of plants 

 made in Brazil with James Bowie ; and his own Australian plants 

 (1818-26). v. also Narrative of the Survey of Australia (1818-22), by 

 Phillip Parker King. 



