320 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



Another, who, twenty-five years ago, called to take leave of 

 him upon returning to this country, found, as he left, the seat 

 of his cab loaded with choice botanical books, which Dr. Boott 

 had at the moment sent there from the shelves of his own li- 

 brary, where they were not duplicates. We know of one or 

 two instances where he had commenced a critical study of a 

 particular genus with a view to publication, but, upon learn- 

 ing that another person had taken up the same subject, he 

 dispatched to him his own notes and other materials. The 

 Linnsean Society of London owes no little of its present pros- 

 perity to his long and faithful services and his wise counsels. 

 He kept up an active correspondence with his friends in this 

 country ; and for more than thirty years our young profes- 

 sional men, naturalists, and others who have visited Europe, 

 have experienced cordial welcome and thoughtful kindness at 

 his hands. The following gives a good idea of the man : — 



" When practicing as a physician he discarded the custom- 

 ary black coat, knee-breeches, and silk stockings, for the very 

 good reason that sombre colors could not but suggest gloomy 

 ideas to the sick ; and he was one of the first who adopted the 

 custom now universal in the profession, of dressing in the 

 ordinary costume. In doing this, Dr. Boott adopted the blue 

 coat, gilt buttons, and buff vest of the period, which he con- 

 tinued to wear to the last, and with which dress his casual 

 acquaintance, no less than his personal friends, will ever as- 

 sociate him. In person he was so tall and thin as almost to 

 suggest ill-health ; and the refinement of his manners, his ex- 

 pression, address, and bearing were in perfect keeping with 

 his polished mind and many accomplishments." 



The preceding extracts are all from an excellent article in 

 the " Gardeners' Chronicle " for January 16, to which we are 

 much indebted. Ir» the first volume of the late Dr. Wallich's 

 splendid " Plantse Asiatics Ra^ores," published in the year 

 1830, is the figure of a handsome and curious Butomaceous 

 plant, Boottia cordata, a genus dedicated " in honorem Fran- 

 cisci Boott, Americani, botanici ardentissimi et peritissimi, 

 amici dilectissimi, non minus animi probitate quam scientia- 

 rum cultu, et morum suavitate egregii." 



