PREFACE. 



After a ride of several miles on horseback, the exercise to which 

 he was most partial, and which from his uncommon strength of 

 bod}', and buoyancy of spirit, he was well fitted to enjoy, two and 

 sometimes three hours were devoted to the garden, preparatory to 

 entering on the duties of the day. 



Early in 1836, an Hospital was founded in Serampore at the 

 suggestion of the late Dr. Marshman, for the relief of the Native 

 poor, under the auspices of the Queen of Denmark. To this Mr. 

 Voigt immediately offered his gratuitous services, and thus enlarg- 

 ed in no small degree the sphere of his labors ; but the energy of 

 his mind was equal to every emergency, and rendered all things 

 light that came within the sphere of duty ; and in the discharge of 

 gratuitous service, he was always peculiarly in his element. To be 

 needy and friendless, was to possess a claim on his attention, and 

 the opportunities his professional skill afforded him of being ser- 

 viceable to others, and particularly to the widow and the orphan, 

 were regarded as the chief redeeming qualities of a profession to 

 which he was never particularly partial. With a mind of great 

 strength and firmness, united in the discharge of professional duty, 

 with uncommon calmness and self-possession, he combined such 

 genuine kindliness and generosity of feeling, and so humble an 

 estimate of his own worth, that in these instances, he always 

 felt himself the person obliged. Numerous instances might 

 here be adduced to shew his ready attention to the calls of hu- 

 manity, his firm integrity of purpose, his unbending independence 

 of mind, the simplicity and sincerity of his character, his dis- 

 interested and faithful discharge of duty, his sterling worth as a 

 man and a friend, and the ardour of his affection in the more tender 

 relations of life— but the brief nature of this sketch forbids it. 



Dr. Carey's garden had furnished Mr. Voigt with so rich and 

 varied a field of information and delight, that a sense of gratitude 

 united with the deep veneration with which he cherished the 

 memory of its philanthropic founder, led him to feel it his duty 

 to place on record the results of the Botanical labors of this emi- 

 nent man, embracing as they did, a period of upwards of thirty 

 years ; and he was subsequently induced by the advice of friends, 

 to add to this, a sketch of the successful operations of the H. C. 

 Botanic Garden, and to determine on publishing the whole Cata- 

 logue. 



