78 THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. 
relish for the hardships such expeditions involved, the camping- 
out at night being especially distasteful, so that some left his 
employ. Again the sale of the specimens gathered, the 
occasional preparation of a hortus siccus to order, gave no 
adequate remuneration, so that his affairs became more and 
more embarrassed, until in 1812 some sort of arrangement had to 
be made with his creditors. From this blow the independent 
and rather choleric temperament of Don never recovered. An 
I rather fancy that the publication of the ninth volume of the 
Herbarium Britannicum, in which he used the printed title page 
of the preceding issue, was made in order to add a little to his 
store. It was probably his last publication, for we find that he 
came home from one of his expeditions in the autumn of 1813 
labouring under a severe cold, and this neglected grew gradually 
worse. A suppurating sore throat ensued, and under conditions 
of poverty so extreme that he and his family had to depend for 
their daily bread upon the charity of neighbours, he lingered in 
excruciating agony for six weeks. He died on the 15th of January, 
1814.! His funeral, Mr. Knox writes, according to the testimony 
* By the courtesy of the Keeper of the Botanical Department, British 
Museum, Cromwell Road, the following letter is published in which Dr. 
Neill announces the event to Dr. Robert Brown : 
Canonmills, 28th Jan., 1814. 
My DEar Sir,—I regret to say that our extraordinary botanical friend, 
G. Don, is no more. He died at Forfar on the 15th in consequence of an 
inflammatory sore throat to which he paid no regard till it was too late. 
You knew the man, and will not be surprised when I tell you that his family 
is left in the most deplorable state of misery and want. Botanists must 
contrive something for their benefit. I shall let you know what is projected 
here, and doubt not that your influence with members of the Linnean 
Sictaiy will not be wanting. 
We have subscribed a few guineas here, and sent to the Rev. Mr. Adie, 
Forfar, and to Mr. Thompson, nurseryman there, to be disbursed for their 
behoof to relieve the pressing wants. I believe there are four boys and a girl. 
The latter is an object, incapable of doing anything for herself. 
Pines Sir, yours truly, P. NEILL.— Brown Corresp. Brit. Mus., Crowell 
"phe following are contemporary notices of the event :— 
“Died, at his house, Botanic Garden, Forfar, on the 1 5th ultimo, Mr. 
George Don, F.L.S. and honorary member of the Dundee Rational Institu- 
tion, in the prime of life and vigour of his pursuit of his profession. As a 
botanist, he undoubtedly stood high among his countrymen, and was no 
