82 THE LIFE AND WORK OF GEORGE DON. 
collected by the labour of years, will most probably be thrown out 
as useless cumberers of the ground. 
I address you, without ceremony, as the Guardian of British 
Botany, to the advancement of which Mr. Don dedicated his life. 
In that department you knew his value; / knew him not only as 
a Botanist but as a Man, and I knew that, had he been capable of 
sprawling at the footstool of Power and licking the holy dust, it 
would not now have fallen to my lot to call upon his Friends to save 
his Family from Ruin. 
I leave London in a few days; but should you be able to suggest 
any means to assist this unfortunate Family, and should you 
require any further information on the subject, you will oblige me 
by writing and poste to Newburgh if you have no Correspondent 
nearer Forfar. Iam with much respect, sir, your obedient servant, 
Davip Bootn. 
To the letter Sir James E. Smith sent the following reply :-— 
Norwich, February 4, 1814. . 
Dear Si1r,—The intelligence of your obliging letter of January 24 
is truly grievous. Your name has been mentioned to me in the 
most respectful manner, and therefore I rely on your goodness to 
perform what I wish for the benefit of our lamented friend’s family. 
I wrote immediately to Mr. Dawson Turner, Mr. Lambert, Sir J. 
Banks, and the Bishop of Carlisle. I have as yet an answer from 
Mr. Turner only, who, being in debt to Mr. Don 4 guineas, has 
generously sent me £20 to pay it. To this I am happy toadd £5, 
which is all that my circumstances justify, as I have, like our friend, 
sacrificed all to science, except what I derive from a slender 
patrimony. 
I hope something will come from the above sources, and many 
others to which I shall apply, but meanwhile £25 may be important 
to the widow. 
I have also consulted some friends about the plants, but to no 
purpose. I have begged Mr. Sowerby to consult some common 
friends in London. 
Mr. P. Neill of Edinburgh has written to me on the same subject 
as yourself. If you have any communication with him, as I 
presume, please to inform him that I am giving attention to the 
subject—but, above all things, I am unable to write many letters. 
When I go to London in April I do not doubt picking up many a 
pound for the good cause. Only, please appoint a place for it to 
