48 Obituary. 



On sending a copy of the extract to Mr. James Backhouse of York, who 

 has recently returned from Australia, he sent us the following explanation : — 

 " The dwarf oak " referred to in Cunningham's Hints for Australian Emigrants 

 is certainly not an Australian plant. His description of the acorn clearly refers 

 it to Quercus, a genus limited to the northern hemisphere. Probably he may 

 mean Q. gramuntia, of the south of Europe ; which, I think, is a low bushy 

 species, with large acorns ; and of which Acton, in the Hortus Kewensis, says, 

 " foliis . . . spinoso-dentatis." Cunningham may intend his hint as a recom- 

 mendation to emigrants to take out the seeds, on the presumption that they 

 will thrive well in Australia, where the introduced Quercus Cerris thrives well. 

 — James Backhouse. York, Oct. 23. 1841. 



Chapman's Potatoes. — In answer to various enquiries respecting the sub- 

 stitute for early potatoes advertised for sale by Messrs. Chapman, we refer to 

 the paragraph in p. 36. We know nothing more than what is there stated. — 

 Cond. 



Art. VI. Obituary. 



David Don, Esq., Professor of Botany in King's College, and Librarian to 

 the Linnaean Society, died Dec. 8., much regretted by his friends, and, indeed, 

 by all who knew him. The urbanity of his manners, and his readiness to 

 render assistance in the exercise of his duties as librarian, were felt and 

 acknowledged by all who had occasion to consult the library under his care. 



Since we sent the foregoing to press, we received the following from Mr. 

 Don's early patron and friend, Dr. Neill, one of the kindest-hearted of men. 



" Professor David Don. — We regret to have to announce the death of this 

 distinguished naturalist, which took place at the Linnaean Society's apartments, 

 Soho Square, London, on Wednesday the 8th of December. He was the 

 second son of the late Mr. George Don, whom some of our readers will 

 remember as the Curator of the Royal Botanic Garden, Leith Walk. About 

 five and twenty years ago, Mr. David Don went to London, carrying with him 

 an introduction to the celebrated Robert Brown. This gentleman soon per- 

 ceived and duly appreciated the merits of the young Scotch botanist; and 

 through his powerful recommendation he was successively appointed Keeper 

 of the Lambertian Herbarium and Librarian to the Linnaean Society. In 

 1821 he accompanied an early friend on a visit to Paris, and thus formed ac- 

 quaintance with some of the most eminent Continental naturalists, among whom 

 were Humboldt. Cuvier, Kunth, and Delessert. Mr. Don's Prodromus Florce 

 Nepal-ensis, and various excellent papers in the Linncean Transactions, having 

 brought him prominently into notice in the botanical world, he was chosen 

 Professor of Botany in King's College, Somerset House ; and he may be said 

 to have fallen a martyr to his zeal as a lecturer there, for he resolutely delayed 

 till the end of the session an operation recommended by Sir Benjamin Brodie, 

 by which his valuable life might have been saved. At the end of the session, 

 it was found too late to operate." 



The above appeared in the Conrant, the sub-editor having got the parti- 

 culars from me. Of course, a full and correct notice will appear soon ; per- 

 haps in your own pages. When I saw my lamented friend about the 22d of 

 September, I reckoned on his surviving till about the new year, he looked so 

 fresh and stout; but I believe he exerted himself while I was with him. His 

 fortitude and resignation were admirable. — P.N. Canon Mills, Dec. 14. 

 1841. 



Mr. Don's remains were interred in the Kensal Green Cemetery on De- 

 cember 15th, followed to the grave by Dr. Brown, Sir W. J. Hooker, Mr. 

 Benthain, Mr. Bowman, his medical attendant, Mr. Anderson of the Chelsea 

 Botanic Garden, and Mr. Smith of Kew. 



