Obituary. 419 



" In objects of nature, my father was exceedingly curious. His collection 

 of mineral ores, and other subjects of natural history, was extensive, and ob- 

 tained his particular attention in seasons of leisure and recreation. The science 

 of botany was his constant delight and study ; and his fondness for his garden 

 remained to the last. No one was allowed to interfere in the arrangements of 

 this his favourite retreat ; and it is here he enjoyed his most pleasant moments 

 of secret devotion and meditation. The arrangements made by him were on 

 the Linnsean system ; and to disturb the bed or border of the garden was to 

 touch the apple of his eye. The garden formed the best and rarest botanical 

 collection of plants in the east, to the extension of which, by his correspondence 

 with persons of eminence in Europe and other parts of the world, his attention 

 was constantly directed ; and, in return, he supplied his correspondents with 

 collections from the east. It was painful to observe with what distress my fa- 

 ther quitted this scene of his enjoyments, when extreme weakness, during his 

 last illness, prevented his going to his favourite retreat. Often, when he was 

 unable to walk, he was drawn into the garden in a chair placed on a board with 

 four wheels. 



" In order to prevent irregularity in the attendance of the gardeners, he was 

 latterly particular in paying their wages with his own hands ; and on the last 

 occasion of doing so, he was much affected that his weakness had increased and 

 confined him to the house. But, notwithstanding he had closed this part of his 

 earthly scene, he could not refrain from sending for his gardeners into the room 

 where he lay, and would converse with them about the plants ; and near his 

 couch, against the wall, he placed the picture of a beautiful shrub, upon which 

 he gazed with delight. 



" On this science he frequently gave lectures, which were well attended, and 

 never failed to prove interesting. His publication of ' Roxburgh's Flora Indica,' 

 is a standard work with botanists. Of his botanical friends he spoke with great 

 esteem ; and never failed to defend them when erroneously assailed. He en- 

 couraged the study of the science wherever a desire to acquire it was manifested. 

 In this particular he would sometimes gently reprove those who had no taste 

 for it ; but he would not spare those who attempted to undervalue it. His re- 

 mark of one of his colleagues was keen and striking. When the latter some- 

 what reprehended Dr Carey, to the medical gentlemen attending him, for ex- 

 posing himself so much in the garden, he immediately replied, that his colleague 

 was conversant with the pleasures of a garden, just as an animal was with the 

 grass in the field." — P. 577-9. 



Dr Carey was born August 17, 1761, and died on 9th June 1834. 



OBITUARY. 



We have this month to record the deaths of two men whose names will be 

 long remembered by the Zoologist and Botanist — Dr Leach and Mon. A. L. 

 de Jussieu. We shall now only mention the fact that their decease has taken 

 place ; but we trust ere long to be able to give some account of their labours 

 in natural science, more consonant to the estimation in which they will continue 

 to be held. Dr Leach died at Genoa of a few days' illness from cholera. De 

 Jussieu expired at Paris ; his body bowed under the weight of years ; his age 

 was eighty-nine. 



EDINBURGH : TRINTED BY JOHN STARK. OLD ASSEMBLY CLOSE. 



