372 



STATE OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN AT ST. VINCENT. 



Obstacles at 

 tlie custoni- 

 hoiise. 



pcriment. For that end I will transmit you Sonne specimens 

 by the first opportunity. The barks might be imported at 

 a trifling expcnce, unless the customhouse duties should be 

 found to prevent them. The high duties and prohibitions 

 in flie customhouse prevent several people here from sending 

 similar articles henqc, for experiments, as well as for specu- 

 lation in trade. A few persons in this island wish to culti- 

 vate the cinnamon for consmcrce; they have asked me if it 

 can be entered at the customhouse, and what are the duties 

 upon it ? I could give them no information as to either. 

 The overhauling and pilfering, by the customhouse officers 

 ill England, of article;; of natural history, sent as speci- 

 mens, is very injurious ; such things should be held sacred. 

 Many articles here deserve to be subjected to experiments, 

 from which I am prevented by the necessary attentions to 

 the garden, particularly for some time past. The business 

 of it engrosses all my time and care, and is as much as one 

 iiidi^yidual can attend to. 



I will endeavour to obtain a correspondence with Dr. 

 Roxburgh, but I almost despair of it during the war. I 

 have correspondents in America, whom I can depend upon : 

 but the conveyance, through the medium of American ves- 

 ve!s to these islands, is very precarious. Some time ago I 

 lost a parcel of seeds from New-York, sent in charge by one 

 Nutmeg iiiiierl of these vessels. I believe I mentioned, that I have lost 

 byovorwater- ^j,g ^f my nutmeg plants, for which I blame myself, by 

 too much attention in watering it in dry weather. 'J'he 

 other thrives remarkably well, and is now above ten feet 

 high ; but if it proves a male, I am at a stand. Could I 

 find the opj)ortunlty of sending by a flag of truce to 

 Cayenne, I know I could get a supply. 

 I am, with most sincere regard, 

 Dear Sir, 

 Your much obliged and ever grateful Servant, 

 ALEXANDER ANDEIISOX 

 , Botanmd Garden^ St. Vincent, Jul^'Il, 1807. 



( 'orrestpon- 

 (L'nce inter- 

 rupted by the 



DEAR SIR, 



Bliick pepper. I Have the pleasure to inform you, that some of 



the black pepper ])lan(s are now pushing out freely their 



^ulmcg. fructification; but have to lament, that the only nutuirg 



ill 



