The Assam Tea Plant. 431 



wounded, or shortly after that accident, which placed his life in 

 danger for several years, and deprived the Deputation of his services 

 at Suddya. 



In consequence of the absence of Capt. Charlton from this cause, 

 Mr. C. A. Bruce, his overseer, being the only resident at the place, 

 was requested to accompany the Deputation to those parts of the 

 adjoining district from which the Tea plants had been brought. 



Mr. Bruce's account of the state of the district, and the difficulties 

 to be overcome, was such, as to induce Dr. Wallich to declare 

 he would go no further ; a determination he was only induced to 

 alter, on finding his companions inclined to proceed without him. 



The truth is, Mr. Bruce himself had never, up to this period, 

 though ten years resident at Suddya, visited any one of the places 

 from which Capt. Charlton's people obtained the plants ; and in order 

 to reconcile this circumstance with the excessive zeal which he pro- 

 fessed, Mr. Bruce certainly made the difficulties appear to be much 

 greater than they really proved to be. 



After Capt. Charlton had been compelled to leave Suddya, or about 

 a month before the arrival of the Deputation, Mr. Bruce assumed 

 charge of the establishment of Chuprasses, Nursery-men, and Coolies ; 

 and as these persons, under the superintendence of Capt. Charl- 

 ton, had been in the habit for two years before of collecting Tea 

 plants from various parts of the forests, they knew exactly where 

 they were to be found, and accordingly acted as guides to the Depu- 

 tation, the arrangements being left to Mr. Bruce. 



Botanical Garden at Kew* 

 The Report of Professor Lindley upon the present condition of the 

 Botanical Garden at Kew, contains the following observations, 

 which are well deserving of attention : — 



* The above report of Professor Lindley appears to have led to the removal or resignation of 

 the Superintendent of Kew Garden, who had been five and twenty years in that office, and to the 

 appointment of Sir W. J. Hooker in his place. The report and its consequences are important, 

 as shewing the little disposition that now exists at home to allow public institutions to be- 

 come subservient to the private convenience of individuals. We hail it and its effects, as 

 the commencement of a new era. What would Professor Lindley say, to a Botanical Garden 

 without cultivation, without arrangement, without nomenclature, without an herbarium — 

 without an object, as far as can be gleaned from the Report of the Superintendent himself, 

 which we had the honour to notice in our last number ? — Ed. 



