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The late Mr. William Griffith. 



In a letter from Dr. Horsfield, we learn that on the 

 intelligence of Mr. Griffith's death reaching Lord Auckland, 

 his Lordship in a most kind and benevolent manner prepared 

 without delay from his own recollection, a Memoir of this 

 distinguished man, which was incorporated with the address 

 read at the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society 

 on the 17th May, and excited much interest. 



We mention the circumstance as highly creditable to, and 

 characteristic of, the generous character and disposition of Lord 

 Auckland who, we may remark, was one of Mr. Griffith's 

 kindest friends while in India, and the first to appreciate rightly 

 his eminent merits, both as a scientific man, and public 

 servant. 



The memoir adverted to has been in the most kind and con- 

 descending manner presented to us since the above notice was 

 written. It is as follows. 



Extract from the Anniversary Address to the Royal Asiatic Society of 

 Great Britain and Ireland, May 17, 1845. 

 Mr. Griffith was one of the most accomplished botanists 

 of our day ; with the most accurate and extensive acquisition of 

 learning in his department, he combined a spirit of activity and en- 

 terprise, such as has been rarely equalled, great talents, and a very 

 remarkable power of labor, arrangement, and application. He was 

 born in the year 1810, and was educated at the London University. 

 He went out to India, as an assistant- surgeon on the Madras Estab- 

 lishment, where he arrived on the 24th September, 1832, and was 

 shortly afterwards selected by the Bengal Government for the exami- 

 nation of the botany of the Tenasserim Provinces. He was, in 1835, 

 deputed to Assam, with Dr. M'Clelland, for the purpose of assisting 

 Dr. Wallich in his inspection of the growth of the Tea plant in 

 Assam, and from thence he proceeded, in company with Dr. Bayfield, 

 to the then unexplored tracts which lie between Suddiya and Ava, 



