164 JACK'S LETTERS TO WALLICH, 1819-1821. 



drawings made of them and ample descriptions, and will send 

 them to you to be engraved and brought into the world in the 

 way you shall think most proper and satisfactory. 



1 am anxious to know how our " Contributions " r ' 2 come on ? 

 Shall the above plants appear in it or the Society 53 or how? I am 

 sure you are as much interested as myself to do proper honour 

 to Sir Stamford, who deserves all we can do, and more. He is 

 a second Mr. Gardener 54 et plus. I have not time at present to 

 enter upon foreign topics, or would give you some account of his 

 proceedings since lie went away, but 1 will at a more leisured time, 

 and shall only let you know at present that he has established a 

 new settlement at Singapore, which combines so many advantages 

 as must soon make it the most important place in the Eastern 

 Archipelago, and the centre of trade. The style in which the thing 

 has been done will delight you when I have time for it. I enclose 

 a few seeds of one of the new Nepenthes. 



He has also brought a single specimen of one of your Xapaul 

 Orchidew whose name I forget, but the sketch annexed will give 

 you an idea, the leaves are purple and beautifully variegated with 

 yellow veins. The specimens and probably this letter, proceed by 

 the Hope. 



My best compliments to Mrs. Wallich and believe me, in great 

 haste your ever and sincerely, 



William Jack. 



Prince of Wales' Island 



March 5th, 1819 



[Reed Apr 2]. 

 My dear Wallich, 



Ever since I wrote you last and Sir Stamford's return, T 

 have been so busy that I have had no time for writing. A vessel 

 is expected to sail for Bengal in a day or two, and I cannot thinK 

 of allowing it to pass without something from me. 



Sir Stamford is about to leave this for Acheen, where his 

 business will probably detain him about three weeks. I remain 

 here. 



March 6th — I was interrupted yesterday and have just learnt 

 that the vessel, the " Mercury," sails to-morrow morning. I have 

 therefore in all haste made up a parcel of specimens for you, to 

 the imperfection of which I crave your indulgence. Some will 



52. A proposed joint publication which never matured. Wallich 's 

 plans were commonly larger than his means of putting them into execution. 



53. Without a doubt a reference to the Asiatick Researches of the 

 Asiatic Society of Bengal. Jack on 12th Feb. 1819 became a member of 

 the Society; Wallich had been a member since the 5th of December, 1810. 



54. E. Gardner, British Besident at the Nepalese court. It was he 

 who arranged for Wallich 's visit to the valley of Nepal; and previously 

 he had been a contributor to the collections in the Calcutta gardens. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



