Ixii 



LETTERS OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH," 



acca, not named, but in families. 1 know no names, except those of 

 the few things I have worked up, and even if I did, I could not give 

 up time just now to numbering, I have been so hard pressed. 

 Nevertheless, the plants being in families, will I hope be useful to 

 him. There are many of great interest among them. Your own set 

 contains nearly 1,500 species on a rough guess ; and Monocots 

 as well as Dicots. Hereafter I will send you many more, and 

 at different times ; the receipt of a large batch at once is sometimes 

 inconvenient ; and I know that by sending small collections I shall 

 be more inclined to send names with them. Regarding AzoUa, I had 

 nothing plain to write, nothing being known regarding them, and 

 every one being abroad concerning them ; but I have often heard 

 of my fault of plunging into medias res ; but in writii% disser- 

 tation on abstruse things there is no author I know, who descends 

 to explanations. After constant study, I find it difficult to understand 

 some parts of Brown's writings; but in Azolla I think all plain 

 sailing enough. If correct, the thing is as of as much importance 

 as the discovery of naked ovuled Phsenogaras, And if I could 

 only get settled where I could steadily follow up my ideas regard- 

 ing the higher Acots, I feel convinced I could make something of 

 them. But this constant moving about ; (I have never been a year 

 in a place, until I came to the Gardens), knocks all long sighted 

 plans on the head. I leave in a few days for Malacca ; I could do 

 more Botanical work there with my materials than at the Gardens, 

 and if I am to remain at Malacca until promoted, I expect to be 

 loaded with dissections, drawings and Mss. 



I leave all my collections here : and intend until I see myself 

 settled, occnpying myself entirely with living structures. I may 

 take one or two families down, but no more. Such a herbarium as 

 I have ! if I could only get it arranged. Thanks for the hints about 

 the specimen paper. I will look out for some suitable. You shall 

 see if I won't work hard at Malacca. 



Calcutta, December 5th, 1844. 



I have received Kunth, the Herbariun paper, and the sketch of the 

 Caryota, which is I take it, C.urens. Kunth, which I will return 

 immediately ; is as I suspected, a mere compilation with nothing 



