xxxil 



LETTERS Of WILLIAM GRIFFITH. 



I recommend to you for the Neilglierries : it contains many Aus- 

 tralian plants, and many choice English Flower seeds. Please to 

 let me know the success of each, particularly those not mere flower 

 seed. 



I am sory to hear that you have been so unwell, however the 

 cause is the most pleasing that can be assigned for such an illness, 

 namely zeal in the discharge of important public duties; you have a 

 great stake to play for, I could fight to the death in such a cause, 

 and I would think any amount of exertion in regard to the cot- 

 ton, well bestowed from patriotic and political feelings alone. If 

 you succeed, never mind whether Government reward you, the 

 object is so great, that posthumous fame is sure to be awarded. 

 Some mundane persons say this is not worth having, I am not 

 of that opinion. 



Checks and disappointments are useful to us, and if we did not 

 occasionally meet with them we should be liable to form false no- 

 tions of our deserts and think ourselves too universally clever. 



In return for your plants, I have to-day began arranging my 

 Malacca plants, with a view of putting out a full set for you. They 

 will be placed correctly in families, and I will add the genera of 

 such as I know. It is of primary importance to me to clear off bulk 

 before I leave the Gardens. I have to day got roughly half 

 through my (Malay) collections, among which is a new Barclaya 

 with Nymphaea leaves, a new Dorianne, two remarkable Mono- 

 cotyledonous plants, an anomalous Sapoteous plant with large 

 very prickly fruit, which until I saw the leaves I took for a Dori- 

 anne, there are some other odd looking dubious plants besides. I 

 also expect daily my Khasya Collectors, laden with things, alas ! 

 what a short time I have for such a deal to do ! The lecturing also 

 interrupts one much, but it is a primary du:jy and cannot be either 

 abridged or avoided if I were willing to do so. 



Government have approved of all my suggestions and plans of 

 improvements of the Gardens. My plans for a Natural Garden, 

 flanked by a Garden of Medicinal Plants, and a Garden illustrating 

 the useful plants of lower Bengal. The first will occupy a large 

 circle or ellipse — with interior circles or ellipses: the central 

 smallest for Acotyledons, the second for Monocotyledons, the two 

 outer for Dicotyledons, whatever this arrangement be, the same 



