TO DR. R. WIGHT. 



XXXi 



Malacca was the place for work, but plenty may also be done at 

 the Gardens provided the subordinates be made responsible for their 

 respective departments. This I intend to do so soon as I can get 

 things into a proper form, I intend having nothing to do with de- 

 tails, but to set to Vork comprehensively in the formation of a 

 report, catalogues of property, and of plants, and on the formation 

 of a Natural, Medical, and Linnean Garden, and general picturesque 

 improvements. 



Many thanks for your kindness in looking out for some plants for 

 me, more particularly the Santalaceous ones, and the Bragantia. 

 I am also glad to hear that yoa have so much of Pinus longifolia, 

 as it will be an agreeable variety. The reprint on which 1 have 

 been engaged of Jacks writings in the Calcutta Journal of Natural 

 History will not be finished as I thought it would, in the next num- 

 ber, but positively in the October one. So that it will be in one 

 volume at any rate. I enclose a bit of Asterogyne nomen delen- 

 dum, blotted out entirely and Siphonodon substituted for it. I am 

 determined to act up to the Zoological Committee rule, and blot out 

 all names not founded on descriptions. The dried state wont be 

 advantageous for its examination, 



I have been laid up for the last fortnight, but am well again now. 

 How rapidly you are advancing in regard to cotton. I have not 

 yet drawn up my memorandum for the Deputy Governor on the 

 subject, not being able to find precise scientific information re- 

 garding the climates of the cotton districts of America, or those 

 parts of Bengal, which appear to me likely to promise success. We 

 have no data to afford sound comparisons between American Cotton 

 Districts and particular districts of India! Hence our views and 

 operations must be more or less uncertain. 



Botanical Garden, Calcutta, January 23, 1843. 



I dare say you observe a change in my letters, but then remem- 

 ber the different circumstances. Here I have to snatch time, not 

 that there is such a great deal to do in the letter writing line, but 

 an immense deal inthe shape of general improvement. I send you a 

 set of seeds just received from the Cape,from Baron, Ludwig, which 



