TO DR. R. WIGHT. 



vii 



characters, and throw myself on the mercy of the Botanical world. 

 New names I shall certainly give to all not characterised, except in 

 those cases in which such names have been adopted by other Bota- 

 nists. I shall not omit a passing notice of the neglect of those who 

 undertook monographs, and in presenting the divided sets of my col- 

 lections to Botanists, I shall be guided by a recollection of those to 

 whom I think Indian Botany has been most indebted, I intend pub- 

 blishing on the ovulum etc. before long. The applause that Brong- 

 niart has acquired for his work or these organs, which you remember 

 got the prize from the Institute, is encouraging, although with much 

 that is clever and original, it abounds in mistakes of observation, 

 but it is odd, that many of his conclusion are right, although drawn 

 from wrong premises. 



Calcutta, Jime 29, 1838. 



Many thanks for your last, which awaited my arrival in Calcutta, 

 where I arrived on the 27th. Of your former Numbers, I have re- 

 ceived only two — the first arrived the last, and was quite uninjured — 

 Not so the second, which was simply wrapped in brown paper. 

 And now I ask, what has Acrotrema to do with Dilleniaceae. And 

 I have a very great reason to ask the same of Schumachera. Peo- 

 ple always talk most boldly and longest on things they know nothing 

 about, so you will excuse me for these two queries, as I have never 

 seen the plants themselves, and know nothing of them. Yet I 

 think other and better affinities will be found. 



The plates of this number are better than those in the second, 

 and are most creditable. Some of them are excellent, others a 

 little stiff. The same may be said of the other specimens you sent, 

 of these Lebretonia is the best : that plate indeed is a capital one — 

 and so far as I can judge, quite sufficient for botanical purposes, 

 though not so much so for a drawing room table. I shall send you 

 in a day or two, two or three copies of my report, corrected. Among 

 the list of subscribers I observe, I am the only one without an Es- 

 quire attached to his name. This is too bad ! it reminds me of a 

 complaint made by a member of the Society to the same effect. The 

 complainant feeling himself injured, addressed the Englishman^ 



