413 



died at Kew on the 10th of January of the present year, having 

 nearly completed his 81st year. His name appears among the 

 original members of the Linnean Society, and for nearly fifty years 

 he was one of its Vice-Presidents. He became a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society in 1791, and consequently had belonged to it for 

 more than half a century. He was an eminent botanist, and formed 

 a very extensive herbarium, and was at all times anxious to give in- 

 formation to those attached to the same pursuit. He was the author 

 of many papers in the Linnean Transactions, but his most consider- 

 able works were two separate publications. One on the genus Cin- 

 chona was given to the world in 1 797. The other was a description 

 of the genus Pinus, — a truly magnificent work, which originally came 

 before the public in two vols, folio in the year 1803, to which a 

 third vol. was added in 1 834. 



He married Catherine, daughter of Richard Bowater, Esq., whom 

 he survived some years, and by whom he left no family. He did 

 not furnish any papers to the Transactions of the Royal Society. 



Sir Alexander Burnes is undoubtedly one of those whose 

 death will be most lamented by a country that was proud of his 

 eminent qualities, and grateful for his zealous services. 



The name of Burnes was already distinguished in the northern 

 portion of our island. It has received a new lustre from one well 

 worthy of his descent from the same family as Scotland's celebrated 

 poet. Sir Alexander was born at Montrose on the 16th of May, 

 1805. The same town had the honour of his education. He en- 

 tered on his career of active service as a cadet of the Bombay army 

 in the year 1821. At the early age of twenty he was appointed 

 Persian interpreter to a force of 8000 men assembled under Colonel 

 Napier for the invasion of Sinde. The following year he was ap- 

 pointed Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-Master-General. 



He received, in 1827? the thanks of Government for an elaborate 

 statistical report ; and the following year, the Government showed 

 itself equally satisfied with a valuable memoir of the eastern mouth 

 of the Indus. This was succeeded by a valuable supplement. 



In 1828, Lieut. Burnes applied for permission to visit the country 

 between the Indus and Marwar ; but though this plan was approved 

 of by Sir John Malcolm and Sir Henry Pottinger, its execution was 

 delayed. Burnes was appointed the same year Assistant-Quarter- 

 Master-General, and received orders from the Court of Directors 

 to complete a map of Cutch already commenced by him. Shortly 

 after, he was appointed assistant to the political agent in Cutch, and 

 published in the Transactions of the Royal Geographical Society an 

 account of his survey of that country. 



In 1830, he was sent with a present of horses from the King of 

 England to Runjeet Singh. He visited Hydrabad, Lahore, Soo- 

 diana, and proceeded to Simla to receive further instructions from 

 Lord W. Bentinck. 



After travelling into Central Asia, he revisited Bombay in 1833 ; 

 thence he received orders to return home with his own despatches, 



