Vlll 



NOTICE OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH. 



Calcutta : February Wth, 1844. 

 " Mr. Bauer's light is not yet set on the hill. Really when I look 

 back at his works I am lost in admiration, and always regret that he 

 worked more for others than for himself, and that he did not use 

 his pen as freely as he did his brush. When, in the name of all that 

 is generous, will great men think that true greatness consist in en- 

 deavouring to make others more prominent than themselves ?" 



For some years before his death, Mr Griffith would appear to have 

 had a presentiment that he would not be spared to complete the 

 description of all his collections. On one occasion, when enumerating 

 those who might contribute most efficiently to this object, in the 

 event of its not being permitted to himself, he writes :— 



" I cannot however refrain from paying my tribute of respect to 

 Mr. George Bentham, the most industrious, perspicuous, and philo- 

 sophical Botanist who has systematically contributed to lessen the 

 difficulties under which Indian Botanists have generally suffered. 



" There are a few others from whom the sincerity of friendship 

 fully warrants me in expecting every possible assistance : of these 

 Dr. Wight is already well known, and others are rising rapidly to 

 fill, I hope, the highest Botanical stations when these shall have 

 been vacated by the leviathans who now occupy them. Let not 

 the cynic accuse me of partiality when I mention the names of 

 William Valentine, of Decaisne, and C. M. Lemann." 



He also delighted to speak and write in terms of the warmest 

 regard of those to whom he was indebted for facilities in his pur- 

 suits. To Lord Auckland he invariably alluded in terms of the 

 deepest gratitude — " Under his Lordship's patronage" he remarks 

 on one occasion, " I have received such advantages as make me 

 ashamed of the little I have done, and which are constantly holding 

 up before me my deficiencies in many branches of enquiry connected 

 with the physiology and distribution of plants." 



