iv PREFACE. 



Bay, on the Coast of Peru, and re-visited Chile, when he 

 found an opportunity of reaching Santiago, and botanizing 

 among the little known vegetation of the Cordilleras. Upon 

 this occasion Mr. M'Rae succeeded in procuring a supply 

 of fresh nuts of the highly prized Araucaria Pine, which 

 arrived in England, in a living state, and from which a con- 

 siderable distribution has already been made by the Society. 

 The collections of seeds and plants of all kinds was very 

 large, and of the greatest value to science. To the Sandwich 

 Islands, this Expedition has produced advantages which it is 

 hoped that those countries will long continue to enjoy, and 

 which may be no inconsiderable means of hastening the 

 civilization of the natives. In addition to a large supply of 

 European fruits and vegetables, Mr. M'Rae succeeded in 

 transplanting in safety most of the valuable productions of 

 the same kind which are found in Brazil. It is gratifying to 

 add, that, since his return, the Right Honourable Earl 

 Bathurst, His Majesty's Colonial Secretary of State, has 

 been pleased, upon the recommendation of the Society, to 

 appoint this meritorious individual to the charge of the im- 

 portant Colonial Garden in Ceylon. 



The expedition to the North-west coast of North America, 

 was undertaken under the protection of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, and was confided to the care of Mr. David 

 Douglas, a zealous and enterprizing young man, who had 

 previously done the Society good service on the Eastern side 

 of the same Continent. Mr. Douglas was expected to have 



