from May 1, 1830, to April 30, 1840. 



393 



ceived. No. 1 5 reached the garden only on the 1 2th of July. It 

 contained seven species of Orchidaceae and two Cacti, all now 

 alive. 



Previous to the receipt of the last letter (which arrived in 

 December, 1838,) the Council had, on consideration of the serious 

 losses to the Society occasioned by the blockade, and of the alarming 

 accounts which every mail brought over of the disturbed state of the 

 Mexican provinces, determined on removing Mr. Hartweg to some 

 other country, which might be equally promising in valuable pro- 

 ductions, without the personal danger to which he was exposed in 

 Mexico. No place appeared from all accounts more favourable 

 than the neighbouring state of Guatemala, and accordingly fresh 

 instructions directing him to proceed thither were agreed upon, and 

 despatched by the mail of the 15th of November. The following 

 extract from this despatch will shew the nature of the information 

 the Council were able to obtain on the subject, and the hopes they 

 entertain as to the results. 



" It is so difficult for us, at this distance, and in ignorance of the 

 " state of the country, to give you precise directions as to the exact 

 " course you should follow in proceeding into the state of Gua- 

 " temala from Mexico, that we leave it to your own discretion 

 " whether you proceed by Acapulco, or Vera Cruz, or by land. 

 " We however enclose you a copy from the Guatemala Almanack 

 " for 1837 of the posts between Mexico and Guatemala, both by 

 " the Coast road and by that of Chiapa. In case you proceed by 

 " land you had better get Messrs. Byrns & Co. to appoint an agent 

 " at Guatemala to whom your collections may from time to time be 

 " forwarded for transmission to England. 



" Arrived at Guatemala you will at once be in communication 

 " with Belize, an English settlement, whose Governor has been 

 " written to in your behalf by Mr. Strangways, from whence 

 " English ships are continually sailing, and to which there is a steam 

 " communication by way of the gulf of Dulce from Isabal, 



