May 1861.] Biographical Memoir of Dr. Bottler. 13 



cure for himself a place in the veneration of those who remember 

 him to this day. 



Rottler was in his 69 th year when he thus resumed his Mis- 

 sionary labors. There were at this time two separate congrega- 

 tions meeting in Vepery Church ; the Tamil congregations, con- 

 taining 233 communicants, meeting in the forenoon, and the 

 Portuguese congregation, with its 99 communicants, meeting in 

 the afternoon. An English Service was subsequently added to 

 these by Rottler on Sunday afternoons, and an English lecture on 

 Wednesday afternoons. His clerical duties at the Female Asylum, 

 at the same time consisted of two weekly services on Tuesdays 

 and Thursdays. Notwithstanding all we find him still vigorously 

 pursuing his Botanical recreations, and forming a point of refer- 

 ence to those who were interested in similar pursuits in the Pre- 

 sidency. 



His personal appearance about this time is thus described by an 

 eye witness ; " I first saw the good old man Dr. Rottler during his 

 labours at black Town. He was assisting the Rev. Morgan Davis, 

 the Minister of Black Town Chapel on a sacramental occasion. 

 I only heard him take part in the portion of the Communion Ser- 

 vice, which precedes the Sermon. His English pronunciation was 

 tolerably clear and good ; a little feeble and faltering through age ; 

 for his wrinkled face and silver hair announced him to be at least 

 sixty years old. He was short in stature : his slender form was 

 concealed by his black gown : his head was large, finely formed, 

 and full." 



The fact thus alluded to affords an instance of the Catholic spirit 

 of Rottler ; others of which might be given from his corres- 

 pondence with ministers of communions different from his own 

 which he maintained up to a late period of his life. 



Rottler as we have seen had as early in 1795 arrived at the 

 distinction of a Doctor's diploma, by his botanical acquirements : 

 and in 1818, the Madras Literary Society sought his permission to 

 mark his name amongst their Honorary Members, as appears from 

 the following gratifying letter of their Secretary. 



To Dk. Rottler, 



Sir. — The Members of the Madras Literary Society, being de- 

 sirous to manifest the sense which they entertained of your high 



