May 1SG1.] Biographical Memoir of Dr. Bottler. 9 



The results of Bottler's Botanical efforts in this journey of 

 exploration were confided to Mr. Cleghorn, who refers to them 

 in the following letter to Lord Melville. 



Old Cavendish Street, 



ith April 1797. 

 "Sir. — A trunk containing a large collection of plants from 

 Ceylon is lying at the India House, addressed to me. 



This collection was made and arranged by the Rev. Mr. Rottler, 

 Danish Missionary at Tranquebar, an eminent Botanist, who ac- 

 companied me to Ceylon, and who remained there some time after 

 my departure to render his assortment more complete. 



It was always my intention to leave this collection at your dis- 

 posal, and I now trouble you to receive your orders concerning it, 

 lest it should suffer by remaining longer in its present state." 



Dr. Cleghorn informs me that this collection is now incorpora- 

 ted with the general Herbarium at King's College London. 



A specimen of Rottler's method of characterizing plants in his 

 own hand- writing, and made apparently upon this tour, is amongst 

 my papers and may serve to show his usual habit. 



" ICOSANDR 1 MONOGYNIA. 



an MoNA.DELPHiA Icosand. 

 Calyx : Perianth. 4 fid. superum. 

 Coroll: 4 petala, petalis ovato-lanceolatis, excavatis. 

 Stam : Fit. numerosa, filiformia, ad basim parum connexa. anth : 

 globosse. 



Pistill ; Germen subglobosum. Styl : filiform, longitud. fila- 

 mentor. 

 Stig: Simplex. 



Pericarp : Bacca calyce coronata, globosa, polysperma. 

 Semina : Nidulantia. 



Arbor : Foliis subalternis cuneiformib. serrat glabris. 



Colombo, April 3, 96." 



At the close of 1803 Rottler was nominated by his fellow Mis- 

 sionaries at Tranquebar to the charge of the Vepery Mission, 

 about to be vacated by Mr. Paezold, who had succeeded Gericke 

 in the charge only a few months previously, on his appointment to 

 the professorship of Tamil at the College of Fort William, Calcutta 



