4847.] W{lUa77i Griffith, Esq., F. L. S, 



189 



he joined the Arriiy of the Indus and thoroughly investigated the 

 botany of AfFghanistan, not neglecting at the same time its zoology, 

 meteorology and statistics, for the illustration of all of which, he 

 amassed copious materials. It was at this period that his naturally 

 strong constitution, shattered by the privations of his former journeys, 

 received a severe shock from illness brought on by indefatigable de- 

 votion to his pursuits, and the attack was so severe as at one time to 

 lend currency to a report of his death. Returning to India in 1841, 

 he resided for a short time at Simla and from thence paid a visit to 

 Jubbulpoor, where his brother was then stationed and where his expe- 

 rienced eye detected a new character of vegetation, so different from 

 the regions he had already examined, as to make him regret deeply 

 the necessity that obliged him to leave the valley of the Nerbudda 

 unexplored. In August of the same year he was appointed Civil 

 Surgeon at Malacca, but a twelve month had scarcely elapsed ere he 

 was recalled to take charge of the Botanical Garden at Calcutta, and 

 to act as Professor of Botany at the Medical College (in August, 1842) 

 during the temporary absence of Dr. Wallich at the Cape. On be- 

 ing relieved in December, 1844, by the Superintendent's return he 

 rejoined his humble appointment in the Straits, but had scarcely ar- 

 rived there when he was attacked with a fatal illness and fell a vic- 

 tim to disease of the liver on the 10th February, 1845. 



From this rapid sketch it will be seen that his whole hfe was one 

 continued round of unremitting and laborious action which left him 

 with scarce a moment's leisure for the generalization of his dis- 

 coveries. Yet these were not neglected. The able reports of his 

 political duties submitted to the Government of India, and the 

 scientific memoirs that have appeared in the pages of the Linnsean 

 transactions, in those of the Agri-Horticultural Society, in M'Clel- 

 land's Journal of Natural History, &c. — papers furnished in the brief 

 intervals of his several journies, at the same time that he was occupi- 

 ed in the packing and transmission of his collections to the East 

 India House, often whilst labouring under illness the effect of fatigue 

 and exposure, — sufficiently attest his industry and zeal. In addition 

 to all this he kept up an extensive correspondence both Indian and 

 European, the latter including the first Naturalists of the age, — and 

 such names as Mr. Kobert Brown, Sir W. Hooker, Dr, Martins, 

 Professor Lindley, Dr. Nees von Esenbeck, M. Decaisne, Mr. Solly, 

 Dr. Wight, Mr. Lemann, &c. 



It appears to have been the great object of his ambition to have 



