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Biographical Memoir of the laie 



[No. 3^, 



given a complete view of the flora of Southern Asia. For this his 

 own personal researches had furnished him with an immense mass of 

 new material, and it is deeply to be deplored that he was not per- 

 mitted to accomplish his design. It can hardly be expected that any 

 other person will be able to bring to the task an amount of 

 scientific knowledge and individual experience, at all approaching 

 the extent, to which these eminent qualifications were combined 

 in him. For he was no common observer of superficial forms or mere 

 collector of isolated facts. He had penetrated deeply into the unexplor- 

 ed arcana of vegetable physiology. His patient and assiduous mi- 

 croscopic investigations of the structure and functions of plants had 

 enabled him to throw new light on the economy of vegetable life. 

 From his own personal observations he had noted the geographical 

 distribution, the climatology and other characteristics of the various 

 classes of plants from the Paropamisan Mountains to the Golden 

 Chersonesus. The few admirable treatises on detached subjects which 

 he found time to give to the world, serve to show how great would 

 have been the value of his discoveries and speculations when applied 

 to a larger field. 



Added to these eminent philosophical qualities he possessed in a 

 high degree, that sagacity and sound judgment which enabled him to 

 form correct views of the common aff'airs of life. Warned by the 

 symptoms of smouldering discontent which his habits of observation 

 detected during his excursions among the rude tribes beyond the 

 Indus, he early foresaw and made known to the higher authorities, the 

 probable results of the line of policy pursued in Affghanistan, — 

 which led to the fatal tragedy of Cabul. But his warnings, uttered 

 during the spring tide of success, proved unpalatable and did their 

 author no good. 



In private life his kindness of heart and amiable disposition gained 

 him the affectionate regard of all who knew him, whether equals or 

 dependants. The love he inspired in the breasts of those who were 

 more particularly honored with his friendship is strikingly apparent in 

 the language of the various testimonials to his worth which appeared 

 after his death. The natural ardour of his temperament, which induc- 

 ed him to brave every risk and privation in the furtherance of his 

 favorite pursuits, led him to join in the assault of Ghuzni, for which 

 he received a medal, and his contempt of danger frequently brought 

 him into hazardous collision with the people of the uncivilized tracts 

 which he was engaged in exploring. ^ 



