8 Biographical Memoir of Dr. Botthr. [No. 1 1, new series. 



Cleghorn, * Secretary to Lord North, first British Governor, of Cey- 

 lon, who was at that time appointed by Government, to make a 

 general tour of enquiry throughout the Island. In a letter to the 

 Honorable Henry Dundas, afterwards Lord Melville, written in 

 1796, Mr. Cleghornt thus speaks of our naturalist. 



" That nothing might be wanting on my part which should add 

 to the general stock of political or scientific knowledge concerning 

 Ceylon, I engaged at a very moderate expense Mr. Bottler, Danish 

 Missionary at Tranquebar, to accompany me. While he serves me 

 as interpreter, his eminent knowledge of Botany and Mineralogy 

 will enable me to add much curious information to sciences with 

 which I am myself imperfectly acquainted, and I natter myself that 

 my conduct in this respect will meet with approbation from the 

 ministers of a Sovereign whose reign has been so honorably dis- 

 tinguished by promoting useful discoveries in every quarter of the 

 globe." 



Further on in his diary Mr. Cleghorn adds under date of Jan. 

 7, 1796, " I met at Jaffna by appointment the Eeverned Mr. 

 Rottler, Danish Missionary at Tranquebar, whose knowledge of 

 Botany and Natural History, will supply many deficiencies in my 

 observations, and whose perfect acquaintance with the Malabar 

 language will enable him to serve me as an useful and faithful in- 

 terpreter." And soon after the actual commencement of their tour, 

 he adds, " Mr. Bottler finds ample materials for Botanic re- 

 searches." Bottler did not forget his own proper calling while 

 on this tour : the following extract exhibits him in his two-fold 

 character of missionary and naturalist ; while it also shows the 

 impression made upon Mr. Cleghorn's mind by Bottler's character 

 as a man and a Christian. 



" My most worthy friend Bottler has found many curious and 

 undescribcd plants ; and the classifying and preserving them, to- 

 gether with his pious exhortations to such Malabar Christians as 

 he meets with, innocently and profitably fills up the time of this 

 truly primitive and good man." 



* For information respecting (he journey, I am indebted to papers 

 entrusted to me by my friend Dr. Hugh Cleghorn, Conservator of 

 Forests, Mr. Cleghorn's grand-son. 



t Mr. Cleghorn's MSS. diary in the possession of Dr. Cleghorn. 



