BIOGRAPHY 
xlv 
No praise can be higher than this from two botanists who 
have for many years had the charge of the largest collections of 
plants in the world. 
His botanical knowledge, his accuracy, and his judgment in 
the classification and description of the plants which he specially 
studied, have also been recognised by the most competent 
judges. 
In the very condensed record of the works of eminent 
botanists and botanical collectors, given in the last volume of 
the great Flora Braziliensis^ he is said to have "most accurately 
examined and published" the Pyrenean Mosses and Hepaticae ; 
while of the volume on the Hepaticae of the Amazon and Andes 
it is said that he " most sagaciously elaborated and described " 
the whole of the known species. 
On Spruce's return to England, the veteran botanist Von 
Martius invited him to undertake the elaboration of one of the 
Natural Orders for his great work on the Flora of Brazil, showing 
that he must already have had the highest opinion of his 
competence as a botanist. This Spruce was obliged to decline 
on account of his ill-health ; but several letters passed between 
them on botanical subjects, showing on the part of Martius 
the highest appreciation and even enthusiastic friendship. In 
1866 he writes to him as "My dear Spruce," and concludes 
with this amusingly pathetic appeal : " Por la misericordia de 
Deos, I beg you to exhilarate me by an answer. Your very attached 
friend and admirer — Martius." In 1867 he signs himself " For 
ever your affectionate devoted friend"; and in August 1868, 
very shortlv before his death, " Your affectionate and admiring 
friend." 
Of the general results of Spruce's botanical exploration and 
study in South America, the late Mr. George Bentham, who 
knew more of his work than any one else, thus wrote : " His 
researches into the vegetation of the interior of South America 
have been the most important we have had since the days of 
Humboldt, not merely for the number of species which he has 
collected (amounting to upwards of 7000), but also for the 
number of new generic forms with which he has enriched 
science ; for his investigation into the economic uses of the 
plants of the countries he visited ; for several doubtful ques- 
tions of origin as to interesting genera and species which his 
discoveries have cleared up ; and for the number and scientific 
value of his observations made on the spot, attached to the 
specimens preserved, all which specimens have been transmitted 
