64 
BARRACKPORE. 
round of dinners. My reception has been such as I had every 
reason to expect from the character of my countrymen in the East. 
Amongst other morning excursions, Mr. Graham and I visited the 
Botanic Garden, which is under the care of Dr. Roxburgh. It 
affords a wonderful display of the vegetable world, infinitely surpass- 
ing any thing I have ever before beheld. It is laid out in a very good 
style, and its vast extent renders the confinement of beds totally 
unnecessary ; yet, I think, it is a pity that a small compartment is 
not allotted to a scientific arrangement. The finest object in the 
garden is a noble specimen of the Ficus Bengalensis, on whose 
branches are nourished a variety of specimens of the parasitical 
plants, Epidendrons, Linodorums, and Filices. The water, also, is 
beautiful, being covered with red, blue, and white Nymphseas. 
Utility seems to have been more attended to than science. Thousands 
of plants of the Teak tree, theLoquot, the grafted Mango, and other 
valuable fruit and timber trees, have from this place been dissemi- 
nated over our Oriental territories ; and at present it is a complete 
centre, where the productions of every clime are assembled, to be 
distributed to every spot where they have any chance of being bene- 
ficial. The nutmeg was in considerable perfection ; but the Mangus- 
teen, though often brought, has never survived its transplantation 
one year. The chief novelties are from Napaul and Chittagong. Most 
of the West India plants are making their way here, and will probably 
thrive well. It is by far too hot for European vegetables, and of 
course many even of our pot herbs are in the list of their desiderata. 
February 14. — In consequence of a general invitation, I yesterday 
proceeded to Barrackpore, Lord Wellesley's country residence : 
Mr. Graham and Mr. Salt accompanied me. We arrived before 
