TMF TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [May t, 1890. 
Most probably a great number will have been 
injured if not destroyed by insects. It will there- 
fore be advisable to make your report upon them 
to the Governor, when you will receive further 
instructions as to their future disposal. 
The Draftsman having informed me of a large 
collection of his drawings of flowers (not Orchidea) 
it would in my opinion be well in you to look 
them over and report upon their state for H. E.'s 
information. 
I am, your obdt., 
(Signed) E. J. Walker. 
The Et. Hon'ble the Governor &c, &c, &c, 
Queen's House, 
Sir, — I have the honor to forward to the Queen's 
House for Your Excellency one basket of fruits 
and vegetables, such as the Botanic Garden is 
now freely producing. In doing which I hope I 
am not pursuing a course uncalled for or opposite 
to the wishes of Your Excellency. There are now 
abundance of Alligator pears and vegetables of the 
same description as those contained in this day's 
basket, there will be likewise Eambutans Ehortly 
ripe. May I therefore be permitted to know Your E x- 
cellency's pleasure as to their distribution and regu- 
larity with which Queen's House should be supplied 
when any fit productions are matured and in season. 
I have taken the liberty to enclose a letter to Col. 
Walker in reply to his directions (authorized by 
Your Excellency) for the examination and report 
of Drawing and Dried Specimens of plants belong- 
ing to this Establishment, which direction shall have 
my best attention the earliest opportunity. The 
pot of the beautiful plant orbancheat enclosed in 
the basket, I trust will have the benefit of Mrs. 
Col. Walker's pencil. It is found plentiful upon 
Hantany Hill near Kandy discovered by me a few 
weeks back but not seen before in full flower, which 
latter circumstance induced me to forward by this 
good opportunity a specimen for Mrs. Col. Walker's 
examination. 
I have the honor to remain, Sir, Your Excel- 
lency's most obedient servant, 
J. Lear. 
Peradenia, August 17th, 1838. 
Col. Walker, &c, &c, &c, Colombo, 
Dear Sir, I have the Honor to acknowledge 
the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant, and 
beg to inform you that I will take the earliest op- 
portunity to examine the dried specimens of plants 
and report upon them agreeable to your requ st. 
I am at present engaged (by His Excellency the 
Governor's direction) in making out a catalogue of 
the living plants in the E. B. Garden, which I 
find no easy task amidst the confusion in which 
they are distributed, and as the jungle requires to 
be cut down to enable me to get at some of the 
specimens (even those in part that have been in- 
troduced here at considerable expense), I have also 
a report to finish on the present condition of the 
E. B. Garden for His Excellency's satisfaction which 
will accompany the Catalogue. The joint employ 
will occupy me some short time longer owing in a 
great measure to the unsettled state of the Estab- 
lishment. May I therefore be permitted to enquire 
if I may postpone the examination of the speci- 
mens and drawings until the above work is 
complete. 
I have the honor to be, Dear Sir, your most 
obedient servant, 
J. Lear. 
Peradenia, August 17th, 1838. 
I have succeeded in procuring a fine specimen 
of the order Arobaneheffl I once showed you in Kandy, 
and have taken tho liberty to enclose a pot of it 
in a basket this day sent to the Governor, which I 
trust will arrive safe and have the benefit of your 
and Mrs. Col. Walker's inspection. 
K. H. Stewart Mackenzie, a d. c, &o., &c, &e. 
Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 20th instant, and in reference to that 
part of it which enquires my " present terms of 
agreement, pecuniary, and others, with Mr. Knight." 
I beg to inform you, the particulars for His 
Excellency the Governor's information. 
My anxiety to arrive at a more perfect know- 
ledge of Botany, (in addition to my experience in 
General Gardening) led me to an early acquaintance 
with Mr. Knight, and time, to an unshaken con 
fidenee on both sides. Mr. Knight (knowing mv 
wishes) chose the opportunity of sending me abroad 
to tread the paths of nature, perfect myself in 
the work I had commenced, and at the same 
time be serviceable to him, and Science, in as 
much as Botany is concerned. The particular object 
was my improvement and honourable reputation; 
however, so much so, that pecuniary terms, and 
advantages, were of no consideration, nor were 
any entered into, or even proposed, (b •• Mr. K. or 
myself) in the most distant manner, except that I 
should always enjoy the kind patronage of that 
celebrated gentleman. Mr. Knight defrays all the 
expenses attendant on my researches and travels, 
and allowed me 3 years to labour, in search of 
Botanical knowledge, under his protection, sending 
exclusively to him the fruits of my labour. The 
term 3 years was not specified that I should re- 
main under Mr. Knight that period, but because 
it was thought sufficient for the purposes, as above 
alluded to. There was no Bond entered into 
betwixt Mr. Knight and myself, nor was one re- 
quired or necessary, but Mr. Knight must be informed 
when any alteration takes place in cur present 
arrangements, through his Agents or otherwise. 
I can " with Messrs. Wilson and Archer's consent 
take any employment in Ceylon," but I should 
hesitate to do so very much unless 1 be allowed 
an opportunity to serve Mr. Knight with good at- 
tention. With respect to the remuneration I should 
expect per month, I beg to state that if it was, 
I should have to follow an employ, embracing 
opportunities for my further improvement in 
Botanical knowledge, I should rather decline, fixing 
any sum myself from the combined reasons above 
specified, added to that of my wanting tropical 
experience. 
For more particulars on this subject, I beg to 
refer you to a letter from me of August 20th to 
P. E. Wodehouse, Esqr., Assistant Col. Seccretary, 
and a memorandum of an interview I had with 
Mr. Tumour (under the direction of Mr. Anstruther) 
in Kandy on the 11th of August, when a sum was 
specified by that gentleman for my temporary superin- 
tendence of the Eoyal Botanic Garden, Peradenia, 
to be forwarded for His Excellency the Governor's 
consideration, the terms were all perfectly agreeable 
to me. 
I mentioned to His Excellency when I was last 
in Colombo, that one year's servitude under Mr. 
Knight's protection was about to expire, and that 
it was my determination to establish myself in 
Ceylon, but I did not intend to be understood that 
I should leave Mr. Knight until the 3 years should 
be expired, except an opportunity offered in Govern- 
ment Service, the which I shall feel happy if His 
Excellency be informed. 
I beg to send enclosed a note from Mr. Tumour 
referring to a memorandum of our interview (intended 
to be sent to His Excellency the Governor) for the 
Governor's satisfaction, in answer to your enquiry 
if I had communicated with that gentleman or Mr. 
