DEATH OF THE EAUL OF AUCK3.AND. 
95 
and have ministered to the improvement and 
happiness of tlieir fellow men, there certainly 
is not one whose death has excited a deeper 
or more universal regret than that of the Earl 
of Auckland. 
The leading journal* of this country (we 
believe, a political opponent of his lordship), 
in recording this unhappy event, most truly 
says : — " The impression left on the minds of 
those who enjoyed officially and privately the 
best means of appreciating his character, is 
that ' a more kind, more true, or more just 
man never existed than Lord Auckland ;' and 
there is every reason to believe that these are 
not the exaggerations of friendship, but the 
award of an impartial judcjvient. . . . Great 
good sense, general knowledge, moderation, 
refinement, a very gentle bearing towards his 
adversaries, and a very consistent support of 
his friends, made him greatly beloved. , . . 
Lord Auckland, though summoned unexpec- 
tedly, descends to the tomb, if not full of age, 
at least having acquired a competent share of 
honours ; and though no son inlierits his 
higher dignity, yet a numerous and attached 
circle of friends may regard tlie degree of 
fame which he had acquired with just com- 
placency, and may refer to his unspotted 
integrity with unqualified and honourable 
pride." 
The late earl was no ordinary man. Where- 
ever he resided, the arts and sciences, educa- 
tion of the people, and the moral and social 
comforts of the community, under his fostering 
care, invariably progressed. 
It has been the fasliion to complain of his 
lordship's gigantic policy in India, instead of 
the real cause of the only unfavourable result, 
" the government at home." However un- 
popular it may be to throw the blame on a 
powerful body instead of an individual, we are 
of the few who refuse to recognise any disaster 
in India as the result of the policy of Lord 
Auckland, who carried out in the most com- 
plete and masterly way the instructions of 
the home government, and appointed the 
ablest generals that he was supplied with to 
hold the advantages which he had obtained. 
Had he been supported by able instead of 
incompetent officers, the masterly stroke which 
placed a complete barrier against an insidious 
and powerful rival, whose approaches had 
long been anticipated, would have handed 
down his name without a cloud to sully its 
brightness ; but all great men are envied by 
those who admire what they cannot imitate, 
and the man who lays the trophies of success- 
ful battles at his sovereign's feet, might as 
justly be blamed if. they were carried ofi 
again by stratagem as Lord Auckland for the 
disastrous consequences that arose out of the 
* Times. 
inexperience and incapacity of the best of the 
generals sent out to support a difficult and 
dangerous occupation of hostile people. In 
the botanical world we have indeed sustained 
a loss, for under his lordship's auspices iS 
flourished no less in India than in England. 
He was vice-president of the Horticultural 
Society, patron of m.any scientific institutions^ 
of great service to the government in what- 
ever station he filled. 
Dr. Lindley, who had many opportunities 
of knowing much of his lordship's encourage- 
ment to horticultui'e, says : — 
" While others are recording the leading 
events of Lord Auckland's political life, and 
attempting to identify with his memory the 
fatal errors of the incompetent officers he was 
compelled to employ, let it be permitted to 
one who knew him well to put on record 
other points in the character of this great and 
lamented nobleman. 
" Lord Auckland, although not a talker like 
some men, was wise and good in the truest 
sense of those terms. Although none speak 
of his private charity, many will miss it ; his 
whole life was a scene of kindness and con- 
sideration for those around and below him ; 
affectionate regard does not sufficiently express 
the feelings borne towards him by those who 
had the happiness to form his domestic circle : 
there his loss is irreparable. It is, however, 
as a true friend of science that he must be 
held to merit the gratitude of posteritj'. 
"It was Lord Auckland who, while in India, 
took all learned societies under his protection, 
aided them in their objects, and held out ta 
the young and rising men of his day the pow- 
erful hand of a mighty governor. It was he 
who brought forward'and gave the means of 
distinction to Mr. Griffith, the first of Indian 
botanists, an early victim to scientilic exer- 
tions. It was he who caused the capabilities 
of Assam to be investigated, and who also' 
laid the foundation of those important tea 
plantations in the Himalaya, which seem des- 
tined at no distant day to win from the Celes- 
tial Empire the most valuable part of its com- 
merce J and when the armies of P^ngland 
penetrated into the wild country of the Aff- 
ghans, it was he who provided the expedition 
with a scientific staff such as has not been 
attached to an army since the days of Napoleon 
in Egypt. Gardening was more especially 
Lord Auckland's favourite pursuit : wherever 
his power in India extended this art was pro- 
tected, and advanced by the resources of his 
native country, which in its return was en- 
riched with all that Indian establishments 
could furnish. It was at his lordship's instance, 
seconded by Mr. Robert Gordon, one of the 
then Secretaries of the India Board, that the 
East India Company laid the foundation of 
