18 
MEMOIR OF 
(luction® It will now be our endeavour to review 
his discoveries and researches in the Natural History 
of these interesting countries, separated as far as 
possible from the details of his arduous and import- 
ant public services. For this purpose we have been 
indebted chiefly to the interesting volume, published 
some years since under the superintendence of his 
amiable widow, and which has furnished those parts 
introduced from his correspondence, with the de- 
scriptions of his excursions in the interior of Suma- 
tra ; while the History of Java, and the various papers 
which Sir Thomas has himself published, have af- 
forded materials for the other parts. In the progress 
of the sketch it will be seen that the researches of 
this naturalist were not confined to one branch of 
the science, but that every department, both of the 
history of the inhabitants of those islands, and their 
natural productions, w'ere carefully studied. We 
have alluded to the different objects introduced, with- 
out any system or arrangement but as they seemed 
to have occurred to the notice of the individual. 
Some of them are well known by his owm descrip- 
tions, or illustrate the beautiful works of his friends 
and companions in research and administration * ; and 
but for the awful and overwhelming catastrophe 
which occurred on the eve of his departure, many 
an unknowm production of that rich archipelago 
would have assisted in the embellishment of the 
extensive works wdiich he contemplated. Having 
• Horsfield, Wallich, &c. 
