FLORA OF FORFARSHIRE. 
229 
him out to investigate the botany and zoology of some parts of 
the Southern and Western United States of North America ; 
and, accordingly, in 1831, he was fully equipped for the expedi- 
tion, by the liberality of a large circle of British botanists and 
naturalists, who felt a deep interest in the success of his en- 
terprise. Their hopes were fully realized by the splendid 
collections he made in all departments of botany and zoo- 
logy. These were not, however, made with ease ; many a 
deprivation of comfort had to be experienced, seemingly in- 
surmountable difficulties overcome, and formidable dangers 
encountered, to accomplish the object he had in view. In his 
letters we read of many hair-breadth escapes. At one time 
he narrowly escaped, destruction in a small boat, exposed to 
the fury of the ocean during a tremendous thunder-storm ; 
at another he was on the point of joining a surveying party, 
all of whom were shortly after murdered by savage Indians. 
He was attacked by cholera and fever, and at times suffered 
greatly from hunger and fatigue, as well as the severity of 
winter frosts, and the broiling heat of summer. Yet, in the 
last letter save one, which he wrote from Texas to his kind 
patron, Sir W. J. Hooker, he says : — “ But amidst all these 
difficulties there is one blessing, for which I cannot be too 
thankful. I enjoy excellent health ; and, I can assure you, 
that it has been tried with such fatigue as would have broken 
down thousands.” Too soon was he destined to be broken 
down by these exertions ; for, early in the following year 
(1835), at Havanna, in Cuba, death put an end to his useful 
labours, and deprived the botanical world of one of its most 
ardent votaries. Had he been spared to follow out his inten- 
tions to their full extent, the result would have been of vast 
importance to all lovers of Flora throughout the world ; but, 
as it is, he has earned a deathless fame ; for in our gardens 
he has reared living monuments of surpassing beauty to per- 
petuate his memory ; and so long as the Equisetum and Or- 
t ho trichum, bearing his name, continue to flourish on our na- 
tive hills, his enthusiastic devotion to the cause of botany, and 
self-sacrifice in its promotion, will be warmly remembered by 
his fellow-countrymen. 
E. arvense, L Corn Horse-tail. H. 450, B. 380, N. 
(Phyt. I. 727.) 
Abundant by the sides of fields, and on banks, from the 
