64 REMINISCENCES OF A VOYAGE TO AND FROM CHINA 
the voyage, were only the same sorts as had been received frequently 
before, and therefore of no value. 
Tired with these disappointments, Mr. Slater resolved to send out 
collectors in his own ships, whose care of the plants while homeward 
bound, was deemed the only chance of getting them alive to their 
destination. Accordingly he engaged a young man then (1789) 
employed in his garden, to take the trip. This young Scotchman whose 
name we have forgotton, embarked in the Carnatic Indiaman, Captain 
Corner, bound to Madras and China ; but was unfortunately drowned 
on the outward bound passage in the Straits of Malacca. A successor 
was immediately inquired for; and we being then (1791) foreman of 
the houses and flower garden, accepted the appointment and joined the 
Triton, Captain Burnyeat at Gravesend, in the autumn of the same 
year. 
To a young man naturally fond of botany, and which was then 
becoming a principal branch of the business to which we had been 
brought up, having an ardent desire of seeing foreign countries, and 
ambitious of the honour of being instrumental in the introduction 
of new plants, the offer was most fascinating, and more especially as 
the duty was to be performed under the protection of one of the kindest 
and most generous of masters, and in the company of several officers 
whom we had previously known. 
We received instructions from Sir Joseph Banks written with his 
own hand, as to self-government in the ship, and when on shore ; as to 
the choice and manner of keeping seeds, and treatment of plants on 
board the vessel. Similar and excellent advice I also received from the 
late W. Aiton, Esq. of Kew; and his son, the present W. T. Aiton, Esq. 
(who was present at our last interview), expressed himself envious of 
the station in which we were then placed. Every botanist, whether 
amateur or commercial, made a point of seeing and wishing us 
success ; some of them, escorting us to the hoy which carried us to the 
ship. 
Our situation was in the Captain’s steward’s berth, the best, except 
one, in the ship ; and having nothing to do in the business of working 
the vessel, (except what we chose to do when all hands were called,) 
we were treated and passed our time like a passenger. 
The late worthy Mr. Conrad Loddiges begged of Mr. Slater to be 
allowed to send out four boxes of common hardy plants differently 
prepared and packed as an experiment, to ascertain which best bore 
the vicissitudes of the voyage to Madras. The first were apple, pear, 
plum, and rose trees packed in moss, in a close deal box which w’as not 
to be opened till our arrival in India, and while on the voyage to be 
