in a state of soundness never before witnessed. He had also commenced that most valuable work, entitled "Descriptions and drawings of Coromandel Plants;" when an invitation arrived from the government of Bengal, to take charge of the botanical garden lately established there.

On his arrival at Calcutta, he found a number of intelligent men, professing principles and opinions like himself; and anxious above all things, to contribute to the reputation of the Linnæan school. He soon formed an intimacy with, and became the particular friend and associate of Koenig *, a celebrated German botanist, whose reputation and abilities had obtained for him a kind, and even munificent reception in the east. Warren Hastings was at this period governorgeneral; and although his misconduct in that high office, afterwards produced a parliamentary impeachment in England; yet he must be allowed to have emulated Lorenzo de Medicis in a taste for letters, and the generous patronage of men of science. Under his auspices, the Asiatic Society was founded in Bengal, and Sir William Jones, a name still dear to England, became the first president.

Dr. Roxburgh, who was also one of the original members, soon became a contributor; and his description and figures of the lacca insect (Chermes Lacca Lin.) written and communicated in 1789 and 1790 excited much attention, as not only connected with the progress of natural history; but with manufactures and commerce also. He then first hinted, merely as a conjecture, that the colouring matter, whence this insect derives all its value in commerce, might be separated from it when the tint is

* This celebrated botanist (Dr. Koenig), who appears to have died in 1785, was a man of distinguished talents. Sir William Jones, in a letter to Dr. Patrick Russel, dated September 8th of that year, expresses himself thus: "Dr. Koenig's loss will be severely felt, he was a valuable man, with as much simplicity as Nature herself, whose works he studied. Do you know when his books are to be disposed of? I should like to purchase his "Linnæus." Life of Sir W. Jones, 4th Ed. p. 264.

In another passage, he congratulates his correspondent on the completion of his two works; "but I exhort you," added he "to publish them. Think how much fame Koenig lost by delaying his publications. God knows, whether any use honourable to his memory, will be made of his manuscripts." 1786.

brightest; or, in other words, while the animal is still alive, or at least recent. This idea was afterwards followed up, and the liquid in question, at the present day, forms a valuable branch of export from Calcutta to London, under the name of lacc-lake. It is chiefly employed as the substitute of cochineal for the dyeing of scarlet.

It appears that Dr. Roxburgh returned to Europe in 1797, and it was most likely at this period that he married his first wife, by whom he had several children; and also obtained his degree. During his occasional residence in London, he became acquainted with the late Mr. Moore, secretary to the society for the promotion of arts, manufactures, and commerce. On his return to Bengal, in October 1799, he commenced a most interesting correspondence with that gentleman, which, in the course of its progress, obtained for him not only the thanks, but repeated proofs of the gratitude and munificence of this most useful association of liberal, enlightened, and patriotic men.

His first letter, was at that precise period, peculiarly important, as some of the northern nations had been intimidated to such a degree, as to hesitate about supplying our arsenals with naval stores. In short, Bonaparte had formed a new armed neutrality, similar to that which, during the American war, was created by the jealousy of Catherine II. and her allies; the nominal object of which was, the freedom of the seas, while the true and real one was the reduction of the power of Great Britain on the ocean. From this moment the fleets and commerce of England became, in a great measure, dependent on other nations; and to obviate so great an evil, it was necessary to ascertain. how far our wants could be supplied, by recurring to the indigenous productions of our colonies and settlements abroad. *

Accordingly, Dr. Roxburgh on the resumption of his charge at Calcutta, with all the above objects in his view, immediately

It appears by a letter from the Marquis Wellesley, while Governor-General of Bengal, that European hemp had encreased in price since 1792, from 231. 10s. to 611. per ton; and that the annual supply of Great Britain might be estimated at from 25 to 30,000 tons.

transmitted a variety of interesting communications, relative to the culture, properties, and comparative strength of hemp and other vegetable fibres, the growth of the East Indies.

"I was rather surprised on my return to Bengal," he observes," to find the Directors had sent out a person, (Mr. Sinclair,) to establish the cultivation of hemp, a thing I had begun sometime before. Even on the coast of Coromandel, ten or twelve years ago, I had made a most important trial, the success of which was laid before that government, to be sent to the Honourable Court of Directors: and again in Bengal, since my appointment to the station I now hold. Mr. Sinclair is dead, and the experiment is still carried on in a most expensive manner; whereas it could be continued where it was first begun, in the Botanic Garden, at no expence, and with more prospect of success." He then proceeds to state, that 80 pounds weight only had been procured in the way just alluded to, and that at the enormous charge of from 10,000 to 20,000 rupees! Instead of these costly experiments, which contribute to check improvements of all kinds, he recommends small premiums to be offered to the natives, accompanied by honorary rewards to such Europeans as may be inclined to cuitivate this valuable article, after an example had been once set on a small and economical scale.

"Another object of more national importance, which I recommended to this government, before I went to the Cape, was the growth of one of the most noble of the Palms, the Arrow, mentioned in Marsden's History of Sumatra, p. 77, and said to yield at an early age, (from five to seven years), fibres ready prepared by nature, being flexible, strong, and at the same time the most durable, and the most convenient for cables, and cordage of all kinds, that can be desired. It also yields great abundance of palm wine, which may be converted into sugar, or ardent spirits; and when the tree is old, its pith is the basis of the Sago we so much value. I have distributed many hundred plants (about 100,000 have been reared in the Botanic Garden, since the date of this letter), besides many thousand seeds in the ground. Drawings and

a description of this most valuable tree, were sent to the directors, under the name of Sanguerus Rumphii."

In the next communication, dated "Calcutta, February 27, 1801," the doctor recommends the Sun of the Hindoos, which is the prepared fibres of the bark of a well known Indian plant, the Crotalaria Juncia of Linnæus, as the most promising substitute for Russian hemp. He compares cordage" to the sinews and muscles of a ship," in a paper of observations subjoined; and descants on the immense service of the best kinds of hemp, or best substitutes in lieu of it, to the mariner, as well as its advantages to the commerce, and defence of the nation. It appears also, from the same letter, that the idea of tanning nets and ropes, is as familiar to the fishermen of Asia, as to those of Europe; and he here carefully exhibits the result of a variety of comparative estimates of the strength

1. Of English hemp;

2. Of Canabis;

3. Of Coir, or the fibres of the husk of the cocoa nut; 4. Of Ejoo, Sanguerus Rumphii, &c. &c.

He finds that by simply stretching the native hemp, much additional strength is obtained.

In 1805, Dr. Roxburgh was gratified with the gold medal of the Society for the Promotion of Arts, &c. on account of his valuable communications, relative to East India productions. In June 1804, he had transmitted to their house in the Adelphi, a quantity of the dry, full-grown legumes, of Mimosa Arabica, (See Coromandel Plants, Vol. II. No. 149.) as a substitute for Aleppo galls. Upon the leaves of the tree which produces the yellow Myrobolans, he found an insect replete with a bright yellow juice, which stains paper of a very deep, and rich yellow colour. If these could be collected in sufficient quantities, he was inclined to think "that they might prove as valuable a yellow dye, as the cochineal is a red.” He also recommends to the notice of the Society,

1. Certain resins, commonly called Dammer, which when boiled up with oil, are used instead of pitch in the marine yards of India

2. A drying oil, extracted by incision, from the Oleoxylon Balsamifera, which grows abundantly in Chittagong, and is used chiefly in painting;

3. Vegetable substances, containing the tanning and astringent principles.

4. About 20 new substitutes for flax and hemp;

5. The coarse silks spun by the wild Tussah, and domesticated Berinda worm, the latter of which is as soft as shawl wool, and incredibly durable;

And 6thly. The very fine, delicate, silky wool, the produce of the two trees Bombax Pentandria, and Heptaphylla, which might answer for hats at least.

Immediately after this period, Dr. R. left Bengal, and on his arrival in England, made choice, during some time, of the village of Chelsea, for his residence. In 1805-6, we find him communicating another paper to the Society of Arts, on the culture, properties, &c. of hemp; a subject become still more important than ever, in consequence of the uncertainty of our political and commercial relations with Russia. After visiting his native country, and endeavouring to obtain some relief for an exhausted constitution, he returned once more to Bengal. In 1807, we find him renewing his correspondence with the Society of Arts, through the medium of Dr. Taylor, the new secretary, relative to the extract of the Gaub, or Tannin, prepared from the fruit of the Diospyros-Glutinosus. He also transmitted a specimen of the plant called Colosee, by the Malays.

In the course of the next year, he communicated many valuable observations relative to the resin of the Valeria Indica, which exhibits all the electrical power of amber; and also about his fever powder, the Swietenia Febrifuga; the Caducay galls; the orange dyeing drug, called Wassuntaganda, &c. together with directions" for growing plants at sea.”

The transactions of 1810, contain an account of a new species of Nerium Indigo, together with the mode of manufacturing it. In 1812, the doctor favored the Society with observations on the growth of the Teak tree; and in 1813,