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to them, which they most assuredly will not do. The determination of the Supracargoes is said to be taken, and it is given out to be, a suspension of all British trade, until they receive instructions from India or England-the cotton-ships are to be sent to Europe forthwith, according to report-but I cannot believe this, nor will I, until I know that they have actually sailed.

A reference to Pekin is talked of, and ships are to be sent off to the Yellow river immediately-but how are they to get there against an adverse monsoon, and during stormy winter months-against the gales and cold that they will have to encounter in the high latitude into which they will be compelled to go?

One of the complaints against the Chinese is, that they occasionally take away our servants; and the Committee say, that if they were to suffer the Mandarins to punish Ayen on the ground of improper communication with them, they would be constantly arresting servants on the slightest pretext, and that very soon there would be no carrying on the Company's

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or any other business, from the want of them.-This, however, is altogether, foreign to reason, as Ayen was not a servant, but if any thing, a spy.-He is said to have confessed his intimacy with the English, and that he has, during the several controversies between the Committée and Mandarins, invariably advised the former to be bold in their demands, and not to fear the latter, as the trade and duties were great objects with them, and such as they would not relinquish on any account that they had only to be firm, and they were sure of carrying their point in all cases.

Sir George will probably get to Macao the day after to-morrow; and I cannot but believe that the Committee, when they come to think seriously and together, will resolve on renewing their tradewhether they do or not, however, the propriety of their conduct will remain a question, and the right of aliens to interfere, and even oppose the progress of justice and administration of laws of the country in which they temporarily reside, must be fully discussed.

For the Asiatic Journal.

BRITISH INDIAN BIOGRAPHY.

(No.. I.)

WILLIAM ROXBURGH, M. D.

William Roxburgh, Doctor of Physic, Fellow of the Royal and Linnæan Societies, and late chief botanist to the Honourable EastIndia Company, was born at Ayr, in the county of Ayr, North Britain, the 3d of June 1751. His parents were engaged in agricultural pursuits, which probably gave the first impulse to the inquisitive mind of their eldest son, in his early attention to the productions of nature. Manifesting a decided partiality for botanical research, and connecting with it a turn for chemistry and pharmacy, he was

sent at an early age to the University of Edinburgh, where he pursued his studies with such uncommon success, as to attract the particular notice of the late Dr. Hope, then professor of botany. The University of Edinburgh possesses this advantage to medical students, that the professors make a point of conferring with their several pupils, and ascertaining their several dispositions and bent of mind. Young Roxburgh, in his occasional musings through the walk of the botanic garden, attracted the especial attention of his professor; and to

this circumstance it was chiefly owing, that, at his own desire, an appointment was procured for him, as assistant surgeon on the Honourable East-India Company's Madras Establishment, with a view to his prosecuting the unbounded and hitherto unexplored field of oriental botany,

juvat intactos accedere fontes Atque haurire, juvatque novos decerpere flores.

After a few years devoted to the duties of his profession, as surgeon to a regiment, the value of his occasional researches in his predominant study was felt by the government of Fort St. George, and a botanic garden was instituted at Samulcottah, under the immediate superintendence of Mr. Roxburgh, as botanist. In the formation of this interesting establishment, he was assisted by the celebrated Koenig, who, dying shortly after, left the whole of his valuable manuscripts, his Hortus Siccus, and other rare collections, to his pupil, who had already well deserved them by his extraordinary zeal, indefatigable ardour, and the remark able discrimination of his judgment. It was during his stay at this garden, that Mr. Roxburgh arranged his intended publication of "Coromandel Plants," formed during his residence on the coast; and, here, his high reputation being duly appreciated by the Court of Directors at home, he was transferred to the superintendence of the Calcutta Botanic Garden, with the appointment of Chief Botanist to the Honourable Company, which was announced to him in a most flattering letter, fixing him in the charge of that department, with a very munificent allowance.

In token of respect to his liberal patrons, Dr. Roxburgh, who had recently been honoured with a diploma of M.D. from his alma mater, laid his collection of manuscripts for the "Coromandel Plants" before the Court, who were pleased to consult that great naturalist, Sir Joseph Banks, under whose advice and direction the work was published. The limits of this memoir do not allow of our entering into a detail of the merits of this great undertaking, it being no less than a description and classification, according to the Linnæan system, of all the most curious productions of the vegetable kingdom discovered during a residence of many years on the coast of Coromandel-suffice it to observe that its publication, to use the words of Sir Joseph Banks," stamped the author's character, as among the first of botanists since the days of Linnæus." Soon after this, Dr. Roxburgh was elected a Fellow of the Royal and Linnæan Societies, through the introduction of Sir Joseph, and Dr. Smith, president of the Linnæan Society.

In 1805, he returned to England, for the benefit of his health, which had been greatly impaired by constant study, and by long pedestrian wanderings under a hot sun, in search of curious and useful plants. On more than one occasion he was known to have wandered forty miles in a morning, over the immense mountains at the Cape of Good Hope; at another time, while being conveyed in his palanquin between Calcutta and Madras, in the midst of one of the extensive forests that overhang each side of the road, he suddenly leaped from it, to the utter asto

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nishment of the bearers, ran to the spot where he had marked a particular plant for which he had long searched in vain, and bore it back in triumph; like the ancient philosopher, who, having, after much investigation, hit upon an important discovery, exclaimed in the enthusiasm of the moment, sugnxa, ευρήκα, "I have found it! I have found it!"

To those who contemplate the operations of mind, and feel an interest in tracing its phenomena, as developed in the peaceful pursuits of science, these anecdotes will not appear futile. The day is at length arrived, when nations, instead of applauding only the feats of arms, can listen to the still small voice of philosophy, which teaches men all that is useful, all that is worthy of acquisition in civilized life.

Dr. Roxburgh was one of those botanists who consulted more the useful than the curious in botanical knowledge. He was impressed with a lively sense of its importance to the healing art, and its subservience to the grand objects of pharmacy and chemical analysis. Probably his views in this particular were formed by observation of the accurate knowledge of simples displayed in various cures by the native physicians, and their successful treatment; but his own capacious and enlightened mind contemplated a new field in sanative philosophy, and was filled with unbounded rapture in discovering a world hitherto unexplored by naturalists, and promising the most beneficial ends to medical science. His discovery of the Swietiana Febrifuga, or anti-febrile bark, attracted the favourable notice of the

Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, in London, who elected him an honorary corresponding member of their society, and his several communications upon the subjects of indigo, hemp, and other valuable products of the East, repeatedly procured for him the gold medal voted at their annual meetings.

In May 1814, Dr. Roxburgh returned a second and last time to England. Although in a dying state, his natural energy did not forsake him; but he was proceed. ing in a new and most important work, to be termed "the Flora Indica," after the manner of Sir James Smith's "Flora Græca,” being a record of all the plants reared in the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, as well as of such as had been discovered during his residence in India, in addition to the Coromandel plants. The hand of death arrested his progress in the 64th year of his age, and deprived the world of a most scientific and zea, lous man, who would have adorned even the chair of Linnæus, and have added new lights, had he lived, to European learning.

We have dwelt thus much upon the merits of this eminent botanist, not with a view to blazon forth the deeds of one who sought philosophy in retirement, but to render his attainments familiar to the reader, Dr. Roxburgh was a man of clear, distinguishing, powerful intellect, born with an uncommon portion of native good sense, which he improved by study and profound reflection. His mind was of the purest scientific cast, and his loss will be lamented by all those who feel the value of great abilities devoted to useful purposes,

A DESCRIPTION OF THE TURRYANI OF NEPAUL.*

From Kirkpatrick's Account of Nepaul.

Hettowra, though standing very little below the level of Cheeriaghatitop, is nevertheless comprehended in the Turry or Turryani of Nepaul, as indeed is the whole of the coun

try situated to the southward of Chusapany, and of the irregular cluster of mountains stretching from thence to the east and west, in a nearly parallel elevation. Turryani properly signifies low or marshy lands, and is sometimes applied to the flats lying below the hills in the interior parts of Nepaul, as well as to the low tract bordering immediately on the Company's northern frontier. The Turryani of Nepaul, confined between the Gunduck and

Teesta, is divided into soubahs or governments; that under Zorawar Sing, which stretches from the former of these rivers easterly to the Kousi, and which may be distinguished by the appellation of the Western Turrye or Turryani, consists of five zillahs, or districts, subdivided into twenty-seven pergunnahs. These zillahs are,

1. Subtuni, bounded to the eastward by the Kousi.

2. Mohtuni, west of Subtuni. 3. Rhohututt, or Rohtat, in which Huttioul is included; it is situated to the westward of Muhtuni.

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Goorkhalis, but the Turrye still be. longs to Hurry Kumar Seen, the ancient or former rightful Rajah of Tannohi.

Extensive as this government is, the Rajah of Nepaul does not draw any considerable revenue from it ; this is partly owing to the numerous jaghire and brhemoter lands comprehended in it; but more particularly, perhaps, to the low state of its population, and to mismanagement. It is pretended that the Zemindars of Turrye hold their lands on very easy terms under the present government, which is content to divide the produce of the soil equally with them. It is acknowledged, however, at the same time, that the Buttye is, in most cases, no more than a nominal settlement, as, besides the formal or established cess, the Zemindar or cultivator is

obliged to pay occasionally, other form of fines, douceurs, and the like. irregular and arbitrary taxes in the

For lands recently brought into cultivation, the cultivator pays to government eight ann as per biggah, the first year, and subsequently, whatever kind of grain he raises in it, three rupees the biggah.

The most that Zorawar (the governor of West Turrye) remits to Khatmanda annually is two lacks of rupees; though his net receipts, after discharging all expenses of collection, are supposed by some intelligent persons to amount to double this sum; but whatever the surplus may be, he does not enjoy it exclusively, being obliged to di

vide his profits with the official men at Khatmanda, who would not appear to be a whit less corrupt than their brethren of Hindostan. East Turrye, though it is on the whole a more fertile, or rather more populous, district, does not yield a net revenue of more than from one lack and a quarter to one lack and a half of rupees. It contains, however, more jaghire and brhemoter lands than the other. The Moruny, which is comprehended in the East Turrye (and of which it is indeed the most valuable part) is divided into two soubahs or governments by the Arun, which runs through the middle of it; this river, though it yields its name to the Kousi at Bundharia Ghaut, is, nevertheless, a much more considerable stream than the latter, rising beyond Himma-leh, and winding in a singular manner through a great portion of Tibet, before it descends into the Turryani.

If I might venture to form a judgment from the superficial view I had of West Turrye, I should be inclined to pronounce that it is capable of being rendered highly productive to the Nepaul government; its extensive forests alone contain an almost inexhaustible source of riches, since they might be made to supply with valuable timber, not only the countries washed by the Ganges, but even our other settlements in India. The pines of the Bechiacori, and the Saul-trees, both of that and the Jhurjoory forest, are not perhaps surpassed in any other part of the world, either for straightness or dimensions, or probably for strength or durability.*

* I had two cut down and floated from

Segouly to Calcutta, by way of sample; one of these spars measured 76, the other 73 feet. Mr. Gillet the shipwright has

The Bechiacori pines, nevertheless, seem to have never had an axe applied to them, though they grow in prodigious numbers, are very superior to what we generally met with in Nepaul proper, and, considering the vicinity of the Boora-Gunduck, might be conveyed to us both with little trouble, and at little expense, compared to the channel by which we are at present supplied with this useful article, and the cost at which it is procured. Besides timber for masts and yards, we could draw from hence whatever supplies of pitch, tar, and turpentine we required. Kota, or pure turpentine of the Sulla pine, may be procured, I believe, even in Nepaul, at the rate of ten seers per rupee, and a tree will yield, I have been told, for eight or ten years together, about three maunds annually. Neither the tar of America, nor the pine spars from thence, would appear to be in much estimation in India; though, for want of better, I suppose, we take off, it is said, from the American traders considerable quantities of both at high prices.

It is true that the nearest part of the Boora-Gunduck is not less than thirty miles from the course of the Bechiacori nulla; but when we advert to the great number of streams which intersect the intermediate country, some of them springing even from the forest itself, the level of the country from Cheeriaghati southerly, so favourable (on account of its gentle declivity) to the opening of a communication be

pronounced of them that they promise to prove both strong and lasting, and means to give them a trial in a ship which he is about to launch. They had felled a couple of immense dimensions in girth as well as length, but were afterwards unable to move them. Those examined by Mr. Gillet will work about a foot in diameter.

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