• m i PREFACE.
T.-ill be necessary fo p r e v e n t mueh expense in either e s t a b l i s b i n g or c a r r y i n g t h r o u g h t h i s i n s t i t u t i o n.
I f the B o a r d approve of the design, I could lay before t h e m a plan whioh in c a r r y i n g on this
business will secure the Company against much or a n y unnecessary expense,
J . i l .
(JoH>' MACPHERSOX,
Governor-Goiifral.)
Extract from a FHIUC General Letter from the Goiernor-General and Comteil, Culeutta, to the Hon'ble the
Court of Directors,—dated the 21si Augugt 1786, paragraphs 50 to 53.
50. W© forward to you a separate number in this packet, copy of a M i n u t e recorded by the
r . r . s ^ . packet n.d 2Ut Govemor.General, .introducing a letter from L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l Kyd,
August and lUh September 1786.
p r o p o s i n g the establishment of a B o t a n i c a l Garden as a n u r s e r y for
r e a r i n g and p r o p a g a t i n g for public benefit the p r o d u c t i o n s of other countries, as a means of increasing
t h e articles of commerce a n d i m p r o v i n g the c u l t u r e of these Provinces.
W e beg leave to refer y o u to t h e l e t t e r itself f o r a f u l l e r i n f o r m a t i o n of the Colonel's expectations
n n d the grounds u p o n -which he has f o r m e d tlicm. We are impressed w i t h a eonviotion of t h e practicab
i l i t y of b r i n g i n g this plan to m a t u r i t y , -without i n c u r r i n g a n y considerable expense, a n d shall t a k e the
most effectual m e a s u i e s to t h i s end, as soon as a s u i t a b l e place is selected a n d t h e Governor-General shall
h a v e h a d leisure to f m n i s h the p l a n be proposes f o r c a r r y i n g it i n t o esecution.
52. The c u l t i v a t i o n of the cinnamon and pepper seems practicable, and we are s a n g u i n e in our
e x p e c t a t i o n s of g r e a t l y i m p r o v i n g t h e i n d i g o p l a n t , as well as of i n t r o d u c i n g the d a t e a n d sago trees.
T h e s e m a y prove of i n f i n i t e service to this c o u n t r y should it ever experience a f a i l u r e i n t h e crops.
53. The dra-mngs of plants alluded to will be p u t i n t o the letter packet by t h e Banger that
t h e y may t e a c h you in good presei-vation.
iract from a Public General Letter from the Qovenior-Gemral and Council, Calctiita, to the Mon'bk the
Court of Directors,—dated 27th Juhj 1787, paragraphs 114 and 115.
114. The i n t e n d e d establishment
Cons. 2Ut m m-, Bottmcal
GardeB,
(who h a d no other t i t l e t h an
since b e e n i n progress. It is
Cons. 12tb îlnrcb.
•we h a v e made a p p l i c a t i o n to
s u n d r y plants, trees, &c.,
Cons. IStb Miiy.
t h a t it m a y be efíected at a
115. On this subject
Con?. IStbMay,
Por slap JUmmiorik, S'th July
ITS/.
of a B o t a n i c a l Garden was noticed to you last year. A proper
spot of ground having been selected for it by Colonel K y d in t he
v i c i n i t y of Calcutta, and a mode adopted of s a t i s f y i n g the possessors
possession to produce g i v i n g t h e m a right of tenure), the u n d e r t a k i n g has
a t t e n d e d with very l i t t l e expense t o the Company u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t m a n a g e -
m e n t , a n d holds out a flattering prospect of r e a r i n g by care and a t t e n t i on
i n B e n g a l t h e valitahle productions of all p a r t s of India. To this end
y o u r different Presidencies, and t h r o u g h them to more d i s t a n t places for
b y Colonel K y d , and we beg leave to extend t h i s a p p l i c a t i o n to you,
a s we are persuaded f r o m an experiment made by Captain Gumming of
t h e Brittanica, who b r o u g h t a g r e a t v a r i e t y i n good condition to B e n g a l,
v e r y t r i l l i n g expense.
-we beg leave to refer to your p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n a l e t t e r f r om Colonel
K y d , and a list of t h e d i f f e r e n t p l a n t s t h a t he wishes to liave sent out,
which are f o r w a r d e d in a separate number in the pack&t.
Extract frcn a Public General Letter from the Hon'hh the Court of Directors, to the Governor-
General ill Cotmcil, Calcutta,—doted 31si July 1787.
Paragraphs 39, 00 and 5 3 . - W e have received great pleasure fi-om t h e p e r u s a l of L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n el
K v d ' s l e t t e r r e f e r r e d to i n t h e s e p a r a g r a p h s , p r o p o s i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a B o t a n i c a l G a r d e n , a n d give
o i most h e a r t y a p p r o b a t i o n to the i n s t i t u t i o n , as t h e charges thereof aie e s t i m a t e d at n o t more t h an
R s 200 per month. The experiment respecting the cinnamon tree in p a r t i c u l a r must bo made in
d i f f e r e n t p a r t s a n d soils of those extensive Provinces, in order to ascertain with c e r t a i n t y w h e t h e r this
spico can be produced i n B e n g a l equal t o t h a t which grows on t h e i s l a n d of Ceylon. We have likewise
p e r u s e d a f o r m e r letter f r o m L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l Kyd, of tlie 13th April 1786, r e l a t i v e to the sago
t r e e , a n d its efficacy and i m p o r t a n c e i n cases of famine a n d pestilence. We hope you will give this
s u b j e c t all the consideration t h a t i t m a y appear to merit. You must keep us c o n s t a n t l y advised of the
p r o g r e s s t h a t m a y be made in t h e Botanical G a r d e n , and continue t o send us d r a w i n g s of such of its
p r o d u c t i o n s as y o u may d e em w o r t h y of our a t t e n t i o n . We are aware t h a t , by e x t e n d i n g your experim
e u t s too f a r , t h e expense may increase to an amount of w h i c h you may not at p r e s e n t have a n y idea.
T h e establishment t h e r e f o r e must be confined i n t h e m a n n e r p o i n t e d out by Colonel K y d , as m e n t i o n ed
i n the last p a r a g r a p h b u t one of his l e t t e r of tho 1st of J u n e last. But so sensible ore wo of t h e vast
i m p o r t a n c e of t h e objects in view, that it is b y no means our i n t e n t i o n to restrict y o u in point of
expense in t h e pm-suit of i t . In t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of the c i n n a m o n tree in p a r t i c u l a r , we foresee a g r e at
source of wealth t o the Company, and of p o p u l a t i o n and opulence to t h e provinces under your admmi
s t r a t i o n . Most e a r n e s t l y t h e r e f o r e do we recommend i t to y o u to proceed in your endeavour s t o p r o p a g a te
t h i s spice in different places, and that you avail yourselves of the abilities and zeal of L i e u t e n a n t -
Colonel K y d herein, and who, by the a t t e n t i o n he has shown t o a m a t t e r which m a y one d a y prove of
t h e greatest benefit t o his constituents and to his c o u n t r y , s t a n d s most deservedly h i g h in our esteem
a n d favour.
LIEL'TENANT-COLONEL R . KYD'S Will.
THE last will and t e s t a m e n t of Robert K y d , L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l in the E a s t I n d i a Company's
service on the Bengal e s t a b l i s h m e n t , hereby revoking a n d declaring n u l l ' a n d void all f o r m e r wills.
* * ' • • I leave to my f r i e n d s Charles W i l l i a m B o u g h t o n Ecus, J o h n Shore, and W i l l i am
L a r k i n s a r i n g each, value fifty guineas, and entreat t h e i r acceptance of this m e m o r i a l of m y affection,
respect and esteem for their character. The rest cf my f o r t u n e I leave to M a j o r A l e x a n d e r K yd
a f o r e s a i d . * * * * * To my f i i e n d J o h n F l e m i n g , S u r g e o n in the E a s t I n d i a C o m p a n y ' s service,
a r i n g t h r e e t h o u s a n d rupees value, in t e s t i m o n y , of m y r e g a r d f o r his h u m a n e a t t e n t i o n . To m y f r i e nd
H e r b e r t H a r r i s for his k i n d a t t e n t i o n to me d u r i n g m y sickness, a r i n g of one t h o u s a n d rupees value.
T o Doctor H a r e a r i u g of one t h o u s a n d rupees value. To my n a t i v e s e r v a n t , known b y the n a m e of
P a j e m a h l Missab, t h e m o n t h l y sum of eight rupees diu-ing Ins l i f e , in r e t r i b u t i o n for t h e unsuitable
e d u c a t i o n given t o h i m , e n t a i l i n g s e p a r a t i o n f r o m his n a t i v e soil a n d k i n d r e d . To the other native kno-vra
b y the name of George, i n r e p a r a t i o n of the i n j u r y done h i m b y his f o r m e r master, in a l i e n a t i n g him
from his t r i b e (understood E a j p o o t ) , c o n v e r t i n g h i m to C h r i s t i a n i t y , a n d s e c l u d i n g h i m f r o m all f u t u re
connection with his f a m i l y , t h e m o n t h l y sum of six rupees d u r i n g his l i f e ; t o both on condition of
t h e i r c o n t i n u i n g to serve M a j o r Alexander Kyd during his residence in I n d i a . To all m y other
s e r v a n t s one m o n t h ' s pay on my decease. To E a j a Kishore P o y , the t a l u k d a r of Sibpur, a ring
v a l u e fifty rupees. I fui-ther leave to my niece, Miss Eachael L i n d s a y , now Mrs. Dickson, the
s um of five b u n d l e d pounds. To the two oi-phans at my gardens, k n o w n by t h e names of Boonchey
a n d Chooneah, I desire fifty lupeefs be given t o each. The r e m a i n i n g part of m y f o r t u n e , I say t he
r e m a i n d e r of m y f o r t u n e , i n c l u d i n g m y house, g a r d e n at Sibpur, and all monies or efiecta of mine
whatever in E u r o p e and here, I leave to the aforesaid M a j o r A l e x a n d e r K y d , and appoint him,
C h a r l e s W i l l i am B o u g h t o n Eous, J o h n Shore, W i l l i a m L a r k i n s , and H e n r y Wilsone and Company
(my present auting a t t o r n e y s in C a l c u t t a ) executors of this m y last will and t e s t a m e n t , which I beg
a n d entreat of t h e m to cause to be executed. It is m y f u r t h e r desii-e t h a t I may be b u r i e d in my