P R E F A C E .
found in a stale fît for a clisLmct or scparale pubHcalion ; buc ihey have aiforcled assistance lo the prescnl:
work, in wliich his botanical remarks wi l l occasionally be inserted/'
Koeniff had maintainetl a correspondence with Linnoens, as well as with other eminent Botanists in
Europe, and several of his communications from India liave been published in the Transactions of the
Societies oC Copenhagen and Berlin, or inserted in the works of Retzins, and otlier authors. A list of
snch publications + was supplied by Mr . Dryander , whose aid has also been of material service in the
correction of descriptions, and in settling synonyma.
A few months after Koenig's death, Dr . Russell was nominated his successor ; and allotted to Botany
whatever time he coidd spare from the investigation of Snakes and Fishes, in whi ch he had been engaged
from the time of hi.s arrival in India.
Considering it however as a public loss, i f the design of Koenig should be entirely relinquished ; and
conceiving that many descriptions and remarks would be found among Jiis papers, while drawings from
the living plants might be made in India, Dr . Russell resolved to attempt a work limited to the useful
plants of Coromandel ; whi ch, though perhaps less generally interesting to the Botanists in Europe, he
was inclined to think might prove of real service to India.
Hi s plan was first communicated to the Go\'ernor of Madras, but afterwards explained more ful ly in
a memorial addressed to the Medical Board ; and meeting \vith the unanimous approbation of both, it
was transmilled to tlie Honourable Coint of Directors.
In the interim, circular letters, with a list of the plants proposed for the first publication, was sent
l)y the Medical Board to the subordinate settlements, rec^nesting it might be favoured wi th any information
respecting die subjects in question, whi ch the medical gentlemen might have it in their power
lo communicate; and in consequence several useful communications -were received.
In the memorial to the Medical Board, Dr . Russell had mentioned his hope that Sir J o s e ph Banks , i f
his advice were rec[uested, might probably point out the best mode of carrying the plan into execution,
and having before, in correspondence, hiîited to him the design, then only in contemplation, he thought
it now proper to transmit for liis inspection, the explanatory detail contained in the memorial to the
Medical Board.
Th e solicitation of priA'ate friendsliip \vas not requisite to induce Sir Jos eph Banks to interest himself
in a proposal which he considered as calculated for public utility : he not only, when applied to by the
Court of Directors, expressed his approbation, but suggested some alLcrations in the original plan.
Thus corrected, the plan was returned to India, accompanied with a paragraph in the general letter
to the Board of Madras, expressive of " the readiness, at all times, oi the Court of Directors to promote
" the improvement of Natural History, and of their approbation of Dr . Russell's proposal for publ i shing
" a select collection of ttseful Indian plant s ; but desired that tlie alteration suggested by Sir Jos eph
" Banks, should be attetlded t o . "
Before the arrival of the above letter at Madra.!, Dr . Russell had left India. The directions it contained,
however, fell fortunately into hands well qualified for carrying them into execution.
Dr . Roxburgh of Samulcottah, who had lived much with Koenig, and, when disengaged from the
duties of his station, had pursued his favourite study, succeeded to the botanical department. He had
made large collections of plant.! in the Ca rna t i c , and, for .several years previously to bis appointment,
' List ot Koenig's manuscripts
t See (lie eiul of the Preface.
ived by Sirjoseph Banks, will be fotincl a mi of the Pretiic
P R E F A C E .
had retained a painter constantly employed in drawing plants, which ho accurately described, and
added such remarks on their uses as he had learned from experience, or collected from the natives.
Of these drawings and descriptions, whi ch he devoted to the Honourable Court of Directors, tlie
first parcel was received in 1791; others followed in succe.ssion; and the last parcel, whicji completed
the jtumber of five hundred, arrived in 1794. It is from tiiese that the present .Selection bas been made;
but many more drawings remain in India, ready to be sent home by the first opportunity.
Dr . Roxburgh' s industry has also for some years been employed in dje coltivation of pepper and
indigo, in one of the Northern Ci r c a r s ; and, besides a letter on the cpialities of the Stvieteuia Bark,
published by order of tire Directors, he has communicated other discoveries, to be found in the Philosophical
Transactions, the Indian Repertory, aitd the .-isiatic Researches. Sncji commendable zeal in
the service lias not passed unnoticed by the Court of Directors, which has lately honoured him with a
handsome present of botanical books, as well as vyith other marks of .appi obation.
On the 'tth of J u l y , 1794, after the last parcel of drawings was delivered to him, S i r j o s e p h Banks,
in coinplii 05ce vvith his former promise to the Court of Directors, presented a plan, and an estimate
of the expence of the proposed publication, accompanied with specimens of the engravings. He was
plea.!ed to add, " For my part, I am most ready to undertake the general overlooking of the work, to
" set the engravers their tasks, and lo see that they are executed with accuracy: Dr . Russell (Dr . Rox-
" burgh' s predecessor) will I am sure readily assist in correcting the press of the descr ipt ions . " He at
tlie same time recommended as the pttblisher, Mr. Nicol, his Majesty's bookseller, who iiad formerly
assisted him in the publication of Captain Cook' s Voyage.
An anssyer from the Court of Directors to this letter was returned on the t tth of the same month, in
whi ch they gave their assent to the execution of the work, exaedy in the way thatSir J o s e ph had pointed
out ; and, in very pohte tenns, expressed a sense of obligation for the assistance, with such liberality
offered, of superintending the publication.
The writer of this Prelice willingly undertook the part allotted him, in the absence of his friend
Dr . Roxburgh, on whom the task should na tma l ly have devolved; but the Doctor is still labouring in
Indi a ; and, having lately been appointed Inspector of the Botanical Garden at Calcutta, may possibly
be induced to protract his stay in that country longer titan he some time ago intended.
TIte foregoing narrative of the origin and progress of the present work, it is presumed, will not be
deemed nnpertmeut. It pays a small tribute to the memory of Koenig, to whom Indian Botany stands
so highly indebted ; it shows the disposition of the Honourable Court of Directors to promote science in
Indi a ; and produces an example for the encouragement of the Company' s servants abroad, to dedicate
then- leisure hours to useful research, as a means of recommendation to the notice of their superiors, as
well as ol obtaining a well earned reputation in their native country.
PAT. RUS S E L L .