Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 4.djvu/439

Rh died at Kew on the 10th of January of the present year, having nearly completed his 81st year. His name appears among the original members of the Linnean Society, and for nearly fifty years he was one of its Vice-Presidents. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1791, and consequently had belonged to it for more than half a century. He was an eminent botanist, and formed a very extensive herbarium, and was at all times anxious to give in- formation to those attached to the same pursuit. He was the author of many papers in the Linnean Transactions, but his most consider- able works were two separate publications. One on the genus Cin- chona was given to the world in 1 797. The other was a description of the genus Pinus, — a truly magnificent work, which originally came before the public in two vols, folio in the year 1803, to which a third vol. was added in 1 834.

He married Catherine, daughter of Richard Bowater, Esq., whom he survived some years, and by whom he left no family. He did not furnish any papers to the Transactions of the Royal Society.

Sir Alexander Burnes is undoubtedly one of those whose death will be most lamented by a country that was proud of his eminent qualities, and grateful for his zealous services.

The name of Burnes was already distinguished in the northern portion of our island. It has received a new lustre from one well worthy of his descent from the same family as Scotland's celebrated poet. Sir Alexander was born at Montrose on the 16th of May, 1805. The same town had the honour of his education. He en- tered on his career of active service as a cadet of the Bombay army in the year 1821. At the early age of twenty he was appointed Persian interpreter to a force of 8000 men assembled under Colonel Napier for the invasion of Sinde. The following year he was ap- pointed Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-Master-General.

He received, in 1827? the thanks of Government for an elaborate statistical report ; and the following year, the Government showed itself equally satisfied with a valuable memoir of the eastern mouth of the Indus. This was succeeded by a valuable supplement.

In 1828, Lieut. Burnes applied for permission to visit the country between the Indus and Marwar ; but though this plan was approved of by Sir John Malcolm and Sir Henry Pottinger, its execution was delayed. Burnes was appointed the same year Assistant-Quarter- Master-General, and received orders from the Court of Directors to complete a map of Cutch already commenced by him. Shortly after, he was appointed assistant to the political agent in Cutch, and published in the Transactions of the Royal Geographical Society an account of his survey of that country.

In 1830, he was sent with a present of horses from the King of England to Runjeet Singh. He visited Hydrabad, Lahore, Soo- diana, and proceeded to Simla to receive further instructions from Lord W. Bentinck.

After travelling into Central Asia, he revisited Bombay in 1833 ; thence he received orders to return home with his own despatches,