Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 7.djvu/303

 performing experiments, gave him great practical advantages; and these qualities were combined with patience and accuracy in observation, and fidelity in recording what he saw, apart from what he thought. He had a nervous temperament, which was, as usual, associated with mental activity, and in Mr. Newport this was rendered effective by immoveable stedfastness of purpose and untiring power of sustained application.

Most faithful as an observer of nature, Mr. Newport was no less upright as a man. He was deservedly loved by those who knew him best, was most kind towards all who did him justice, and full of gratitude to those who had aided him in his early struggles.  By the death of this Society has lost a highly distinguished Fellow and Vice-President, and the science of Botany one of its most zealous cultivators and ardent promoters.

Dr. Nathaniel Wallich was born at Copenhagen, on the 28th January 1786. He was educated for the medical profession and studied Botany under Vatel the eminent professor, at that time in the University of Copenhagen. In 1807 he entered the service of the Danish East India Company, and was stationed at Serampore. There his love of botany attracted the attention of Dr. Roxburgh, the superintendent of the Botanic Garden at Calcutta. After the seizure of Serampore by the British, Dr. Wallich was placed on the staff of assistant surgeons in the Bengal army, and his services secured for the Botanic Garden, to the temporary charge of which he was nominated in 1815, and finally confirmed in the appointment shortly afterwards. Before he had been four years in India, Dr. Wallich's ardour in the pursuit of his favourite science led to the first of a series of attacks of fever that gradually undermined his constitution, and in 1812 he repaired to the Mauritius for the renovation of his health. There he diligently explored the botany of the island, and contributed immense collections of live plants to Calcutta, thus early proving his ability to employ to the best interests of science the munificent allowances which were shortly afterwards placed at his disposal. At the head of the noblest botanical gardens in the world, supplied with a large staff of collectors and artists, and with provision for travelling expenses on a most liberal scale, Dr. Wallich applied himself with indomitable zeal and 