226 JOURNAL AND LETTERS OF DAVID DOUGLAS. " It is uncertain where I may touch in my passage out, or, indeed, if at all on the Brazilian coast. I believe it is pretty certain we shall spend a month on the Sandwich Islands, where something- may, I trust, be done, both in Botany and Zoology. " I regret to hear that you are not likely to be in England this autumn; for to Scotland I cannot go, which obliges me, most reluct- antly, to sail without seeing you. In a few days I shall write to you my, for the present, last letter. I had almost forgotten to say, that I have put the last impression on your map through my hands. It is very fine, and will surely please you. The route of Franklin, Richard- son, and Drummond is marked in RED, Parry's in BLUE, and mine in YELLOW. I must have the latter tint changed to green, for. yel- low is a most sickly hue for a culler of weeds." LONDON, Oct. 27, 1829. "I received, indue course, the letter you were so kind as to ad- dress me at Greenwich, and am delighted to know that Dr. Mertens has promised to send you part of his plants, which must be a great ac- quisition. I cannot tell you how pleased I am to have seen the first Part of your Flora Boreali- Americana before sailing, and that I am enabled to take it with me to America. The map is good and will in- crease the interest of the book; had it been printed on thinner paper, I think, however, it would have been still better. The plates are truly beautiful; but I see you have not given a figure of Pceonia (P. Brownii}. The type is also good, and the notices and habitats full a point of great importance. I have been, and still am, deeply engaged, and will continue so, if I have another season to remain here, for I have much to learn, to do, and to think, as to my anticipated journey. I know it will give you satisfaction to hear that every facility in the way of instruments for such an expedition has been granted me in the handsomest manner by the Colonial Office. And further still, Mr. Hay, the Under Secretary, sent to enquire if any thing had been for- gotten, and begged me to say unhesitatingly if this were the case. The same Office also pays the principal part of my expenses, and will give me a compensation for my charts, and for the information I may bring home on my return. This is all as it ought to be I mean the latter part of the agreement ; if I had a good salary, I might fold my hands and become lazy, therefore I can feel no objection to being paid according to my labour. I hope, ere the whole of the Flora is printed, to be able to supply you with many and striking novelties. I am sen- sible of the great advantage I derive from my former experience of travelling in the country, of hunting, collecting, etc.; and certainly if I find the Indian tribes as quiet as when I left them, much good may be effected. Of this, however, I feel considerably afraid, in conse- quence of the destruction of the Hudson's Bay Company's Ship's crew, and the murder of some parties of Americans, by which I am warned
