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[Page 16]
and ingenuity compelled from it his Flora Zeylanica.
The Heer van Rheede in the 12 folios of the Hortus Malabaricus has given perhaps the strongest Proofs of Learning Industry and Generosity that has any where appeared. He was Governor of Malabar, and afterwards chief intendant of all the Dutch Settlements in India. Amidst all the Duties of these high Civil Employments, which he discharg'd with fidelity and honour, he collected, designed, painted and described whatever was remarkable or useful, in the natural productions of the Countries over which he presided. The Work which he accomplished, in an inestimable Treasure in Botany, and its execution the most superb and expensive that has ever appeared, worthy at once of the greatest Scholar, and the most Magnificent Prince. The Indies never knew such a Mæcenas, either before or since. He had no Example in any Governor of the Indies before him, and which is more to be regretted, has never been equally nor as much as imitated by any after him.
Rumpius the Dutch Consul at Amboina, was employed in describing the Plants of the Moluccas, at the same time that Van Rheede was discovering those of Malabar. His Collections had remained in the India House at Amsterdam above thirty years, when they began to be published An.1741 by Burbannus the present Professor of Botany at that Place. Since that time six folios of the Herbarium Amboinese have appeared containing the History and Figures of above 1000 Species, almost all of them Trees, and above two thirds of them unknown to all former Botanists, which has greatly enlarged our knowledge of the Indian Plants.
From the labours of these three Dutch Botanists are derived all the accurate Accounts we have of the Plants of India. The Portuguese, the