IOR/P/11/55 4 May 1826 Nos 58-63

Details of sections:

The item consists of six sections, nos 58-63 of IOR/P/11/55 4 May 1826:

• No 58 [25 Apr 1826]
• No 59 [21 Mar 1823 to 8 Oct 1835]
• No 60 [4 May 1826]
• No 61 [3 May 1826]
• No 62 [27 Apr 1826]
• No 63 [10 Mar 1826]

People:

In addition to Nathaniel Wallich himself, the following individuals feature in or are referred to in the correspondence:

• J. Hare M.D., Apothecary to Company
• J. Adam, Secretary to the Medical Board
• C. Lushington, Chief Secretary to the Government General Department
• Mr Royle, Superintendent at Saharunpore Garden
• William Roxburgh, former Superintendent at Calcutta Botanic Garden
• Lord Bishop of Calcutta [Reginald Heber]
• Governor General [Lord Amherst]
• Civil Auditor
• Sub Treasurer

General Themes:

Medical Gardens

• The key theme throughout much of the correspondence is the proposed establishment of a Medical Garden at Calcutta.
• In addition to this, there is the suggestion of other, possibly subordinate Medical/Medicinal Gardens throughout India, for example at Saharunpore.
• These could produce plants and medicines both for the Company’s dispensary and medical depot, there being problems with imported plants or those bought from the Bazaar.
• Practical issues include the granting of land for the development of the Medical Garden along with the required labourers, and
• establishing whether the Medical Board has a specific list of plants, either foreign or indigenous, which they would like to be cultivated, or if Wallich can use his own judgment.

Plants

• Plants referred to in the correspondence include Rheum Emodi [Rhubarb] and Hyoscyamus niger.
• Wallich manages to acquire a species of Rhubarb seed from Nipal [Nepal], superior to the kind supplied in the Bazaar. Previous attempts to grow Rhubarb in his Garden have not been successful, hence his suggestion to send supplies to other Gardens. Wallich informs the Board that Mr Royle has received a quantity of Hyoscyamus niger, and that Wallich has a large stock of seedlings in cultivation at his Garden [No. 59, Letter to J. Adam from Wallich, 21 Dec 1825]
• J. Adam informs Wallich of the Board’s approval of his work relating to Rheum Emodi and Hyoscyamus niger. He acknowledges the receipt of some Rhubarb seeds from Wallich and the cultivation of that plant for the Dispensary and the subordinate Medical Depot, and expresses gratitude that Wallich and Mr Royle have managed to successfully cultivate Hyoscyamus niger [No. 59, Letter to Wallich from J. Adam, 22 Dec 1825].

Teak Plantation

• Another significant issue is the Teak Plantation at Calcutta. Wallich explains at considerable length its history and context and its benefits and advantages, as well as its problems and setbacks [No. 63, Letter to C. Lushington from Wallich, 10 Mar 1826].