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LIFE OF MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY.

Society of Geography and Statistics, dated the 11th of December last, that several thousands of chinchona seeds sent from Madras according to your instructions have germinated satisfactorily in the Mexican Mountains, with much gratification.

I have, &c.,

Clements R. Markham.

To Councillor M. F. Maury.

The Mexican chinchona plantation was established near Cordova, under the superintendence of Señor Nieto. It has continued to flourish.^[1] If Maury did no other good by his short residence in Mexico than was involved in this valuable service, who can say that generations yet unborn will not bless his name for the rich benefits conferred on the Mexican people by the introduction of this inestimable febrifuge?

To understand the position of affairs in Mexico it will be necessary to refer to the powerful influences which were being brought to bear upon her at this time by the United Slates. France had availed herself of the opportunity presented by the American civil war to try the experiment

↑ In June, 1866, a supply of chinchona seeds, consisting of 120,000 of C. succirubra 90,000 of C. Calisaga, and 25,000 of C. officinalis, was transmitted from the Nilagiri Hills, in Southern India, to Mr. Markham in London, and immediately forwarded to Mexico. A site was selected for planting them at Cordova, about 3000 feet above the sea; and Señor Nieto was appointed to take charge of the undertaking. Señor Nieto received the seeds on October 14th, 1866, and sowed the greater part of them in wooden boxes filled with good soil, and protected by glass and light movable curtains. The rest were distributed to Mr. Finch of the Hacienda Potrero, Don F. M. Sanchez Barcena of Jalapa, Mr. Grandison of Orizaba, and Don Carlos Sartorius of the Hacienda Mirada, all intelligent planters. In November, 1871, Mr. Markham, who was in regular correspondence with Señor Nieto, sent out a second supply of seeds, which arrived at Cordova on April 25th, 1872. A plantation of chinchona trees was established near Cordova, and Señor Nieto worked on steadily, through much discouragement, until his lamented death in 1874. Samples of the chinchona bark from Mexico were exhibited in the International Exhibition of Philadelphia in 1876.

[1] In June, 1866, a supply of chinchona seeds, consisting of 120,000 of C. succirubra 90,000 of C. Calisaga, and 25,000 of C. officinalis, was transmitted from the Nilagiri Hills, in Southern India, to Mr. Markham in London, and immediately forwarded to Mexico. A site was selected for planting them at Cordova, about 3000 feet above the sea; and Señor Nieto was appointed to take charge of the undertaking. Señor Nieto received the seeds on October 14th, 1866, and sowed the greater part of them in wooden boxes filled with good soil, and protected by glass and light movable curtains. The rest were distributed to Mr. Finch of the Hacienda Potrero, Don F. M. Sanchez Barcena of Jalapa, Mr. Grandison of Orizaba, and Don Carlos Sartorius of the Hacienda Mirada, all intelligent planters. In November, 1871, Mr. Markham, who was in regular correspondence with Señor Nieto, sent out a second supply of seeds, which arrived at Cordova on April 25th, 1872. A plantation of chinchona trees was established near Cordova, and Señor Nieto worked on steadily, through much discouragement, until his lamented death in 1874. Samples of the chinchona bark from Mexico were exhibited in the International Exhibition of Philadelphia in 1876.

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