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- 1835 (Creation)
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1 extract, pages 61-114 (NOTE- page numbering is duplicated and inconsistent)
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James Backhouse was a naturalist and Quaker missionary of Darlington, and later, York, England. In 1831 he sailed for Australia, accompanied by George Washington Walker (1800-1859), with the financial support of the London Yearly Meeting. They arrived in Hobart in February 1832 and from then until their departure from Australia in 1838 they visited most of the scattered settlements throughout Australia. They spent three years in Van Diemens Land where they visited the penal settlements, reported to Lieut.-Governor Arthur on conditions and made suggestions for improvement of the prisons, chain gangs, assigned servants etc. They also encouraged the formation of benevolent services, such as the Ladies Committees for visiting prisoners on Elizabeth Fry's model, inspected hospitals and recommended humane treatment for the insane, as well as distributing religious tracts and school books. In 1833 they established a Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in Hobart and in 1834 the Hobart Yearly Meeting. In 1837 they bought property for a Meeting House in Hobart. James
Backhouse also collected many botanical specimens and continued to correspond with the Tasmanian Society and the Royal Society. After his return to England, Backhouse published an account of his journeys as "A Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies" (London, 1843). For more information see : http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/backhouse-james-1728
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Index Plantarum, or an attempt towards a popular Description of some of the most common and remarkable Indigenous plants of Van Diemen's Land. Pages 61-114.
From the preface: Of the articles which compose the Annual, the view of our indigenous plants, will it is hoped, be found not the least acceptable. Though not by any means complete, being a first attempt, it will, we trust, serve to excite a taste among our readers, as well for botanical research as for the pleasures of the field and garden. In compiling it advantage has been taken of every source of information that was open to us at the time. And chiefly we have to thank the industry and kindness of our much valued friend Mr. Backhouse, whose knowledge of the Flora of this island is so extensive. We have to return our thanks also to Mr. Ronald Gunn, who so kindly obliged us with a perusal of his’ Hortus Siccus’ and the invaluable descriptions of Dr. Hooker. The labours of Loudon, Brown, Sprengell and others were likewise of much service
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This material is made available for personal research and study purposes under the University of Tasmania Standard Copyright Licence. For any further use permission should be obtained from the copyright owners. For assistance please contact Special.Collections@utas.edu.au
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2020
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application/pdf