I've searched all the volumes at the British Library for the monographs I mentioned in my last email. Various listers asked me to look out for various names, but they will be disappointed, just as I was. Several merchants were featured but not Mr Wm Clark, the merchant who first brought cotton goods to Ceylon, nor Mr Robert Clark, a Colombo merchant, whom I believe to be his son, & who was brother to the wife of Dr Christopher Elliott (see below). So, dear listers, if anyone comes across this Clark family, do please let me know!

I hope what I paste in below will make sense, - but I have a feeling that the apostrophes will look strange....

Cheers, Roz

The Tropical Agriculturalist was published in Colombo by A M & J Ferguson, and edited by J Ferguson, of the Ceylon Observer etc. It appeared monthly in magazine form, approx. 18cm x 26cm, & each issue ran to 60-80 pages. Each volume contains 12 issues &, at the British Library, the books are marked on the spine by the year (e.g 1893/4) rather than by volume number. Should readers wish to obtain a copy of a monograph & photograph, they should apply to the British Library www.

bl.uk quoting Shelfmark ST 331 in the Oriental Collections.

The monographs are printed at the beginning of the issue, with a portrait or photograph of the subject as a frontispiece. The pages quoted refer to the text of the monograph. In most cases a sub-heading is given, describing the subject’s area of influence. I have also added, in square brackets, further information, such as dates of birth, to aid readers. Most of the monographs contain considerable family information. Some issues contained no monograph, often explained by the fact that the editor was still awaiting information or a photograph of the proposed subject.

Index of Subjects (with series ref)

Barnes, 1/1

Bird, 2/2

Blake, 4/4

Brown, Alexander, 1/13

Brown, John, 2/4

Butler, 2/6

Byrde, 2/2

Capper, 3/7

Darley, 2/6

Downall, 2/7

Drane, 3/13

Duff, 2/3

Elliott, 1/4

Elphinstone, 3/10

Ferguson, A M, 1/2

Ferguson, J, 4/5

Gavin, 1/8

Grinlinton, 2/12

Hadden, 2/13

Harper, 2/8

Jolly, 3/2

Lamont, 3/8

Leake, 2/9

Lewis, 3/9

Martin Leake, 2/9

Mortimer, 4/3

Nicol, 1/6

Rudd, 1/10

Sabonadière, 3/1

Shand, 2/11

Shelford, 1/14

Sinclair, 3/11

Skinner, 1/5

Smith, 3/3

Stephens, 3/6

Steuart, 4/1

Taylor, 1/11

Thwaites, 1/12

Tottenham, 3/5

Trimen, 3/12

Tyndall, 2/5

Tytler, 1/3

Walker, John, 1/7

Walker, William, 2/10

Wall, 1/15

White, 2/1

Wood, 3/4

Worms, 1/9

Wright, 4/2

Series1:

1/1. Vol 13, No 2, 1 Aug 1893, pp 73-80:

H.E. Lieut-General Sir Edward BARNES, GCB. Lieut Governor of Ceylon from 1 Feb 1820 to 2 Feb 1822, & Governor from 18 Jan 1824 to 12 Oct 1831.

1/2. Vol 13, No 3, 1 Sep 1893, pp 145-148:

Alastair Mackenzie FERGUSON Esq, CMG. [No sub-heading was given in this case. The subject was uncle of J Ferguson, the editor. He had been co-editor of The Colombo Observer. B.Scotland 1816, d.Colombo 1892. ]

1/3. Vol 13, No 4, 2 Oct 1893, pp 217-222:

Robert Boyd TYTLER Esq. [born 1819, near Aberdeen, Scotland, d.1882]

1/4. Vol 13, No 6, 1 Dec 1893, pp 361-367:

Christopher ELLIOTT, MD, who died Principal Civil Medical Officer of Ceylon. Resident in the island 1834-1859. Physician, philanthropist, pioneer planter & all-round public man. [b.1810 in Ireland. Was editor of "The Colombo Observer]

1/5. Vol 13, No 7, 1 Jan 1894, pp 437-446:

Major Thomas SKINNER, CMG. The great Roadmaker of Ceylon; also a pioneer of coffee planting.

[Born St John’s, Newfoundland, 1804, where his father was stationed in the Royal Artillery]

1/6. Vol 13, No 8, 1 Feb 1894, pp 503-507:

Andrew NICOL, MLC. Merchant, and pioneer in coffee, coconut & tea planting. [b.1819]

1/7. Vol 13, No 9, 1 Mar 1894, pp 576-579:

John WALKER, Pioneer Engineer, Inventor & Planter in Ceylon. [b.1819 in Perthshire, Scotland]

1/8. Vol 13, No 10, 1 Apr 1894, pp 646-650:

John GAVIN, Pioneer & Merchant. [b.1819, Aberdeen, Scotland]

1/9. Vol 13, No 11, 1 May 1894, pp 719-724:

Gabriel & Maurice WORMS. Capitalists, Pioneer Tea (& Coffee) Planters & Merchants in Ceylon 1840-1865. [Brothers, b.Frankfurt, Germany. G b.

1802 & M b.1805]

1/10. Vol 13, No 12, 1 Jun 1894, pp 791-796:

William RUDD senior. Planting Pioneer, & for many years the oldest of Ceylon Planters. [b.1812, London]

1/11. Vol 14, No 1, 2 Jul 1894, pp 1-4:

James TAYLOR. Planter 1852-1892. [b. Mosspark, Monboddo, Scotland 1835]

1/12. Vol 14, No 2, 1 Aug 1894, pp 75-79:

G H K THWAITES. Director of the Ceylon Royal Botanical Gardens 1849- 1880. [b. Clifton , arr Ceylon 1849, d. Kandy 1882]

1/13. Vol 14, No 3, 1 Sep 1894, pp 149-154:

Alexander BROWN Esq. Coffee Planter & Estate Agent, 1845-1876. [b.

Banff 1820]

1/14. Vol 14, No.5, 1 Nov 1894, pp 289-290:

Mr William SHELFORD, CE. Co-Projector of the Indo-Ceylon Railway.

1/15. Vol 14, No 6, 1 Dec 1894, pp 363-370:

Mr George WALL, FLS, MCBRAS. Pioneer Planter, Merchant, politician, journalist &c. [b.about 1820]

There were no monographs printed in Volume 15.

2/1. Vol 16, No 8, 1 Feb 1897, pp 513-515:

Alexander Campbell WHITE Esq. Planter & Merchant. [b.1816, Scotland]

2/2. Vol 16, No 9, 1 Mar 1897, pp 587-591:

Lieut Colonel Henry C BYRDE. Planter & Merchant in Ceylon, & afterwards Deputy Lieutenant & JP for Co Monmouth; Chairman of Pontypool Petty Sessional Division, & Honorary Colonel of 4th Vol.

Battalion South Wales Borderers. [born BIRD, son of Colonel Henry C Bird of 16th Regt, who became Commandant of Kandy, & nephew of Mr George Bird]

2/3. Vol 16, No 10, 1 Apr 1897, pp 661-663:

George Smyttan DUFF. Banker & Pioneer Proprietary Planter. [b.abt 1818 in North of Scotland]

2/4. Vol 16, No 11, 1 May 1897, pp 735-738:

John BROWN. Engineer & Planter. [b.1826, Aberdeenshire, d. 1894]

2/5. Vol 16, No 12, 1 Jun 1897, pp 817-821:

John TYNDALL. Pioneer Planter, voyager & explorer; also as Jack Tyndall – Humorist & Raconteur. [Arrived Ceylon 1845]

2/6. Vol 17, No 1, 1 Jul 1897, pp 1-4:

Samuel BUTLER. Planter & Merchant, 1837-1893. One of the founders of the well-known firm of Messrs Darley, Butler & Co of Colombo.. [b.

1815]

And addendum, with no portrait, for:

Edward J DARLEY, Merchant. [He came to Colombo in 1836, & died in East Sheen, Surrey, in 1869]

2/7. Vol 17, No 2, 2 Aug 1897, pp 75-80:

Reginald Beauchamp DOWNALL, Planter & MLC, 1863-1888. [Arrived Ceylon 1863, d.1888]

2/8. Vol 17,No 3, 1 Sep 1897, pp 149-140:

Alexander HARPER, JP. Planter & Merchant, 1849-1889. [b.

Aberdeenshire, Scotland, & arrived in Ceylon 1849]

2/9. Vol 17, No 4, 1 Oct 1897, pp 223-229:

Mr W MARTIN LEAKE. Engineer, Planter & Merchant 1859-1873. [b.1831, London. Also Known as LEAKE.]

2/10. Vol 17, no 5, 1 Nov 1897, pp 297-302:

William WALKER. Merchant & Engineer 1854-1891. [b.1824, Perthshire, Scotland. This account is condensed from a brief biography written by his son, Edmund Walker. Brother of John Walker (see 1/7).]

2/11. Vol 17, No 6, 1 Dec 1897, pp 371-374:

Charles SHAND. Planter & Merchant 1842-1890. [b.1819 in Liverpool, of Scots parents]

2/12. Vol 17, No 8, 1 Feb 1898, pp 511-514:

Sir John J GRINLINTON, Kt. Soldier, Engineer, Surveyor, Merchant, Company Director, MLC & MMC &c in Ceylon, 1857-1898. [b.1829, a son of the late Mr Thomas Grinlinton of Portarlington (Co Laois, Ireland?); educated in Liverpool]

2/13. Vol 17, No 10, 1 Apr 1898, pp 661-664:

Charles S HADDEN & Frederick J HADDEN. Pioneers & Proprietors from 1840 onwards. [They were cousins. Charles was b.1819. They were related to Mr Alex Brooke, managing partner of the Fenchurch Street

(London) firm of Messrs James A Hadden & Co.]

Series 3:

3/1. Vol 18, No 3, 1 Sep 1898, pp 147-152:

Francis Richard SABONADIÈRE and William Augustus SABONADIÈRE.

Planters & Merchants 1839-1891 [FSS] & 1845-1896 [WAS]. [Brothers from a Huguenot Family. FSS b.1823 & WAS b.1829, sons of the Rev C C A M L J A Sabonadière, ordained in the Church of England & "Pasteur in the reformed church of France, resident in the town of Meaux in the Department of Seine & Marne".]

3/2. Vol 18, No 4, 1 Oct 1898, pp 229-231 [& no portrait]:

Captain John Keith JOLLY. First Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon; Proprietary Planter 1843-1865. [b.1807]

3/3. Vol 18, No 5, 1 Nov 1898, pp 303-307:

William Bowden SMITH. Planter, Visiting Agent & merchant, MSC, JP, 1858-1897. [b.1839, Hampshire, England]

3/4. Vol 18, No 6, 1 Dec 1898, pp 377-381:

Thomas WOOD. Planter Pioneer in Uva for many years, 1847-1880; Manager of the richest coffee plantation in Ceylon. [b.Edinburgh]

3/5. Vol 18, No 8, 1 Feb 1899, pp 523-525:

Charles TOTTENHAM. Civil Engineer, Surveyor & Planter, 1859-1899.

[Arrived in Ceylon 1859]

3/6. Vol 18, No 10, 1 Apr 1899, pp 671-673:

John STEPHENS. Cinnamon, Coconut, Coffee & Tea Planter. [b.1816, England]

3/7. Vol 18, No 12, 1 Jun 1899, pp 819-822:

John CAPPER. Merchant, Planter, Journalist, 1837-1886. [b.1814, England, d.1898]

3/8. Vol 19, No 2, 1 Aug 1899, pp 75-81:

W B LAMONT. Coffee, Coconut, Cinnamon, Cacao & Tea Planter, 1841- 1899. [b. 1818, Scotland]

3/9. Vol 19, No 4, 1 Oct 1899, pp 223-226:

R E LEWIS. Merchant, Planter & Editor, 1841-1870. [b.1817. Edited the Examiner]

3/10. Vol 19, No 8, 1 Feb 1900, pp 509-515:

The late Sir James D ELPHINSTONE, Bart [no portrait], & Sir Graeme H D ELPHINSTONE, Bart [portrait supplied].

3/11. Vol 19, No 11, 1 May 1900, pp 723-730:

Arthur SINCLAIR, FLS, FRCI. Planter & Visiting Agent in Ceylon. The story of his Life & Times as told by himself. [b.1832, Aberdeenshire, Scotland]

3/12. Vol 20, No 1, 2 Jul 1900, pp 1-6:

The late Henry TRIMEN, FRS, FLS, MB, etc. [b.1843, Paddington, London, d.1896. Botanist]

3/13. Vol 20, No 3, 1 Sep 1900, pp 149-152:

Thomas DRANE, CE. The first engineer who surveyed & designed a line for a locomotive railway between Colombo & Kandy. [b.1818, Middlesex, England]

Read to end of Vol 20. No more entries.

Vol 21, Jul 1901-Jun 1902 – nil entries.

Vol 22, Jul 1902-Jun 1903 – nil entries

Series 4:

4/1. Vol 23, No 3, 1 Sep 1903, pp 147-150:

James & George STEUART: Ship Commanders & Merchants; and the firmer, Master Attendant of Colombo, 1817-1863. [Brothers]

4/2. Vol 23, No 4, 1 Oct 1903, pp 223-224:

William Henry WRIGHT; Coffee & Coconut Planter & successful Horticulturist & Floriculturist, 1840-1903. [b.Colombo 19 Oct 1821 & educated at the Orphan Asylum]

4/3. Vol 23, No 5, 2 Nov 1903, pp 297-301:

Alexander Cushny MORTIMER: Coffee Planter, 1846-1866. [born Old Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland about 1821, arrived Ceylon 1846, died Southampton, England, 3 May 1866]

Nil in rest of Vol 23. J Ferguson retired Feb 1905.

4/4. Vol 24, No 1, 1 Jul 1904, pp 1-2:

His Excellency Sir Henry [Arthur] BLAKE, GCMG, Governor of Ceylon.

[Born in 1840, son of Peter Blake Esq of the Irish Constabulary.

Educated at Kilkenny Academy & at Santry College. In 1859 entered Royal Irish Constabulary, appointed a Resident Magistrate in 1876, & Governor of the Bahamas in 1884. Appointed Governor of Ceylon in 1903]

4/5. Vol 24, No 3, 1 Sep 1904, pp 141-142:

The Hon John FERGUSON, CMG: Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. [Editor of the Tropical Agriculturalist. This account appeared while he was away from Ceylon for a year. Born in Ross-shire in Dec 1842.]

J Ferguson retired Feb 1905. No further monographs were printed.

rozmccutcheon@lineone.net