in the gardens, Mr. John Smith. Throughout the country, a 

 feeling existed, which soon began to be loudly expressed, 

 either that the establishment should be entirely abolished, or 

 that it ought to be placed upon a very different footing, and 

 rendered available, as a great scientific establishment, for the 

 advantage of the public. 



Government was happily ready to respond to this latter 

 feeling, and in 1838, the Lords of H. M. Treasury appointed 

 a Committee to enquire into the management, condition, &c, 

 of the Royal Botanic Gardens. The result was that in May, 

 1840, a " Return" was made to the House of Commons, 

 consisting of a Report by Dr. Lindley, who, at the request of 

 the Committee, had surveyed the Gardens, in conjunction 

 with Messrs. Paxton and Wilson, two practical gardeners. 



Strangers, or persons not well acquainted with the vicinity 

 of Kew, have often very incorrect notions of this establish- 

 ment ; nor can it be wondered at that such should be the case, 

 seeing for how long a time it was the private garden of the 

 Royal Family, and taking into account, also, the great extent 

 and varied nature of the grounds. We shall in few words 

 describe them, as they existed at the period we speak of. 

 They consist of, 



1st, — The Grounds immediate about the Palace of Kew ; 

 they are of small extent, (including a waste piece, on which 

 was begun the great edifice of Mr. Wyatt, soon afterwards 

 pulled down,) bounded on the North side by the road and 

 towing-path and the river, on the South and West by the 

 Pleasure Grounds, and on the East by the Botanic Gardens. 



2d, — The Botanic Garden proper, the present unfavorable 

 entrance to which is on the South side of Kew Green, between 

 the residence of H. R. H. the Duke of Cambridge and that 

 occupied by General Sir George Quentin. It contained, at 

 the time in question, eleven acres,* or thereabouts, of very 

 irregular outline, bounded on the North partly by the gardens 

 of the residences (chiefly Crown property) which stand on the 

 South side of Kew Green, in part by the Green itself, from 

 which it is separated by a handsome railing, and in part by the 

 gardens of H. M. the King of Hanover; Westward by the 

 grounds of the palace above mentioned ; Eastward by the 

 royal Kitchen and Forcing Gardens ; and South by the Plea- 

 sure Ground. 



• Not fifteen, as mentioned in the Report above named. That extent 

 must, we think, have been intended to include the Kitchen and Forcing 

 Gardens also. 



