BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 273 



Mr. Wilford's Botanical Mission to the Chinese Seas, 



It was considered by the Director of the Royal Gardens that the 

 fact of the British Government sending a present of ft splendid steam- 

 yacht, 'The Emperor,'- to the Emperor of Japan, might afford a good 

 opportunity for making botanical researches among the numerous is- 

 lands of the Japanese territories ; and, through the kindness of Captain 

 Washington, a memorial was laid before the Lords of the Admiralty, 

 requesting that a botanical collector might be permitted to be present 

 at the arrival of the yacht in Japan, and that such means might be 

 afforded as would facilitate his exploring localities in the interior. The 

 application was liberally responded to ; a passage was at once offered 

 m a Queen's ship to Hongkong, where he would remain botanizing till 

 the c Emperor ' would call and convey him to Japan. A still further 

 offer was made, namely that if it were thought desirable for the same 

 collector to investigate the eastern coast of Tartary (Mandchouria), 

 lying between the Strait of Corsea and the mouth of the Amour, a 

 country celebrated for the production of Ginseng for the Chinese mar- 

 ket, but otherwise its vegetable productions may be said to be wholly 

 unknown to the scientific world, — the collector should be transferred 

 to H.M.S. Action, now engaged in a survey of this coast of Tartary. 



This granted, the next step was to provide the funds to meet the 

 expenses of a competent collector, his salary, his outfit, etc., — a duty 

 kindly undertaken by the Right Honourable the Chief Commissioner 

 of Works, the energetic head of the Royal Gardens, Sir Benjamin Hall, 

 whose application to the Treasury for a three years' provision was rea- 

 dily responded to by a grant of JE800. There was even less difficulty 

 in finding a suitable collector : two of equal merit presented them- 

 selves, both of them herbarium assistants in the Royal Gardens of 

 Kew, and the lot fell upon Mr. Charles Wilford, who had been for two 

 years so employed. On the 2nd of May Mr. Wilford embarked for 

 Hongkong on this interesting voyage, charged to form extensive collec- 

 tions, both of seeds and roots (and living plants, if they can be trans- 

 mitted without too much risk) and herbarium specimens. 



Mr. Wilford carries with him letters of recommendation to Sir John 

 Bowring at Hongkong, and to the Admiral in the Indian Seas, Rear- 

 Admiral Sir Michael Seymour; and we cannot doubt that every facility 

 will be afforded by those gentlemen, which their high stations cau 



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