61 



his book ; and the Bodleian has agreed to cede to the Radchffian 

 Library all those upon medico-physical subjects. The experience 

 which, as a naturalist and physician. Dr. Williams possesses, renders 

 his services far more valuable to the institution than the inefficient 

 labours of the learned pedants, to whom the office of librarian is 

 frequently committed. The books are arranged in ethnographicid 

 order. 



The country between Oxford and Henley, half-way back to Lon- 

 don, is so beautiful that we determined to perform this distance on 

 foot. Our expectations of a new Flora were not however realized : 

 except Ulex europccus, and in some places a great number of Ferns 

 we met with nothing more interesting than what usually occurs with 

 us. At Henley we took a stage-coach, and passing the villas of 

 Herschel and Banks, arrived in London. 



To become properly acquainted with the botanists and state of 

 botany in London would require half a year at least, and we had 

 only half a month in which to attain this object; and were obliged to 

 ceconomize every moment, as we had all the Hospitals also to visit. We 

 particularly desired to make the acquaintance of Mr. Don ; through 

 whose means we hoped to see the Linnsean Society, and the herbarium 

 of Lambert. We had been told so much of the pohteness of this 

 learned man, that we hope he will ascribe the great degree of trouble 

 which we occasioned him, to the character for affiibility which he 

 every where possesses. The preference which the first botanists in 

 London have shown for Mr. Don, by entrusting their treasures to his 

 charge, is as honourable to themselves as to the object of their choice ; 

 and the " dehghtful science" is an equal gainer. 



Mr. Don is a man in the flower of his age, and, like all the Scotch- 

 men whom we had the pleasure of knowing in London, a person of 

 remarkable frankness and candour. We are greatly obliged to him 

 for the reception which he was so kind as to give us ; he obtained for 

 us a view of the Linnaean Society's apartments, Soho-square : a 

 Cyathea from Nepaul stood on the stairs, as high as the house ; it 

 might have been used on its voyage to Europe for the mast of a 

 ship. The herbarium is in the hall ; very beautifully arranged, with 

 British elegance and solidity. The cases in which the animals, 

 chiefly birds, are preserved, are made of the wood of Fliiidersia au- 



