206 KEVIEWS. 



a half ago, the only result has been the aforesaid Flora of Hong-Kong, 

 and that this would not have been produced, but for the following very 

 exceptional circumstances. That Flora happens to be scientifically, 

 (though not in any other respect) very interesting, and has long been 

 a favourite study of our most eminent systematist, Mr. Bentham ; 

 who published much upon it several years ago in the Kew Journal of 

 Botany. Since that period it has been largely increased by various 

 collectors, and especially by the naturalists of the American Explor- 

 ing Expedition, whose collections were sent to Mr. Bentham for 

 elucidation ; these were worked up by him, together with all others, 

 into a general catalogue, with numerous notes and descriptions, and sent 

 for publication to the Smithsonian Institution of "Washington, in the 

 United States of America, for lack of any means of publishing them 

 in this country. On this fact becoming known to the projector of 

 the Colonial Floras, he at once represented the facts to the Secretary 

 of State for the Colonies, through J. F. Elliot, Esq., the Assistant 

 Under-Secretary, a gentleman who has throughout most actively 

 interested himself in this undertaking. He pointed out that Hong- 

 Kong was one of the series indicated in his Eeport, and strongly 

 urged the propriety of requesting Mr. Bentham to recal his manu- 

 script, and embody it in a Colonial Flora, which would thus form the 

 first of the series. Happily this suggestion was acceded to, the Smith- 

 sonian Institution most generously gave up the MS., though two 

 sheets had been printed, and in six months afterwards the Flora of 

 Hong-Kong appeared, in which the general plan detailed above is 

 carried out in all particulars. 



Very lately, the propriety of continuing the series was again re- 

 presented to the Government, and the Duke of Newcastle placed in 

 the estimate for his department, the small sum necessary to proceed 

 with the Australian Flora, for which it was most desirable to secure 

 Mr. Bentham's services ; but the Lords Commissioners of the Trea- 

 sury refused the grant, on the ground of the Australian Colonies 

 having shown a sufficient sense of their interest in science and com- 

 merce, to warrant the execution of their Flora being left to their own 

 enterprize. We are not so surprised at this reply, when we con- 

 sider the magnificence of the proposal on the part of the Australian 

 Government in regard to illustrated works ; but, on the other hand, 

 this answer applies to two only of the seven Australian Colonies, and 

 considering how largely the mother country is benefited by develop- 

 ing the resources of its dependencies, it appears undignified to withhold 

 the trifling contribution required for the purpose. In the meantime, 

 steps are being taken to induce the Australian Colonies themselves 

 to sanction the Flora, and there can be no doubt but they will do as 

 much, at the very least, as the Cape Grovernment has done. 



As the matter now stands, however, the Hong-Kong Flora is the 

 only result of this " Mons parturiens," whose labours it is to be hoped 

 are only begun. 



