1855.] Linnean Society. 393 



which promises at some future, and I trust not very remote period, 

 to effect a great and lasting improvement. On this subject I have 

 again sought information from one who is most competent from his 

 position to speak authoritatively, and I feel that I cannot do justice 

 to his most interesting communication but by giving it to you in 

 his own words : — " There has been a vast improvement effected, in 

 abandoning the old garden of three acres, situate in a smoky 

 locality, with old-fashioned plant-houses, for a scientifically- arranged 

 new garden of twenty acres, half a mile from the town, with some 

 portions of a projected range of handsome plant-houses completed 

 and filled; the rest (more than two-thirds of the whole) to be 

 erected whenever sufficient funds shall have been found for the 

 purpose. I hear, on all sides, of the growing interest taken in 

 this establishment, and of the willingness on the part of the majority 

 of the Senate to appropriate as much from the scanty funds in the 

 University chest, as our necessities may justify. A plan has lately 

 been devised for building lecture- rooms and museums on the 

 excellent site afforded by the old Botanic Garden. Here the Pro- 

 fessor of Botany will enjoy the opportunity of displaying properly 

 prepared specimens, as in the great national establishment at Kew. 

 Here will be deposited the valuable herbarium bequeathed by the 

 late Dr. Lemann, rendered doubly valuable from containing 30,000 

 species whose names will be authenticated by Mr. Bentham, from 

 comparison with those in his own most extensive herbarium, so 

 munificently presented by him to the nation, and recently removed 

 to the Royal Gardens at Kew. A subscription has been commenced 

 on the part of some of the Colleges for the purpose of defraying 

 the expense of erecting those buildings ; and the Vice-Chancellor 

 informs me that he has already heard of offers to the amount of 

 £10,000, although a few Colleges decline rendering any assistance. 

 So far then as these outward demonstrations may enable us to judge, 

 these are doubtless symptoms of decided progress. But, I regret to 

 add, the scheme devised four or five years ago, for slightly connect- 

 ing the natural sciences with one portion of our University Curri- 

 culum, has proved to be of little service as an educational measure. 

 A few of our non-reading men have been induced to turn their atten- 

 tion to some branch of natural history, who otherwise might not 

 have thought of taking up any such pursuit. I believe some of these 

 have become attached to natural science, and, having quitted the 

 University, are likely, in due time, to take no inconspicuous rank 

 among naturalists. I have just had the satisfaction of signing the 

 recommendation of one for admission to the Linnean Society, and I 



