224 BOTANICAL NEW9. 



1854, it came suddenly to an end. But the thanks of British botanists 

 are due to the editor for the possession of this valuable reper- 

 tory of the progress of their department for thirteen years. Probably 

 few have done more to render genuine natural history in its various 

 branches popular than the late Edward Newman. 



We have also to record the death of W. G. Molvor, of Ootacamund, 

 whose services in tlie introduction of Cinchona plants into the Neil- 

 gherry Hills in 1861, and successful cultivation of the now immense 

 plantations, have been most important to the world. He published 

 in 1847 a pocket herbarium of Britisli Hepatica^. We may take 

 this opportunity of correcting an inadvertency at p. 160, where it is 

 stated erroneously that Mr. Mclvor held the directorship of the 

 Saharunpore Gardens. 



At the anniversary meeting of the Linnean Society, held 24tli 

 May, there were presented, on behalf of the widow of the late J. J. 

 Bennett, three memoi-ial medals of Linnaeus — one of silver, struck in 

 1746, given by Linnneus to Ilaller in exchange for his portrait ; one of 

 gold dated 1747, struck at the expense of Count Tcssin ; and a large 

 silver one, designed by Lynberger and struck by command of the King 

 of Sweden in commemoration of Linnaeus's death, 10th of January, 

 1778. 



Dr. B. A. Gomes, of Lisbon, gives in the " Jornal de Scienciaa" 

 of that city (no. 19) a very full history (pp. 28) of the relationship of 

 the late Dr, Welwitsch to the Portuguese Government, and of the 

 lately terminated litigation in reference to his collections. It is 

 ■written in English, and though of course the question is viewed from 

 the Portuguese standpoint, and the account necessarily one-sided, gives 

 much interesting detail not previously made public, especially with 

 regard to the various efforts at compromise persistently made by the 

 executors. Now that the matter is settled in terms which, as Dr. 

 Gomes says, are "satisfactory to all," it is curious to mark that those 

 terms are in every respect, with a trifling exception, precisely the 

 same as those of the first compromise offered by the executors in 1873 

 and then rejected by the Government with some scorn. It is only 

 right to mention here that there are a few statements made which are 

 opposed to facts well known ; these, that Dr. Welwitsch made his 

 will " in his last moments," having fallen " a victim to some surprise," 

 and " not being completely conscious of what he subscribed," and that 

 the " higher administration of the British Museum " is far from having 

 approved of the "manoeuvres" of the executors, are all completely 

 untrue and should be publicly contradicted. 



The existence in London of a free public library of botanical and 

 horticultural books is probably unknown to many, but the Lindley 

 Library deposited in the rooms of the Royal Horticultural Society at 

 South Kensington is open to all persons, and under certain restrictions 

 books may be borrowed. In a circular recently i-^sued attention is 

 called to these advantages, and to the impossibility, owing to the 

 scanty annual income (£38) of the library, of keeping up to date in 

 current books and periodicals. We gladly give further publicity to 

 these facts, and hope that anyone able to do so will help to complete 

 the library, by contributions of books, &c., which may be sent to the 

 librarian, Mr. W. B. Hemsley. 



