OF THE SOCIETY. 137 



1913. 



the Secretary of State that in future these establishments 

 were not to be maintained from public funds, and, in con- 

 sideration of the additional expense thus thrown upon the 

 Governor, the Governor's salary was increased. Sir Eard- 

 ley Wilmot received instructions on these matters before 

 he left England. 



Immediately on his arrival in Tasmania he visited his 

 various residences, the Farm and the Gardens, and on 

 15th September in a despatch to the Secretary of State 

 he reported on their condition, and made the following 

 proposal for the future disposition of the Gardens (34): — 



"The fact is that every building, and every part of all 

 ''these above-mentioned places, as well as ray official resi- 

 "d^nce at H >barton, ;ire in the most extraordinary and most 

 "unjustifiable state of dilapidatioai. 



■'The Colonial Gardens are an exception to the above 

 "remark, being one of the greatest ornaments, as well as 

 ''benefits, to this colony; and as it was impossible as well 

 "as unnecessary for me to keep up the Garden at my own 

 "expense, and as I did not understand from Your Lord- 

 "ship's instructions, that, although I was not personally 

 "to receive any pecuniary benefit from the Gardens, yet 

 ^'that they were to be abandoned, T have proposed that the 

 "Government should place them under the management of 

 "a societv called 'The Van Diemen's Land Horticultural 

 ^' 'and Botanical Society," which Society, with some assist- 

 "ance from the Government, will take the expense on 

 "themselves. 



"The rules and regulations of this Society ai'e modell'd 

 "after those of the Linn?ean and Horticultural Societies in 

 "England ; and I have respectfully to ask Your Lordship 

 "to approve of this arrangement, and to ask you to lay 

 "before Her Majesty our humble request, that she will be 

 "graciously pleased to be Patronees of this Society, and 

 "allow it to be called the Royal Society of Van Diemens 

 "Land, for Horticulture, and Botany, and the advancement 

 "of Science. As the Colonial Gardens now cost the 

 "Government eight hundred and two pounds per annum, 

 "I propose that the Government shall be save<1 In If that 

 "expense, and that four hundred pounds per annum shall be 

 "allowed to the Society to assist it in carrying out the 

 "great national objects it has in contemplation." 



The Tasmanian Society met on 3rd October, and elected 

 Sir Eardley Wilmot as President, in succession to Sir John 



(34) Despatch No. 2, 1.5th September, 1843, 



