JULY 7, 1859. 47 



Council felt that such a course would have been derogatory to 

 the character and objects of the Society; nor would the support 

 " the Royal Commissionera of 1851 have been 

 mere money speculation. They, therefore, 

 prefer resting their hopes of success in the course proposed, and 

 in the desire which will be generally felt to promote the accom- 

 plishment of a scheme so advantageous to the Fellows and the 

 public, and so conducive to the important objects for which the 

 Society was chartered ; and they entertain no doubt that their con- 

 fidence in the support of the public will be justified by the result. 

 The Council propose to keep up the experimental part of 

 Chiswick Gardens, and also so much as may be required to 

 furnish decorative plants for the new garden at Kensington Gore. 



The Noble Chairman introduced the business by some remarks 

 on the state and prospects of the Society, and dwelt upon the 

 advantages likely to result from the adoption of the proposal 

 now brought before the Fellows. 



The Secretary made a detailed statement of the negotiations 

 which had taken place between the Council of the Horticultural 

 Society and her Majesty's Commissioners of the Great Exhibition. 

 The official letter of the Secretary of the Royal Commissioners, 

 containing their oflfer, as follows, in reply to a communication 

 from the Society, was read, and a general description of the pro- 

 posed plans was given, illustrated by numerous drawings, which 

 were suspended in the meeting room : — 



Whitehall, July 4th, 1859. 



Sir, —I am directed by H. M.'s Commissioners to acknowledge the receipt 

 of your letter of the 26th January last, inquiring on behalf of the CouncU of the 

 Horticultural Society whether the Commissioners would be wiUing to receive 

 a proposal from the Society for renting the central portion of the main square 

 of the Commissioners' estate at Kensington Gore, and if so, upon what terms. 



of the Council of the Society, that they have delayed^ answering this commu- 





i respectively should be applied, so far as r 



