56 HISTORY Ot' BOTANY. 



monarch Charles II. He established the Eoyal Society, 

 which, from his time to the present, has included amongst 

 its fellows the most eminent scientific men of the Kingdom, 

 and has been the means of great increase of knowledge. 

 Kay has just been mentioned as a fellow, and one of the 

 earliest was the gentle Evelyn, who contributed to its 

 Transactions his celebrated " Silva," or "Discourse on 

 Forest Trees." 



