Philoscphical Society of London. 229 



After the ballot, Mr. Sanmarez delivered the Annual Ora- 

 tion on the Principles of Physiological and Physical Science, 

 which was numerously attended ; after which n)any of the 

 Fellows aiid their friend? adjourned to tlinner. 



We abstain, at present, from submitting an abstract of 

 the oration, as we understand it is to be printed. 



PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETV OF LONDON. 



The learned President, Dr. Lcttsom, has during the last 

 month delivered a lecture on the Natural and Medicinal 

 Histories of Tea. fTe coininenced by observing, that he 

 could not be ignorant in presenting an object of discussion, 

 that it is expected that some extent, of novelty may be 

 afforded, and some useful information conveyed ; but from 

 the universally known subject, he feared that disappoint- 

 ment must result; for what is fainiliar admits of little no- 

 ▼elty, and what is known of little interest. " To convey 

 instruction," said the Doctor, " I do not aspire; but im- 

 pelled by a cordial impulse to evince my respect for and 

 approbation of this Society, as well as excite the labours of 

 others, I have presumed to throw the discus which a more 

 youthful and vigorous arm is better qualified to direct." The 

 lecturer then proceeded upon the botanical historv, and, 

 having given a description of the parts of fructification, 

 stated, that there is but one species of the tea plant, the 

 difference of green and bohea tea depending upon the na- 

 ture of the soil, the culture, and manner of drying the leaves. 

 Sir John Hill, from observing a different number of petals 

 in different corollas, described the green and bohea tea as 

 different species, giving to the first nine, and to the latter 

 only six petals. He conveyed this opinion to Linne, who 

 adopted the mistake, which his future experience corrected, 

 as he informed Dr. L. by letter. 



The authors who have treated upon this subject amount to 

 at least a hundred, many of whom never saw the tea tree. The 

 first figure given of it was in the Acta Haffniensia, which 

 was taken from a dried specimen ; since that it has been 

 figured by Boutins, Plukcnet, Ka^mpfer, and Leltsom, the 

 latter the only perfect one. He had access to the first 

 plant grown in Europe, which was raised by his ingenious 

 friend Mr. P2His, in Gray's Inn, from seeds taken out of a 

 canister, and promiscuously sown in a pot placed outside of 

 his window. As China and Japan arc the only countries 

 known to us where the tea shrub is cultivated for use, we 

 may reasonably conclude that it is indigenous to one of 



P 3 them. 



