PHYSICAS E NATURAES 183 



but without the least consideration for the wilL and having only in view 

 the interests of lhe heirs and lhe otherwise known desire of the de- 

 ceased. In this property was comprised a sum of money that Dr. Welwi- 

 tsch had left in the hands of his banker in Lisbon, and which was deli- 

 vered to the heirs. Tiiis nol unimportant sum, spared out of his Ango- 

 lan salarieá, was claimed by the executors Mes/* Garrulhers and Justen 

 with the rest of the property of Dr. Welwilsch at Lisbon, notwithstan- 

 ding its not having been included in lhe London will^, but the trusíees 

 of this property, who never acknowledged Iheir right to it, constantly 

 refused to deli ver it to ihem. 



The first disposilion of lhe will is noí a legacy but a direclion as to 

 the purchase of lhe principal sei or study sei by the Briíish Museum, 

 that is of the unique complete sei which forms, togelher with its notes 

 and observations, wriíten by the collecling botanist, the historical do- 

 cument of his labours, the final result of his studies, the foundalion 

 for ali forthcoming publicalions which should make known the results 

 of lhe expedition wilh which he had been charged by the Poríuguese Go- 

 vernment. Thus for £ 2 s. 10 the hundred species would be sold to the 

 British Museum lhe whole coUeclion, which would realise in this way a 

 sum of but £ 150, supposing it to coníain 5.000 species. The British 

 Museum would Ihus acquire for £ 150 that which has cosi more Ihan £ 

 6.000 to the Poríuguese Government. If this Government could dispose 

 of this coUection on behalf of lhe Briíish Museum ihey would very rnuch 

 prefer giving it to yielding it up to seliing it in such an inconvenient 

 manner, to an establishment which has the means of making a good 

 use of it. We must however bo just towards such a respeclable insti- 

 tulion as the British Museum, in supposing that this establishment and 

 its high administration chosen, as usual, out of the most eminenmen 

 of science and politicai and social influence, would refuse accepling 

 such a sale or present when made with evident disadvantage to the 

 interests and honour of a friendly nation. We are pretty certain that 

 the British Museum is far from having approved ihese manoeuvres by 

 which it has been attempled to render it service at another's detriment, 

 and in our opinion it is a matler of certainty that its Higher Adminis- 

 tration has not in any way contributed Ihereto. 



The specimens of the plants collected are numerous enough to 

 form other seis more or less like the study set, and the testator distri- 

 butes them among his different legatees without forgetling, it must be 

 owned, the Poríuguese Government; he reserves two for this Govern- 

 ment, and this, he says, grátis, dispensing with our paying once more 



