PHYSICAS E NATURAES 199 



separa tion and arrangement remain however subject to the control of 

 some one appointed by the Government; and, ali this being executed, 

 we dont lose, we gain, on the contrary, some advantage in having the 

 collections ordered and separated where the means to do it well are 

 more abundant. 



The sentence declaring that there is no so called question of elec- 

 tion to be raised, assures our further right to the property bequeathed 

 legitimately to us by Welwitsch, which truly belonged to him; there being 

 still included in this part some objects of scientific value. Such is prin- 

 cipally the case with the perhaps most complete collection of publica- 

 tions respecting tropical African botany in the power of the testator, 

 and which is indispensable to the prosecution of the studies on the 

 phytogeography of those regions. 



When however the decision thus taken displeased the Government, 

 the right to apply remained to us. Leaving this to be resolved in Lisbon» 

 I applied myself in the few days I still spent in London, after the de- 

 cision of the Court, to make the utmost of the terms of it on our be- 

 half, if it had to be accepted. 



To this purpose I addressed myself to the director of the Museum 

 at Kew and President of the poyal Society of London, Dr. J. D. Hooker, 

 who shares at the same time in the superior administration of the Bri- 

 tish Museum, and who had rendered us very remarkable aid in this 

 affair. Nobody more than he being capable of materially assisting us to 

 the end of obtaining the arrangement and prompt delivery of the col- 

 lections. 



We offered and requested him to accept himself this mission if no 

 other person of his own reliance were to be found for it; and at the 

 same time we offered him to have the collection presented by Govern- 

 ment to the Kew Museum separated by the same agent just as the agent 

 of the British Museum would have to separate the one offered to the 

 British Museum. This proposal was entirely agreed on, in most favour- 

 able and flattering terms as is to be seen from the following document 

 written and signed by Dr. Hooker. 



«Royal Gardens Kew, 22''" Nov. 1875. 



«Memoradum for Dr. Gomes. 



«Dr. Hooker's official position and duties prevent his personally 

 undertaking the duty of supervising, on the part of the Portuguese Go- 

 vernment, the arrangement of Dr. Welwitsch's Botanical collections, with 

 a view of separating the set which that Government has, of its grace, 

 given to the Trustees of the British Museum. 



