333 



cicnt to found a Garden; and surely those who do suhscvihe 

 additionally ought to have some additional priviliges, provided 

 they do not infringe upon the rights of original Fellows. 



Of the arrangement, richness of contenls, and mainigeiiicnt 

 of the Garden I can speak most favourably. I might have 

 arranged some of the departments differently, had I been con- 

 cerned ; but persons would be found to say the like of the 

 most perfect Garden that could be devised. Taste and Judge- 

 ment differ in every one. The most censorious must agree 

 that the stock of Plants in the Cliiswick Garden is splendid, 

 and that their management is an illustratiun of the best Horti- 

 culture of our day. To enrich their Garden no pains have been 

 spared, the whole pecuniary power of the Society, and the 

 personal interest of the Fellows has been employed to render 

 it as perfect as possible. In 1821 the Society sent out to 

 Bengal and China Mr« John Potts, and to the latter country 

 Mr. J. D. Parks in 1823. Mr. John Forbes in the last named 

 year was sent to the eastern shore of Africa; Mr. D.. Douglas 

 to the United States, and in 1824, the same Gardener proceeded 

 to Colombia, as did Mr. J. M'Rac to the Sandwich Islands, 

 all for the purpose of collecting new plants. The result of 

 their researches has been most gratifying. Besides these es- 

 pecial collectors the Society has numerous Correspouding 

 jMembers in every quarter of the globe, who from time to time 

 iiave much forwarded the views of the Society. 



Of the President of the Society I have already spoken, and 

 concurrent praise is due to its Secretary, Mr. Sabine, than 

 whom no man has laboured more assiduously or more efl'ectu- 

 ally to promote the interests of the Society. Of (he benelits he 

 has conferred upon Horticulture his papers in the Transactions 

 of the Society are ample testimonies. Being only in his 

 sixtieth year, the Society and our Countiy may hope to profit 

 for raai\y years yet by his labours. 



