INTRODUCTION 21 



in 1795, ne evinced his anxiety for the future advancement 

 of his favourite science by making over to the Botanic Garden 

 all his drawings, books of natural history, and collections : 

 and still more by bequeathing a freehold estate, for the 

 purpose, first, of publishing his " Flora Graeca," in ten folio 

 volumes, with 100 coloured plates in each; and afterwards 

 of endowing a Professorship of Rural Economy in Oxford, 

 which was to be held by the Professor of Botany for the 

 time being. 



The work was only completed after the lapse of more than 

 forty years from the time of his decease, but as the great cost 

 limited the original subscribers to a very small number, Mr. 

 Henry Bohn, the publisher, was allowed the use of the 

 copper-plates, in order to enable him to bring out a second 

 edition on more moderate terms. 



We must not omit to mention James Benwell, in the employ 

 of the Garden, whose portrait adorns the library. He attended 

 Sibthorp on his botanical excursions in the country and dis- 

 covered some rare plants. " His integrity, industry, and a 



travelled over a considerable part of the Morea, and did not return to 

 England till the autumn of 1787. The value of the services which Dr. 

 Sibthorp had rendered to botany during these travels was generally 

 appreciated, and in consideration of them the Crown made an addition 

 to his stipend as Professor in 1793. This augmentation, consisting of 

 ;ioo per annum, exclusive of the same sum granted towards the keeping 

 up of the Garden, was then charged on the privy purse ; but has since 

 been annually voted by Parliament. Dr. Sibthorp, convinced that much 

 remained to be done for the completion of his great undertaking, set 

 out a second time, in 1794, for the same country, attended by Francis 

 Borone, as botanical assistant, and accompanied by his friend Mr. Hawkins. 

 With them he visited Bithynia, Mount Olympus, the Troad, the isles of 

 Lemnos and Imbros, Mount Athos, Attica, Patras, and Zante. Of the 

 following year they spent two months in Morea, after which Dr. Sibthorp 

 parted from his companion, Mr. Hawkins, and returned to England by 

 Otranto. A severe cold caught during the voyage to that port brought 

 on a pulmonary affection ; which, after his return to England, carried 

 him off in the February of the subsequent year. 



