JULY. 325 



have formed so great a feature in the recent history of the 

 society. 



By the year 1826 the heavy charges incurred in the forma- 

 tion of the garden had begun to affect seriously the pecuniary 

 resources of the corporation, and the floating debt had ac- 

 quired very formidable dimensions. In addition to this source 

 of embarrassment, differences arose between the society and 

 the then secretary, which led to the appointment in Feb- 

 ruary, 1830, of a committee of inquiry, which was author- 

 ized to investigate the management of the society. This 

 committee reported that the debts of the society amounted to 

 19,750/., of which 14,200/. were on bond (they eventually 

 proved to amount to about 500/. more, or 20,243/.), and they 

 did not estimate the property of the society higher than 

 16,500/., exclusive of the annual subscriptions about to fall 

 due. They found that the cost of the formation and an- 

 nual expense of the garden for the eight years from 1822 to 

 1830 had exceeded the amount of all separate subscriptions 

 and sources of garden revenue, of whatever kind, by the 

 large sum of nearly 29,000/. They however added that 

 many objects of the society had been substantially fulfilled; 

 that the foreign missions for collecting plants had been emi- 

 nently beneficial, &c., &c. The committee declared that 

 these results could not have been attained without contin- 

 ued exertions and superintendence, and that whatever errors 

 had been committed, had arisen from mistaken judgment, 

 rather than from want of zeal in promoting the objects of the 

 society. 



Nor, add the council, could the committee have said less, 

 when it appeared in evidence that a large part of the debt 

 had been incurred upon the faith of a promise made by gov- 

 ernment in May, 1825, but not fulfilled, that 5000/. should 

 be given to the corporation in aid of their funds ; that 16,464/. 

 had been sunk in permanent works in the garden; that 5737/. 

 had been expended upon procuring plants, &c., from abroad 

 for distribution among the fellows; that more than 880/. 

 worth of medals had been given as encouragement to horti- 

 cultural skill, and that the costly "Transactions" had been 



