Bartrani's Botanic Garden. 249 



odicals of the day, I have therefore to inform you it is only 

 recently I have had the pleasure of perusing the pages of your 

 useful and admirably conducted Magazine. It will at all times 

 afford me great pleasure if I can contribute any useful matter for 

 its pages. In the first place I shall commence with a subject, 

 the information respecting which I shall give, will, I am assured, 

 afford you great satisfaction. 



Bartrani's Botanic Garden. — I have recently visited this es- 

 tablishment, which must, to every admirer of nature, on each 

 successive examination, aflbrd pleasure and delight. In your 

 number of the Magazine for this month you deeply regret that 

 the Baltimore rail-road, at present constructing in its vicinity, 

 will " cut up the grounds in such a manner as to entirely destroy 

 their beauty, and cause the destruction of some of the old and 

 beautiful specimens of trees which ornament the place, and which 

 have so long served as a memento of the zealous labors of the 

 elder Bartram and his sons." 



It is with the utmost satisfaction I have to inform you such 

 will not be the case. The Rail-Road Company, although the 

 law permitted them to do so, have, with a degree of good taste 

 and national feeling deserving the highest commendation, deter- 

 mined to leave unmolested the whole of the garden — a determi- 

 nation which will put them to ten thousand dollars' additional 

 expense, — but for which they will be rewarded with the grateful 

 thanks of every individual who has experienced the gratification 

 of examining the numerous and gigantic specimens of forest trees 

 and shrubs which adorn the place. 



The rail-road is now constructing, and passes through part of 

 Col. Carr's grounds — but as it was occupied only as a nursery, 

 it does not at all interfere with the garden. In fact, . from the 

 manner in which Col. C. intends to lay out the space between 

 his house and the rail-road, it will, in my opinion, be a decided 

 improvement, and add another feature of attraction to this so 

 deservedly far-famed establishment.* 



I am yours, most respectfully, 



Alexander Gordon. 



Philadelphia^ June 20, 1837. 



* Col. Carr informed me it is his intention to dispose of the j,'arden, 

 on condition that it might be purchased by either the Philadelphia Hor- 

 ticultural Society or any private gentleman who would preserve the 

 characteristic features of the grounds. To the Philadelphia Horticul- 

 tural Society Col. Carr, with a feeling which does him credit, would 

 make a sacrifice. 'Tis sincerely to be hojied the ladies and gentlemen 

 of this institution will avail themselves of this ojjportunity to obtain a 

 place which, as far as respects a garden, will render their Society un- 

 paralleled by any other in America. 



VOL. III. NO. VII. 32 



