THE TRUST RELINQUISHED 97 



decided to relinquish their trust. And in 

 1893 they handed over the burden they had 

 borne so long to the Charity Commissioners. 



It was known that the Garden reverted to 

 Sir Hans Sloane's heirs as soon as it ceased to 

 be used for scientific purposes ; and when a 

 notice appeared on the gate to the effect that the 

 Garden was closed, neighbours realised to 

 their discomfort that there was a prospect of 

 the Garden becoming a " desirable building 

 site." 



Lord Meath, who had done so much to 

 preserve open spaces, summoned a meeting 

 to protest against such a fate. Sir William 

 Thiselton Dyer (Director of Kew), Professor 

 Farmer, and others, urged on the Treasury the 

 importance of such a Garden to students of 

 botany. A departmental inquiry, instituted by 

 the Treasury, reported that the Garden was 

 still well-fitted for botanical purposes, and that 

 its advantages would be appreciated by students 

 both of the Royal College of Science at South 

 Kensington, and of the London Polytechnics 

 and schools. The Trustees of the London 

 Parochial Charities then agreed, on certain 

 conditions, to provide 800 a year afterwards 

 increased and the Board of Education 150, 

 for the maintenance of the Garden. The 

 University of London, Imperial College of 

 Science, Royal College of Physicians, and the 

 Pharmaceutical Society also became yearly 

 subscribers, and a Committee was appointed 

 to superintend its management. 



Nine members of the Committee are now 

 nominated by the Trustees of the London 



