96 Domestic Notices: — England. 



growing. Mr. Bridges has fixed his residence at Valparaiso, as a general 

 collector and vender of all the productions of nature, which he will pro- 

 cure by incursions into the adjacent country, and by purchasing of the 

 natives, making his residence the depot of his acquisitions. Mr. Bridges 

 had spent some years among the plants already in England before his 

 departure, and was by no means wholly uninformed in the other depart- 

 ments of nature. We consequently anticipate much benefit to natural 

 science from his labours, and hope from time to time to be enabled to de- 

 scribe the progress of them. — J. D. Jan. 8. 1831. 



A Public Botanic Garden near London. — We have heard botanists regret 

 and express their astonishment at the non-existence of a public botanic 

 garden in the neighbourhood of London, in which the most perfect collec- 

 tion that the scientific connections and resources of the empii'e could fur- 

 nish should be preserved and cultivated. Such an institution, they repre- 

 sent, is much wanted, and would, did it exist, give a prodigious impulse to 

 the progress of botany. If, say they, a person is now desirous to acquaint 

 himself with any particular family of plants, he must traverse the whole 

 suburban circuit of London, to find in the various plant establishments the 

 species which compose it ; a course of study evidently so absorbent of 

 time and resources as to prevent many from adopting it : but which persons, 

 could they recur to one comprehensive skilfully managed collection, where 

 all the species of any family, or nearly all, could be found assembled, 

 would at once, and with joy, resort thither and obtain the knowledge they 

 desired. The present time is, for various reasons, and among others one 

 which we are not at liberty to mention, more than usually favourable for 

 carrying such a project into execution. Were any botanist at leisure to 

 draw up a scheme, and canvass in London and its neighbourhood for sub- 

 scribers at 5/. a share, or a guinea a year, we are certain he would succeed, 

 — R. S. Jan. 10. 183L 



Change in the Site oftlie Botanic Garden at Bury St. Edmund's. — It has 

 for several weeks been understood that a negotiation was pending, which 

 had for its object one of the greatest acquisitions that it is possible for this 

 town to receive, we allude to the conversion of the beautiful Abbey 

 Grounds into a botanic garden ; for which purpose, we have now the plea- 

 sure of announcing that the Marquess of Bristol will grant a long lease to 

 Mr. Hodson, the able superintendent of the present garden. Every one 

 who is acquainted with the extent and picturesque character of these 

 grounds, the site of the great court of the abbey and the abbot's pa- 

 lace, must be aware how highly eligible they are for the contemplated 

 purpose ; so much so, that we question whether any thing more beautiful 

 of the kind, than they are capable of being rendered, is to be found in the 

 kingdom. The garden will be entered through the magnificent, we may 

 almost say unrivalled, gateway of the abbey, the vacant spaces on each side 

 of which will be enclosed with palisades, and planted, and the old walls will 

 be covered with ivy. During the day-time the unsightly boarded doors will 

 be thrown back, and inner gates of open work will exhibit an enchanting 

 vista from the Angel Hill, which has been the only thing needed to render 

 that fine area absolutely perfect. This great improvement will give to the 

 inhabitants, at a small cost, the enjoyment of a beautiful garden in the im- 

 mediate neighbourhood of theii" own houses, abundantly spacious for the 

 purposes of air and exercise, and exhibiting such charms of scenery as ai"e 

 rarely to be found in immediate contact with the seat of business. The 

 " lungs of the town " will, in fact, be close to its heart. It is an improve- 

 ment which has long been desired ; and the Noble Marquess, we know, has 

 participated in the wish to aftbrd the town such a source of pleasure and 

 accommodation. We trust, therefore, that the spirited enterprise of Mr. 

 Hodson will be very generally supported. {Bury and Norwicfi Post, 

 Nov. 17. 1830.) 



