THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 19 



the Society about to be formed, and suggested that the whole 

 plot might be reserved for a future grant, as the proposers 

 contemplated the possibiHty of forming 



on this advantageous site, so admirably adapted for the purpose, an Estab- 

 lishment which will embrace the united interests of Zoology and Botany. 

 And certainly nothing would be more creditable to the scientific character 

 of the nation, and at the same time more ornamental to the Park itself, 

 than a plan which should provide for the accommodation of the Zoological 

 Department in the centre of the before-mentioned plot, and the appro- 

 priation of the surrounding ground to the purposes of a Botanic Garden. 



From this quotation one may see in what characters the new 

 Society was intended to resemble the Jardin des Plantes. As 

 in the older establishment, there was to be a collection of animals 

 in or connected with a botanic garden, and a museum was to be 

 added. But something more than this would be necessary to 

 complete the analogy — endowment for teaching natural history 

 in the wide sense of the term. Had the plan here outlined been 

 realised, the result would have been — not a miniature Jardin des 

 Plantes, but a Garden something like that at Amsterdam or 

 Rotterdam, though without any provision for recreation, in the 

 shape of fetes, concerts, or exhibitions. 



Objections were raised by the Crown OiBBce, and on April 7 

 Lord Auckland, Sir Humphry Davy, and Sir Stamford Raffles 

 applied for " twenty acres in the north-east corner of the Park." 

 In their letter they say " it may be advisable for us to apply 

 to the Crown for such a Charter as may enable us to hold 

 land " ; but in the meantime they ask that a lease may be 

 granted. To show that the Society would not interfere with 

 existing interests, they add: "We are happy to state that 

 Mr. Cross, of Exeter 'Change, has offered his lamas and birds 

 and such part of his collection as we may choose, to the 

 Society, with a tender of his services in promoting our views." 



On April 24 invitations to the first General Meeting were 

 sent out. The copy addressed to Yarrell, bearing an autograph 

 note of his "First General Meeting," is still in existence. It 

 runs thus: 



SiK,— I have the honour to inform you that a General Meeting of the 

 Friends and Subscribers to the proposed Zoological Society will be held 

 at the Rooms of the Horticultural Society, Regent Street, on Saturday the 



