CHAPTER XVII 

 REVIVAL OF BOTANICAL EXPLORATION 



times were unpropitious for the dispatch of 

 Collectors on behalf of Kew Gardens. An 

 opportunity came, however, in the year 1803, 

 which resulted in developing a new import of 

 exotic plants from China. This was continued with 

 success for several years, accompanied by the reverse 

 operation of transferring English fruits, etc., to China. 



The botanist was William Kerr, son of a nurseryman at 

 Hawick. Mr. David Lance, an official of the East India 

 Company's factory at Canton, was an intimate friend of 

 Banks ; and the occasion of his departure was taken 

 for Kerr to go under his protection. Kerr proved a 

 valuable aid to the cause of horticulture, and a good 

 correspondent for Banks, who treated him with the 

 constant courtesy he extended to every one in his employ, 

 especially gardeners who were expatriated in the cause of 

 Science, Their correspondence is rather technical for 

 these pages. But one enclosure of Kerr's is of remarkable 

 interest, as showing once more how the votaries of 

 Science could unconsciously serve the cause of inter- 

 national friendship : 



Puankhequa (President of the Company of Merchants 

 privileged to trade with foreign merchants at Canton 

 in China) to Sir Joseph Banks. 



" loth day of the ist moon of the nth year of Kia King, or 



" the 28th February, 1806. 



" SIR, The celebrity of your name has been long known 

 to me, as by Mr. Lance I have been informed of the 



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