REVIVAL OF BOTANICAL EXPLORATION [ 275 



1814), in which he presents an elementary view of Kew 

 affairs, for the instruction of the new people in office. 



After proclaiming the importance of the Kew Gardens, 

 and its superiority over all similar institutions, in the 

 eyes both of Englishmen and foreigners, he protests that 

 its position is somewhat impaired by the interruption of 

 communications during the late war. It is desirable to 

 renew its activity in the search for exotic plants, and, of 

 course, it is partly a matter of public expense. " The 

 plan of collecting for Kew, as established by His Majesty, 

 has hitherto been to employ those young gardeners, 

 educated in the Gardens, who showed the most inclina- 

 tion to, and made the greatest proficiency in botanical 

 pursuits, and were best skilled in the successful arrange- 

 ment of the plants in the Gardens. Among the many 

 young men who work there in the hope of being recom- 

 mended to gentlemen's families as gardeners when they 

 have learned the art, some were always to be found 

 whose dispositions led them to the study of Botany, 

 and whose talents enabled them to excel in it. From 

 these the best were selected ; and it is remarkable that 

 I do not recollect one instance of a man well acquainted 

 with the plants in the Gardens who did not feel an 

 ambition to be employed as a Collector. 



"Although the pay of that employment was regulated 

 more by that attention to strict economy, which all 

 who have a concern with the Privy Purse of the Sovereign 

 are bound to exercise, than to that well-regulated liberality 

 which those who are paid out of the Public Purse ex- 

 perience : who, if their salaries do not enable them to 

 save a sufficient provision for their old age, are provided 

 with pensions of retreat sufficient to render the latter 

 and less active part of their lives comfortable and happy. 



" The establishment of a Kew Collector was, forty years 

 ago, 100 a year as wages. He was allowed to draw bills 

 for travelling expenses and board wages to the amount of 



