493 Miscellaneous. 



If the Geographical Society had communicated their determination 

 to the Botanical Society, and had sent them an account of what they 

 were doing, the whole of this confusion would have been avoided ; 

 and this silence on their part is the more remarkable, as I have been 

 a Fellow of that Society from its foundation. 



Of the documents which follow, the second and sixth are from the 

 originals ; the first, third, fourth and fifth are from the copies in the 

 Letter-book of the Geographical Society. I may further observe, that 

 the letter to the Botanical Society is the only one they ever received 

 from the Geographical Society on the subject. 



No. 1 . Mr. Hamilton, the President of the Geographical Society, to 

 Major-General Sir H. Wheatley, G.C.B. 



July 27, 1837. 



Dear Sir HENRY,-^In pursuance of Her Majesty's command, 

 which you have been good enough to signify to me by yours of the 

 26th, I have the honour to send you the drawing of the singular spe- 

 cies of Nympheea discovered by Mr. Schomburgk, the traveller en- 

 gaged by the Royal Geographical Society to explore the province of 

 British Guyana in the upper part of the river Berbice, in long. 58°, 

 lat. 4° 30'. 



The drawings are accompanied by a memoir drawn up by Mr. 

 Schomburgk descriptive of the flower, and I beg to add his humble 

 request that he may be allowed to affix to it the name of " Victoria." 



I have the honour to be, dear Sir, 

 Sir Henry Wheatley, ^c. W. R. Hamilton, P.R.G.S. 



No. 2. Sir Henry Wheatley to Mr. Hamilton, P.R.G.S. 



St. James's Palace, 29 July 1837. 

 My dear Sir, — I this morning received the drawing of the spe- 

 cies of Nympheea discovered by Mr. Schoniberg, which I have lost 

 no time in submitting to the Queen, and Her Majesty has directed 

 me to express her sense of Mr. Schomberg's attention in sending it, 

 and to convey to that gentleman Her Majesty's permission that the 

 name of Victoria regia should be affixed to the flower. 



Believe me to remain, my dear Sir, very sincerely yours, 

 W. Hamilton, Esq. W. H. Wheatley. 



The Queen has directed me to return the drawing for the purpose 

 named in your letter. 



No. 3. Capt. Washington, Secretary of the Geographical Society, 

 to the Secretary of the Botanical Society. 



July 30, 1837. 

 SiR,^ — I have the honour to forward to the Botanical Society the 

 accompanying drawing of two flowers, with descriptions, transmitted 

 to this Society by Mr. Schomburgk, our traveller in British Guyana, 

 who has written requesting permission to that efifect, which request 

 the Council has immediately complied with ; and I am further di- 

 rected to state, that as Mr. Schomburgk is travelling entirely under 

 the control and at the expense of this Society, the Council are of 



