326 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



For the use of students at home, in 1830 he produced the 

 " British Flora," which ran through five or six editions before 

 it was consigned to his successor in the chair at Glasgow, 

 Professor Arnott, who has edited two or three more. 



We have enumerated the principal works published before 

 he returned to England, including those which were reedited 

 or (as the periodicals) continued later. After twenty years' 

 service in the Scotch University, Dr., now Sir William 

 Hooker, K. H. (for in 1836 he accepted from William IV. — 

 the last British sovereign who could bestow it — the honor of 

 Knight of the Hanoverian Order), was appointed by govern- 

 ment to take the direction of the Royal Gardens at Kew, until 

 then in the private occupation of the crown, but now to be 

 developed into a national scientific establishment. 



Even since the death of Banks and Dryander, and while 

 Aiton, the director, grew old and lost any scientific ambition 

 he may once have had, Kew Gardens had declined in botanical 

 importance. The little they preserved, indeed, was chiefly 

 owing to the scientific spirit and unaided exertions of Mr. 

 John Smith, then a foreman, afterwards for many years the 

 superintending gardener (and well known to botanists for his 

 writings upon Ferns), who, retired from his labors, still sur- 

 vives to rejoice in the changed scene. 



The idea of converting Kew Gardens into a great national 

 botanical establishment is thought to have originated either 

 with Sir William Hooker himself, or with his powerful friend, 

 and excellent patron of botany and horticulture, John, Duke 

 of Bedford, the father of the present British Premier. Lord 

 John Russell was in the ministry under Lord Melbourne when 

 this project was pressed upon the authorities, and recom- 

 mended to Parliament by the report of a scientific commis- 

 sion, and, succeeding to the Premiership, he had the honor of 

 carrying it into execution at the propitious moment, and in 

 the year 1841, of appointing Sir William Hooker to the di- 

 rection of the new establishment. The choice could hardly 

 have been different, even without such influential political 

 support ; indeed his patron and friend, the Duke of Bedford, 

 died two years before the appointment was made ; but Hooker's 



