- 
296 HISTORY OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 
raising it to £50 or some shillings below £50 just to aes the Tax. 
Indeed I had determined to do so as soon as I was assured of an 
additional allowance for the maintenance of the Gardai which I 
believe is already granted. I hope then that Mr. MacNab will have 
no objection to the Place; everything that depends upon myself shall 
done to render his situa tion comfortable and agreeable, only one 
me when you consider the andieey I have to fix a proper person in 
the Garden 
I have the honour to be with highest respect and esteem 
Dear Sir, 
Your most obedient and most humble Servt. 
D. RuTHERFORD. 
Fortunately for the Edinburgh Garden the post thus offered 
to William McNab had sufficient attractions to induce him to 
make the pecuniary sacrifice involved in acceptance of it, but it 
was not until May that he came to Edinburgh, as we learn from 
the following letter of introduction :— 
Mr. W. T, Aiton to Dr. Rutherford.? 
Dear Sir,—This letter will be delivered to you by my much 
seamed friend Mr. William Mc Nab, many years my principal 
foreman in the Royal Gardens: at Kew. Altho I think it sencceees 
to add any thing to the testimony of the great and good Sir Josep’ 
cern in — of os very promising es man, I cannot 
of an honest Man, and as such I tee leave to i 
to your protection. being Dr. Sir with great oaas very aahfully 
yours 
W. T. Aiton. 
Kew Gardens, 
12 May 1810. 
? Have we here a hint of a cause of ‘‘ want o1 cordiality ” between Professor 
Rutherford and George Don? See page 66 with footnotes 2 and 3, and 
page 281 with footnote 2, of this volume. 
2 Printed by permission from a copy in the possession of Miss McNab. 
