vi | RoR Eo Res ES 
Within thefe three or four years we have been fuccefsful 
enough to introduce into this kingdom a few genuine Tea plants. 
There was formerly, I am told, a very large one in England, 
the property of an Eaft-India captain, who kept it fome years, 
and refufed to part with either cuttings or layers. ‘This died, 
_ and there was not another left in the kingdom. A large plant 
was not long fince in the pofleffion of the great Linnzeus, but, 
lam informed, it is now dead. I know feveral gentlemen, 
who have {pared neither pains nor expence to procure this ever- 
green from China; but their beft endeavours have, im general, 
proved unfuccefsful. For, though many {trong and good plants 
were thipped at Canton, and all poflible care taken of them 
during the voyage, yet they foon grew fickly, and but one, till 
of late, furvived the paflage to England. — | 
The largeft Tea plant in this kingdom is, I esters at Kew ; 
it was prefented to that royal feminary by John Ellis, Efq. who 
raifed it from the feed. But the plant at Sion-houfe, belong~ 
ing to the Duke of Northumberland, is the firft that ever 
flowered in Europe ; and an elegant drawing has been taken: 
from it in that ftate, with its botanical defcription. ‘The en- 
graver has done juftice to his original drawing, which is now in 
| the “iene of that: sreat promoter of natural, hiftory, Dr.. 
~ Fothergill, to whom I have been indebted for many dried fpe- 
cimens tad flowers of the Tea-tree from China. If the reader 
compare 
