148 Chi the Constitution and Administration 



garden, it has been thought necessary to go a begging to the 

 government : let that, however, pass ; but if the money is 

 got, at all events let us see how it is spent. 



I shall not overwhelm you with too much at once ; but 

 think you will agree with me that a great deal has been spent 

 in objects which are not quite within the spirit of the 

 meaning of the charter ; or, what is of more consequence, 

 the meaning or wishes of the subscribers. I think it certainly 

 never was intended to form in the garden a botanical col- 

 lection. And is there any occasion for it when we have Kew 

 and the Linnsean Society? As for the introduction of new 

 and beautiful flowers, that is quite consistent with the original 

 foundation ; but that a large part of the funds should be ap- 

 plied in sending collectors to all parts of the globe, to 

 Canton, Columbia, the Cape, &c. I think it quite beside what 

 the original founders meant. 



There is another very questionable point. I am an ori- 

 ginal subscriber. Well, it has been determined to establish a 

 garden on a larger scale than the first, and a particular sub- 

 scription for it was set on foot. This was not done at a 

 General Meeting, I believe ; at least I, as a subscriber, was no 

 party to this, as far as I know. To those who subscribe to the 

 gardens there are particular privileges attached; they may have 

 plants on application. They give tickets to view the garden 

 to their friends ; in fact, they are a " privileged class," and I, an 

 old subscriber, am turned into the lower orders, and am no 

 longer a member of the society ; and I must either do what 

 my circumstances do not conveniently admit of, or I must 

 remain in my degraded state. It is true, I continue to have 

 the right of going to the garden myself; but when a friend 

 asks me for a ticket, I am obliged to confess I cannot give 

 one. Why not? is the answer; Mr. So and So has as 

 many as he likes. There I am driven up into a corner, and 

 obliged to confess that I am only one of the poor members, 

 and cannot, assist him. The same as to the distributions. 



In short, the London Horticultural Society has ceased to 

 be conducted on liberal principles for the benefit of horticul- 

 ture; and its main efforts are directed to its own agrandize- 

 ment; in some respects to the positive injury of horticulturists, 

 by paralysing the efforts of individuals. Whether this will go 

 on, or whether the energies of some individuals will lead to a 

 general reformation of the system of management, it is im- 

 possible to foresee. But this much I think, you and most of 

 the practical gardeners in the neighbourhood of London, who 

 are fellows, will agree in, that a reformation is highly necessary. 



I am, Sir, &c. 



A Fellow of the Societv. 



