252 Horticultural Society and Garden. 



different animadversions which appeared in our early Numbers on the Society, and especially on 

 its garden. The first of these papers was by H. B. Ker, Esq., who, as the Committee 1 ave 

 acknowledged, has led to the present investigation into the affairs of the Society : and it must be 

 no small satisfaction to him, as it certainly is to us, to mark the present result of his abours 



The Report of the Committee may, on the whole, be considered very lenient on the subject of 

 accounts and management, and perhaps in other matters it may be more correct than we are in- 

 clined to believe We must confess, however, our entire want of faith in the assets o "the .Society 

 being any thing like equal to its debts. The arrears stated at upwards of 600W., we should not 

 value at above 800/. or 1000Z. ; and estimating all the items at what they would bring, if now sold, 

 we do not believe there would be 105. in the pound. ., ...„,. 



The great object of all observations on the past is, or should be, to render them available for the 

 future Whatever may be said in palliation of Mr. Sabine's conduct, nothing can be more clear 

 than this, that he is the main cause of the present state of things in this Society ; he it is, and he 

 alone, who, by a system of concealment and monopoly of power, has brought the Society to tne 



"Xt the same time, while we express our opinion thus freely as to what are considered the bad 

 points of Mr. Sabine's horticultural policy, we shall not withhold from him that justice which we 

 should desire for ourselves under similar circumstances. Mr. Sabine has involved the Society in 

 a debt which threatens its dissolution, but he has also been the cause of the greater part ot tne 

 good done by the Society ; and that the Society have done good, even we who are no triend to 

 monopolies, or svstems of exclusion in any wav, readily allow. The springing up of so many hor- 

 ticultural societies throughout the country, and throughout Europe, has been mainly owing to 

 the eclat of the London Horticultural Society, in consequence of the great accession or noble 

 and even royal members since 1815, when Mr. Sabine undertook its management. I he principal 

 part of the Transactions of the Society have been published since that period, and they include a 

 considerable number of good practical papers. We do not attach much importance to what has 

 been brought from India or Africa: but certainly the Chrysanthemums, Chinese Primrose, Wis- 

 tarza Consequana, and other hardy or half hardy articles from China ; and the numerous Lupines, 

 Pentstemons, and other hardy plants brought from North America, by Mr. Douglas ; are invalu- 

 able additions to our gardens, and will probably continue to ornament them while this island en- 

 dures as terra firma. All these objects of beauty and interest have been introduced under Mr. 

 Sabine's auspices. Other services might be mentioned : but we shall only add that Mr. babine 

 has been the means of bringing forward Mr. Lindley, who unquestionably is a man of extraordi- 

 nary talent, and no less extraordinary industry ; who has already done more for botany in this 

 country, by proving in the London University that the natural system may be effectually taught 

 to youth, than any one else has done in our time ; and who, if he lives, and does not become over- 

 elated with public applause, or, by his intercourse with the aristocracy, get into that sort of affect- 

 ation which was the weak point of Sir Humphry Davy, will, in our opinion, be the greatest 

 botanist that has appeared since the days of Jussieu. Mr. Lindley might possibly have event- 

 ually risen to eminence under whatever circumstances he might have been placed: but he has 

 been upwards of ten years in the office of the Horticultural Society, and we will venture to say, 

 that at the age at which he entered, with his previous education, and with the active friendship 

 of Mr. Sabine, in no other office or situation whatever, in London or elsewhere, could he have 

 enjoyed the same advantages, or advanced himself so rapidly as a man of the world, a man of 

 science, and a gentleman. 



The evil days which may be said to have fallen on Mr. Sabine, not merely as connected with 

 Regent Street and Chiswick.but as an active member of the Zoological Society, are the result of 

 his making these societies stepping stones to his intercourse with men of rank ; and the lesson his 

 fate has read to us will, we trust, not be lost, either on ourselves or on our professional readers. 

 As society advances, men will be valued according to their worth as men, and not according to 

 any factitious distinctions whatever. It is consolatory to think, and to believe, that every man's 

 real character is sooner or later made known and appreciated by his fellow-men. 



It is curious to reflect on what may be the consolations of Mr. Sabine under his present circum- 

 stances. Driven, like Adam, from the garden to the field — to the Zoological farm at Kingston — 

 what will be his next pursuit? Having no wife or child, whither will he turn for consolation? 

 But Nature, ever kind, has a provision for every thing ; and there can be no doubt of this, that 

 Mr. Sabine is supported by some feeling or other. Ignorance, or indifference, or vanity, or self- 

 conceit, all bad of themselves, may prove a good to an individual, under particular circumstances. 

 What is now to be done ? First ascertain who will really continue paying members. If as many 

 remain as will produce 3000/. a year, go on ; if only a smaller income can be obtained, break up, 

 and begin another Society. If you go on, commit the affairs of the Society to an active, effective, 

 paid officer, of whom none will be found equal to Mr. Lindley ; let him be as much the President, 

 Secretary, Council, and Garden Committee, as was Mr. Sabine ; but let him not be quite so much 

 the gardener, and by no means the accountant : let every act done by him, or letter or paper 

 which passes through his hands, be rigidly scrutinised by the Council, or even open to every 

 Fellow of the Society ; there will always be some one on the look-out for faults ; let it be made 

 worth his while to rule well ; let him then rule as he will (because no Council will ever take the 

 trouble necessary for real effective management), at the risk of dismissal on conviction of misrule. 

 Either this must be done, or you must have a paid council, as well as a paid secretary and account- 

 ant. This will eventually be found to be the true practical view of the case. After all this is 

 done, supposing the Society to work well, the benefit to horticultural science will not be much. 

 Most of the good which the Horticultural Society in this age or country is capable of doing has 

 already been done. 



March 16. — Some discussion took place on the Report, in which a vote 

 of censure on the conduct of Mr. Sabine was proposed, but withdrawn at 

 the earnest recommendation of Mr. Gordon, the Chairman of the Com- 

 mittee, as unnecessary, and likely to injure the interests of the Society 

 with its creditors and the public in general. ( See Times and Chronicle of 

 March 17.) 



