now ill the Gardens at Hale Hall. 53 



It was presented, when a small plant, to the grandfather of 

 our worthy Member for the County, by Lord Petre, of Essex, 

 who was a relation of his through his sister-in-law. Mr. Black- 

 burne, sen., then resided at Orford Hall, near Warrington, 

 where he had a very large collection, and an excellent assort- 

 ment of rare and valuable plants. Indeed, the gardens were 

 considered so fine, and the acquirements of the scientific 

 possessor held in such high estimation, that it has been said 

 Linnieus himself visited Orford Hall. * 



Forster, who sailed round the world with Captain Cooke, 

 has perpetuated the name of Blackburne in the vegetable 

 world, in the Blackburnza pinnataf, out of respect to the elder 

 Mr. Blackburne and his daughter; and Pennant has equally 

 consigned it to posterity, in the animal kingdom, in the Sylvia 

 Blackburnia, out of compliment to Mrs. Anne Blackburne. 



This lady was an excellent ornithologist, and had a truly 

 valuable collection of birds, and other subjects of natural his- 

 tory. So indefatigable was Mrs. Anne in her favourite pur- 

 suits, that she studied and acquired a knowledge of I^atin, in 

 order to enable her to correspond with Linnaeus. The letters 

 are preserved, and ai'e highly spoken of. 



The palm remained at Orford till 1817, when it was taken 

 to Hale. The fears which were entertained as to the effect 

 its removal might produce were soon allayed, by the rapid 

 growth and improvement of the plant. :j: 



* There is some doubt whether this took place, no memorandum of such 

 a visit having been found.. Two of Linnasus's pupils, however, Swedes, 

 came down, one of whom was named Fabricius. They spoke English tole- 

 rably, but Latin fluently. The present Mr. Blackburne recollects conversing 

 with them in the latter language, and remarking, at the time, how well they 

 spoke it. The elder Mr. Blackburne was in the habit of receiving many 

 eminent naturalists. 



t " Blackburnea, sic ob ingentia merita in rem naturalem appellata a 

 Joanne Blackburne, Armig., qui Orfordi^, Lancastriensis Comitatiis, in 

 horto amcenissimo plurimas exoticas plantas colit ; et ab ejus filia Anna 

 Blackburne quEe non solum eodem in plantas amore fertur, verum etiam 

 incredibili solertia, aves, insecta, testacea innumera undique collegit. Pater 

 et filia mihi in Warringtonia degenti usum horti et musei instructissimi 

 lubentissime obtulerunt." {Characteres Generum Plantarum, Sfc, J. et G. 

 Fonter. 1776.) 



[The Blackburnia received its name in commemoration of John Black- 

 burne, Esq., an excellent naturalist, who cultivated many exotic plants in 

 his delightful garden at Orford in Ijancashire; and also of his daughter 

 Anne, an ardent lover of botany, and a diligent collector of birds, insects, 

 and testacea. During my residence at Warrington, both father and daughter 

 kindly offered me the use of the garden and excellent museum.] 



Jussieu has ranged this plant under the genus Ptelea. 



X Hale Hall is situated on the banks of the river Mersey, about eleven 

 miles south-east of Liverpool, on the Lancashire side. Latitude, about 

 55° 20' N. ; and longitude, west from Greenwich, about 2° 47'. 



E 3 



