of a Public Botanic Garden;. 69 



that, through the whole range of Europe, from St. Petersburg 

 to Naples and Madrid, nearly every capital, great or small, 

 whatever be the form of government, from the Swiss canton to 

 the great monarchies of Austria and Prussia, is provided with 

 botanical gardens. These establishments, which are sometimes 

 disproportionately large to the countries to which they belong, 

 are conducted on a tolerably uniform plan ; and, being of easy 

 access to all classes, and lectures being given at them at the 

 public expense, they serve at once to attest the munificence of 

 the founders, and to amuse and instruct the people. 



Sorry I am to add that the metropolis of this splendid empire, 

 where the crown domains are on a scale commensurate with 

 our rank amongst nations, forms nearly the sole exception to this 

 almost universal and daily extending rule ; and it is the more 

 mortifying, because the means are within our reach. The work 

 is already half done ; and a very slight exertion on the part of 

 government, in making the arrangements as usual at the com- 

 mencement of a new reign, would effect this most laudable and 

 desirable object. 



What we beg to suggest is, that Kew Gardens be ceded to 

 the public, of course under the usual reservation of the crown 

 property, and converted into a regular botanical garden ; lecture 

 rooms built ; professors appointed ; and the series of plants 

 now in the Botanic Garden gradually increased, so as to make it 

 completely adapted to the purposes of utility and scientific 

 research ; for which, the foundation being laid, and houses 

 already built, a comparatively small outlay would be required. 



In addition to the smaller plants, it will be indispensable to 

 add an arboretum. As the extent of the grounds at Kew may 

 not be quite sufficient for this purpose, I should propose that 

 100 or 200 acres be taken from Richmond Park, where they 

 can be perfectly well spared ; and the situation of which would 

 answer admirably for the hardier trees and shrubs. In the 

 arrangement, of course, I should expect to see every hardy 

 tree which could be collected in any part of the globe ; and I 

 even anticipate revelling in quercetums, fraxinetums, salicetums, 

 pinetums, aceretums, &c. Preparations should also be made 

 ibr the gradual construction of houses, on a large scale, for 

 the principal tropical and tender trees, of known utility in our 

 own dominions ; for instance, the Norfolk Island pine, the teak, 

 the African teak, and the eucalypti, &c., from Australia. The 

 cost of all this would be comparatively moderate, if properly 

 managed. A twentieth, or even fiftieth, part of the money 

 wasted by one of the follies of George IV. at Brighton, Windsor 

 Cottage, or Buckingham House, would suffice to raise a monu- 

 ment worthy of the sovereign and a liberal government. 



I often think of the astonishment the foreigners who now 



F 3 



