Miscellaneous. 493 



opinion that it would be more becoming, that wliatever drawing 

 or other object he may wish to present to Her Majesty should pass 

 directly through the hands of the Royal Geographical Society, and 

 will relieve the Botanical Society from any further trouble on that 

 account. Should you wish to write to Mr. Schomburgk by the next 

 mail, I shall have great pleasure in forwarding any letters sent to me 

 by Tuesday 1 Aug. next. 



I am. Sir, &c. 



No. 4. Extract of Letter from Capt. Washington to R. H. Schom- 

 burgk, Esq., dated Aug. 1, 18,37- 

 ** The drawings also of the new genus of flower discovered by you, 

 and named Ngmphcea, and of the Loranthus, have been forwarded by 

 permission of the Council with the descriptions to the Botanical 

 Society. The only point in which your request has not been complied 

 with literally, is with respect to the drawing to be presented to Her 

 Majesty, which the Council conceived it would be more becoming to 

 present direct from this Society in your name, instead of going 

 through the hands of a third party, with whom you have no sort of 

 connexion. You will be glad to know that Her Majesty has been 

 pleased to accept the dedication of the flower, and to allow it to be 

 named Victoria regia ; it will be placed in proper train for being 

 suitably engraved, described and published." 



No. 5. F7'om Capt. Washington to Dr. Lindley, Sec. Hort. Soc. 



Aug. 3, 1837. 

 Sir, — I have the pleasure to transmit to you the original drawing, 

 with the description, of a new species of flower discovered on the 1 st 

 of Jan. 1837, in the upper part of the river Berbice, in lat. 4° 30' N., 

 long. .58° 1' W. nearly, by Mr. Schomburgk while travelling on 

 account of the Society in the Colony of British Guiana, and as you 

 have kindly acceded to the request to undertake the publication of 

 the flower, and to prepare a correct description of it, I am directed 

 by the President of the Society to state, that it is now confided to you 

 for that purpose, and also to acquaint you that the drawing has been 

 presented to Her Majesty, who has graciously been pleased to accept 

 the dedication of it, and also to signify her pleasure that it should 

 bear the name Victoria Regia, if, as it is believed, it should prove to 

 be an undescribed genus. May I request you will have the kindness 

 to send back the original drawing as soon as done with, that it may be 

 returned to Her Majesty's Library? 



I am, Sir, &c. 



No. 6. Extract of a Letter from R. H. Schomburgk, Esq. to Capt. 

 Washington, dated Port Amora, River Essequibo, Sept. 14, 1837. 



** I think you did very well to present the new plant. I scarcely 

 ventured to request that favour from the Council, as never any in- 

 terest was shown to my botanical discoveries." 



The Botanical Society, on receiving the communication from Mr. 



