142 
In the year 1824 an effort was made to restore the value and 
usefulness of the Botanic Gardens, and a Committee appointed 
to inquire into the state of the Botanic Garden, ir’ MB, 
one ‘ape ts s That the hep vs Sardon in k, Thom eta 
the east and south seas, some of which are now naturalized in 
this island, and more might be added, greatly to the advantage 
of its inhabitants. Your “Committee, therefore, recommend that 
proper care may be taken to preserve the valuable plants which 
the Ga den now contains. That in Sone pe above con- 
pi 
attended to, namely, the investigation of the many unknown 
native plants of this island, which, from the properties of those 
already known, it is reasonable to infer would prove highly 
beneficial in augn 1enting our internal resources, by supplying 
various articles either for food, for medicine, or for manufactures, 
to be cultivated, prepared and e xported as staple orga et 
by which great comm ercial advantages might be obtained ; amon 
others the various vegetable dyes pir particular attention as 
promising a fruitful field for discovery. at it appears to your 
Committee that the person fit for undertaking such inquiries 
ought to be a well educated and scientific man, combining with 
his botanical knowledge sufficient information in experimental 
chemistry to enable him to discover the useful qualities of such 
indigenous plants, and improve the productions of those already 
own ; but at the same time your Committee strongly recom- 
mend that such person should not be a medical man, as his whole 
time and attention ought to be applied to promote the above 
objects. Your Committee recommends to the House to instruct 
the Commissioners of Correspondence to direct the Agent to 
apply for such a person to the President of the Linnean Society 
ndon.” Asa result of this proposal Mr. J Macfayden 
was selected and approved of as a Botanist and arrived in the 
island in 1826. 
me time it was so that the Botanic Garden at Bath 
hein too distant from Kingston and the seat of government to 
wer the intention propped: aua it was recommended that a 
bili be brought in for purchasing a proper a for such a Garden 
n the vicinity of Kingston or Spanish Tow 
This proposal was, however, never carr ba into execution, and 
on the death of Mr. Macfayden, the Garden at Bath, “fast falling 
tenance of the Garden even in its reduced state, and >a no 
remuneration had been made to him for its superintendence 
- In 1833, in another fit of economy. owing to domestic conan 
and the need for further retrenchment, a Committee was appoin 
to eati on the best means of diminishing the contingencies 
