118 FRANCIS MASSON. 
S was successful in his application, as the following note 
Sees succeeds the memorandum in the Banksian correspondence) 
To Soho Square, 
Lord Brudenell. Novr. 29, 82. 
My Lord, 
Mr. Mass whom his Majesties Bounty through your Lordships 
mediation has rendered effectually happy, oe received an invitation a 
gentle * possessed of an ample Botanick di assist in 
a g en is plants, fp unwilling to remain idle Masson 
went to Po in 1783, while by prosecuting that business he may have an 
opportunity of enriching his Majesties botan d exchanges fr 
thence, Hu equests his Majesties permission to under the Voyage, 
on Condition, that, is absence whic present intends 
continue only a few months, ay frome era should have occasion for his services 
in any other line, he will, eceiving = gg thereoff, instantly return to 
such place as his Majesties onto shall direc 
J. BANKS. 
which is sok Coie in Phil, Trans., lxviii., 601 He also Be 
specimens to the younger Linneus, who acknowledges his indebted- 
ss to Masson fm all t Canarian plants described in ‘ ple- 
SU, Bones. Echium candicans, E. giganteum, E., strictum, 
Senbeis ‘echinatus, ats psbtes Carlina a and other 
riking 
onden 
dated fespedti ely Feb. 4, May 27, and Dec. 12, 1777. We have 
also in the Department of "Botany a list of the plants sent home by 
Masson in July, 1776. They contain nothing of importance, except 
some of the details as to his movements, which have been already 
* This was no cre the merchant with whom Masson had corresponded 
bes? in Madeira, and to whom he refers (¢ ior oe of Linneus,’ ii. 564) 
le Visme, a sieht Se in Lisbo n, Who has a fine botanic garden, an is 
sat ear ininetie de of plants.” He is commemorated by the genus Vismia 
unb i 
t ia, Thunb. .°; . . riam Francisci Masson, PeregrinatoribUs 
Botanici in Americ e ia Can in h sari 
p Although Thunberg is here quoted as the authority for the genus; 
0; 
this is its first publication. Thunberg had no doubt named the plant in MS.; 
on, in Frain ae it to Linneus in 1775, — that “Mr. Thunberg had 
a great desire of giving [it] the name of Masson Seay Due ees I have 
declined rceiving that honour from m any Pg authority than the great inne” 
alee of Linnieus,’ 
8 plant named by Linn fil i a scilloides, referred . 
Entre Gentine maritima by Aiton (Hor. Kew. i. 323) of which we do © 
pos cimens ; ; Smith Fl. Greca, iii. 32) apewintet S03 oe 
‘ : 
Mag. ii. 27 ),—and there seems little doubt, from a a comparison of baw 
Azorean specimens with a type- -specimen from Woods, that they are correct iD 
placing it,—Sweet’s name must of course stand. 
