FRANCIS MASSON. 121 
The Plants hoe have sent home have succeeded so much better 
any you sent home hen Jat! was last at the Cape that we ue every 
_ I hope that og bedi this time you have taken a tod pickets haga: as I 
oct at False bay; the most rare plants to be met with European 
ms are “tron that place, & you know that one rare 5 déveribed Plant is 
eikar ah nondescripts. 
I intended about this time to have asked leave of his Majesty to —_ you t 
Belay Bay; but, finding from your letter to Mr. Aiton that you had an aver, dis 2 
to the place, I have made interest that another person should “A sent t a 
In a postscript he mentions bawing received letters from i 
while writing the above, and adds: 
These letters mention your having tae ap 2 long Journeys, br 
Surprised me, as your instructions are very abs saa on that fbi bate What 
recommend is a fixed residence during the ri ‘ate season at any place bra 
plants are abundant; ;_ but more especially that my directions Seiko to False 
Bay be complied with; & till you have exhausted that place and Hart Bay, 
which I expect will a prov rich, I trust you will remain quiet; afterwards you 
may propose excursi 
Masson Hegre at the ones until 1795, regularly sending home 
plants to Kew, as we may trace in the ‘ Hort us Kewensis,’ ed. ii., 
where, under the potas Pslaryonivn alone, we Studs ecies introduced 
by him each year from 1788 to 1795 inclusive ; no fewer than 47 out 
of the 102 iain enumerated owed their introduction to Masson. 
h d once more to Eagland, taking up his 
residence at fen singteic > cotaeetind ” as he tells us in the Dedi- 
cation of his ‘ Stapeliss Nove,’ which he published in the course of the 
following year—‘ to leave the Cape of Good Hope, ig nel should 
lose, in an expected invasion, the Collection of living Plants Emm 
during ten steal sarap there.’ He goes on to EK “Twa 
dulged, on my re with your Majesty’s gracious permission “46 
remain a yea; Pinan ine. Unwilling to waste so much time in idleness, 
T resolved to seats this vacation somewhat profitable ss the science 
of his anxiety “to recommence [his] employm poe as :.5 rere nade 
till enjoying, though in the sheen tif life, a reasonable shar 
of health and vigour, I am now ready to heey ‘a ats part of the 
Sa your Majesty’s commands shall direct me. Many ar 
; ee was appointed to explore such parts of North 
rica, r the British Government, as appeared likely to 
Pebance aie: mo valuable plants.* 
* I quote this 8 passage from a short memoir of Masson, published as one of & 
too ee series on Pipe 2 al SS oases in the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle’ for 1881 
fear. Fah al r. John Smith, the veteran ex-curator of the Royal Gardens, 
rs 
drome Pp 791— F 
r + asoa). p. 568; William Ker (+ 1814), p. 570; David 
alin (hi 1789), p. 967; Christopher Smith, p. 267; George Barclay, xvii. 305. 
