10 THE HISTORY OF AITON's ' HORTUS KEWENSIS ' 



(p. 174), ^-here, having pointed out that " the first edition of the 

 Hortus Keicensis is properly cited as Ait. Hort. Kew." he says : 

 " It would equally govern the well-known contributions of Eobert 

 Brown to the second edition of the Hortus Keicensis, notwith- 

 standing their posthumous collection in Brown's works, except 

 for their early and general recognition as Brown's (doubtless at 

 his own instance) in standard systematic works." 



I do not think, however, that the names "e variis familiis " in 

 the Miscellaneous Works would be necessarily included in this 

 exception, although these too seem to have been generally recog- 

 nized as of Brown — e. g. Anisonieles ovata'-'' was so quoted at least 

 as far back as Sprengel, Syst. ii. 706 (1825). 



It may be of interest to append here copies of three letters 

 preserved in the Brown Con-espondence in the Department of 

 Botany which throw some light upon the relations between W. T. 

 Alton and Brown and upon the share of the latter in the Hortus. 

 Unfortunately Alton does not supply the information asked for by 

 Brown as to where Dryander " probably stop'd," but it is clear 

 that Brown, if he carried out his intention, contributed no new 

 matter "after Gynandria" — i.e. after p. 228 of vol. v. — except of 

 course the description of Tricliomanes brevisetum, to which 

 "Brown MSS." is appended. Alton's wish to connect Banks 

 with the Chili Pine is carried out on p. 412, where it is called 

 " Sir Joseph Banks's Pine." 



" My Very Dear Sir, 



"Accompanying this letter, I send yon the residue of the MSS. 

 of Hortus Kewensis, which I most humbly submit to your review and 

 correction, the importance of which I shall now and ever hold up as of 

 the utmost value to me in life. 



" The duty we owe to ourselves & others, your kind intention to visit 

 yom- aged parent in the North during this summer, the sad invalid state 

 of my present health also, which will require that I remove in the 

 Autumn to Cheltenham for the benefit of the waters, altogether make it 

 necessary that I bring to a point and finish the Kew Catalogue for 

 publication, & as I have made up my mind, & indeed a very anxious one 

 it is upon this subject, I determine not to leave Town until I have set 

 my house in order, so I entreat the favom', as soon as your learned head 

 & hand have passed the Mss. for press, that you will allow me to with- 

 draw the outstanding copy now before you, & that the whole may be 

 returned to my immediate direction for publication, the difficulty of 

 which I am relieved from viewing seriously, by the confidence I have in 

 my own zeal, some little experience I have had at the printing office, & 

 the printer's, Mr. Taylor's, ready offer & assurance I shall have allotted 

 me a skilful &: correct reader during printing off the work, having sub- 

 mitted to you these particular points I am flattered that I shall be able 

 to proceed with two or more sheets a week, without any stop to my little 

 book, which has advanced considerably to my satisfaction. 



" Your friendly & frank heart will allow me to open mine on this 

 occasion, without reserve, & therefore bov/ with confidence that you will 

 put your finishing hand to the Synonymy of the work, which I beg you 



* This, the Nepeta indica of L. Sp. PI. 571, should take the name Aniso- 

 nieles indie a. 



