116 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



tham, and set out, although the day was rainy, for a 

 visit to the Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick. We 

 went in an omnibus, and I noticed on the way Apsley 

 House (Duke of Wellington), and the monument to 

 his Grace in Hyde Park, near his house (what is 

 the good of honors, indeed, if one cannot see them?), 

 Holland House, which I saw from some distance, 

 etc. We found Lindley at the Gardens, and looked 

 through the grounds. They have very few hothouses 

 as yet, but have just dug the foundation of a very 

 splendid one, which is, however, to form one wing 

 merely of the general plan. We went to Kew, about 

 two miles farther, and looked through those fine old 

 grounds and gardens. The hothouses and the collec- 

 tions in them were much larger and more interesting 

 than I had anticipated. They are particularly rich in 

 New Holland and Cape plants. There is a new con- 

 servatory for large plants, a fine one certainly, which 

 cost six thousand pounds, and the roof was taken from 

 the greenhouse at Buckingham Palace, and therefore 

 cost nothing. It seems an extravagant job, and Mr. 

 Bentham feels sure a much better one of the same size 

 could be built for four thousand pounds. While here 

 we paid a visit to Francis Bauer,i now eighty-five 

 years old, and much broken down, but still hard at 

 work, and making as beautiful drawings as ever (be- 

 yond comparison excellent), and as delicate micro- 

 scopical examinations. He has lately been working 

 at fossil Infusoria, and showed me figures of Bailey's 

 plate in " SiUiman's Journal " which he had copied. 

 He was greatly pleased when I offered to send him 

 specimens of the things themselves. He showed me 

 the original red snow from arctic America, and also his 



^ Francis Bauer ; botanical artist to George III. 



