PKEFACE. 



DR. WELWITSCH, of whose African plants Mr. Hiern 

 has prepared the following Catalogue, directed by 

 his will (dated the 17th October 1872, three days before 

 his death) that the study set of these plants should be 

 offered to the British Museum for purchase. The Por- 

 tuguese , Government, however, claimed the whole of the 

 Collections as belonging to them, and by letter dated the 

 31st October 1872 demanded delivery of the several cases 

 of botanical specimens which were in the possession of 

 Dr. Welwitsch at the time of his death. The acting 

 executors — namely, Messrs. William Carruthers, at that 

 time Keeper of this Department, and Frederick Justen, 

 of Dulau & Co., booksellers, respectively — resisted this 

 demand, and at great pecuniary risk to themselves per- 

 sonally defended a suit in Chancery, " Dom Luis the 

 First, King of Portugal, versus Carruthers and Justen," 

 which was filed on the 31st January 1873. 



This suit camfe before the Court on several occasions ; 

 and the Judge having repeatedly expressed his opinion that 

 a compromise ought to be effected, an agreement between 

 the parties was arranged, and on the 17th November 

 1875 the Vice-Chancellor gave his decree accordingly. It 

 was thus agreed that the Portuguese Government, on being 

 declared to be entitled to the Collections, should express 

 their willingness to give to the British Museum the best 

 set, next after the study set, which was returned to Lisbon, 

 of the botanical specimens and other objects of natural 



