ri pRKi a i 



son and myself, the two Secretaries of the Society, 

 as tit persons to be entrusted with the mission. We 

 did not hesitate to undertake it ; but the state of 

 health of my excellent colleague, which had long 

 been precarious, soon unfortunately became worse, 

 and he died on the 23d May 1817.— The Horti- 

 cultural Society lost, in him, a most enlightened, 

 zealous and disinterested supporter. He was one 

 of its founders : often, during his protracted illness, 

 he attended its meetings, at the risk of great per- 

 sonal inconvenience and suffering ; and to the very 

 last, he cherished the hope of serving it, in the in- 

 tended continental excursion. For my own part, I 

 had to lament the loss of a valuable friend and ju- 

 dicious coadjutor, who, to a thorough acquaintance 

 with the details of practical gardening, added many 

 scientific acquirements. 



At the General Meeting in June 1817, the Coun- 

 cil of the Society signified its wish, that the pro- 

 jected survey should be accomplished that season, 

 and should be extended to the gardens in the en- 

 virons of Paris. Mr John Hay, planner, Edin- 

 burgh, readily agreed to form one of the party ; and 

 on an application from Sir George Mackenzie to 

 the late Duke of Buccleuch, His Grace at once 

 gave his approbation to an arrangement by which 

 Mr James Macdonald, chief-gardener at Dal- 

 keith Park, should form another. 



It ua bould set off about the 



middle of July ; but, owing to various circumstances. 



