Miscellaneous. 593 



were submitted previous to their being printed, and distributed to the mem- 

 bers, and it was understood they were to be confirmed at the anniversary meet- 

 ing on the 29th November next, when also the other officers will be appoint- 

 ed. A memoir was then read by A. Irvine, Esq. of Croydon, Surrey, on the im- 

 portance of local botany. He stated that Mexico and the regions of the Andes 

 are known to contain 6000 species, of which not 12 in number are found in 

 Europe. He stated that 1500 species of flowering plants are to be found wild in 

 Britain, of which about two-thirds are to be found within a circle of twenty- 

 five miles round London, as mentioned in Cooper's Flora Melropolitana. Mr 

 Irvine has himself discovered 670 species within two miles of Hampstead, Mid- 

 dlesex. Within an equal distance of Croydon he has found no less than 900 dif- 

 ferent species, and he has reason to suppose many more grow within the same 

 limits. The species of vascular plants found in Great Britain comprise nearly 

 all those growing in Lapland and Sweden, three-fourths of those growing in Ger- 

 many, of which that country is estimated to contain about 2000 different species. 

 The British plants comprise about three-fifths of those found in France, which 

 amount to about 4000 ; the southern provinces bordering on the Mediterranean 

 making a great addition to the number of the species. The Flora of the presi- 

 dency of Madras, as hitherto published, contains 2800 species, but the whole of 

 Hindostan is known to contain 8000. 



Mr Irvine made some observations on the state of chemical botany, and stated 

 that results of the utmost importance to the welfare of mankind, may be expect- 

 ed from further research into the dietetic and medicinal properties of plants. The 

 meeting adjourned till 29th. 



Nov. 29. J. E. Gray, Esq. F. R. S., in the Chair — The first general meet- 

 ing of this society took place on the 29th November 1836, the anniversary 

 of the birth day of the illustrious English botanist, " John Pay" when the laws 

 were confirmed and ordered to be distributed, and the officers elected. The 

 officers for the year 1887 are as follows : — 



John Edward Gray, Esq. F. R. S., President. 

 Dr Macreight, F. L. S. ; Charles Johnston, Esq. Vice-Presidents. 

 John Reynolds, Esq. Treasurer. Daniel Cooper, Esq. Curator. 



W. M. Chatterly, Esq. Secretary. 



Other Members of the Council. 

 Edward Charlesworth, Esq. F. G. S- 

 George E. Dennes, Esq. Dr James Mitchell, F. G. S. 



Joseph Freeman, Esq. Dr Bell Salter. 



Dr M'Intyre, F. L. S. C. E. Sowerby, Esq. A. L. S. 



H. A. Meeson, Esq. W. H. White, Esq. M. M. S. 



The president then addressed the meeting, congratulating them upon the 

 flourishing condition of the society, and also of botanical science, especially in this 

 country, and enumerated the advantages likely to proceed from the establishment 

 of this society and Hotanic Garden in the metropolis. Dr Macreight suggested 

 the propriety of printing the address, which contained so much that was new. im- 

 portant, and interesting ; the matter was referred to the Council. A vote of thanks 

 was proposed, and carried unanimously, to the President for his able and kind 

 address. The meeting then adjourned untill December 1st. 



Dec. 1st — J. E. Gray, Esq. F. R. S., President, in the Chair The names 



