84 
“The foundation of Kew as a a. establishment dates 
from 1759, in which year the Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, 
Dowager Princess of Wales (who si at Kew till her death in 
1772), established a Botanic, or, as it was then called, a Physic 
Garden. In the development of the collections the Dowager 
Princess of Wales had the assistance of John Stuart, third Earl of 
Bute, who had been Lord of the Bedehamber to the Prince. He 
was the possessor of a fine collection of botanical books and used 
a house ewe the Royal Gardens, now known as Church 
House, as a libra 
“The Earl ans Bale fell out of favour with George III., and 
retired to his house near Christchurch, in Hampshire, where he 
died from the effects of a fall while collecting a plant, in 1792. 
* His place as scientific adviser at Kew, and, in point of fact, as 
honorary director, was taken by Sir Joseph Banks, the president 
of the Royal Society and a personal friend of the King. 
was the possessor of one of the finest libraries of botanical books 
=> has ever been er The celebrated Robert Brown was 
his librarian, and of his duties was to afford scientific 
assistance to the min of the Royal Botanie Gardens at 
Kew nks bequeathed his library a few months before his 
death to the trustees of the British Museum, where it is still 
preserved. But he left Brown the use of it during his lifetime, 
and an annuity, on condition that he continued his scientific aid 
to Kew. 
“ Besides this, the official residence of the Superintendent, now 
used as the business offices of the establishment, contained a 
room which was used as a library. In 1841 the — of 
Kew M transferred from the Crown to the public char The 
books in his care disponit being regarded probably: eiit 
as the ans re property of the superintendent, or as that of the 
Crown. 
* During the reign of George IV. Sir Everard Home, who 
appears to have succeeded to the honorary position occupied by 
Banks (Kew Bulletin, 1891, p. 319), suggested the establishment 
of a library at Kew. "The charge was to be entrusted to the well- 
nown botanical artist, Francis Bauer. According to a statement 
in Loudon's Gardener's M Seg iei xvii., 1841, p. 187) * The 
house now belonging to the King of Hanover was purchased for 
this purpose ; the shelves were prepared, all is botanical books 
in the King's library were to be removed there, and some had, in 
fact, been sent down, when, unfortunate iden dispute arose 
respecting the land, to which the Woods and Forsite laid claim.’ 
“This statement is not absolutely exact. The house never 
belonged to the King of vec though it was for a time 
occupied by him. It was known as Hu er Er. having nn 
the property of a successful ica of business, Robert Hun 
who had settled at Kew. It was pap shay in 1818 by George Sits 
at the instance of Sir Joseph Banks, and for the purpose—to whic 
it has long since been devoted—-of a library. Sir Everard Home 
simply endeavoured, therefore, to carry into effect Banks’s scheme. 
In 1823 George IV. sold the house and grounds to the nation, i 
use as a library having, apparently, as stated above, 
abandoned. In 1830 William IV. granted it to the Duchess of 
