307 
The following correspondence, which is preserved in the Kew 
Library, is interesting as illustrating the ein and functions which 
Sir Joseph Banks fulfilled in regard to Kew 
“ W. T. Arrow, Esq, to The В Hon’ble Sir Josern Banks, Bart, K.B., 
 &c., &c. 
* Sir, 
“Os all subjects the most interesting to the Royal Collection at Kew you 
have been pleased to eae e to be directed by your greater experienee, I therefore 
trouble you with - er. 
g I mayr чй ecollection that previously to the illness wi on чек 1 
it w = Majesty’s oes to » divest that Botanical Collectors were to pared 
and sent abroad for the express object of procuring fresh and ае oice ° supplies of 
seeds, йлы and plants, become necessary to be Балеа їз ее - Royal 
Collection of Kew, made superior to other gardens in England ire ns of the 
frequent importations of the rarer Exotics; in all cases of this kind the subject 
has been referred by His Majesty's command for y our decision to fix 
name those countries rar proper for botanists to explore. 
“The improved state of science in England, the poling desire of novelty in 
botanical pursuits, the ipae deterioration and the loss of dem plants, that no 
rdinary meaus of care could obviate, and withal ithe repose of botanists awaiting 
ther m $ 1 i 
this subject. І therefore entreat your mediation and support of the necessary 
and good cause of sending Botanical Collectors to foreign parts in search of 
supplies. 
Kan e occasions you have named Southern Africa, America, and the 
promising lands of New Holland, as ample fields € a aig harvest. ‚ You 
eins dec visited ne countries, and consequen l 
tracts me for re — 
ЗЕ 
of sound principles and invaluable zeal for the service, 
ia. the best requisite of EM y desire to offer themselves as collectors 
ho will p uty 
о 
this subject Ms His Ro yal Highness the Prince Regent for His i. al Highuess’s 
niost gracious co: . 
Roy: al TN: Kew, 
„ &с. 
«Мау 29 Е (Sigaed) W. T. Arron. 
“To the ight oes - J р ла Banks, 
“T have the net to rg 
* The Rt Hon’ble Sir Josern Baxxs, Bart., K.B., &c., &c., to W. T. Arron, Esq. 
“My DEAR Sim, Soho Square, June 7th, 1814. 
* AMONG the innumerable эч acini I have for a эр time ae 
derived from the gracious — ir beloved and afflieted Monarch, the co: 
rmitted t ng 
those most grateful to my feelings, and I beg you to be assured that as long as I 
— чы permitted to continue it I shall cherish se improve it to the best of my 
un Ating the other indulgencies allowed to me on that head, I was pe ermitted,as - 
you, Sir, know, to draw instructions for those persons whom you from time to time 
recommended as properly qualified to travel as collectors for the Royal Botanic 
Gardens. thin 
detention of waiting for convoy, His Majesty's Gardens at Kew st 
the whole of Europe for the extent of its collections as mi as for the beauty and 
* 'The arrival of the definite treaty with France, and m хавч й тг before any 
collection can be ready to be sent home, ships will sail as the used to do 
without being subjected to any uncertain delays, маса = anxious to ite the estab- 
i of foreign collectors resumed, and the more so as the Emperor of Germany, 
o 
_ who has formerly freighted ships at an immense expense, and ies well-educated 
