4 



balance in favour of the Society was finally ascertained to be 

 115/. 12.S. 



It can hardly be said that these experiments were altogether 

 unsuccessful, for although at the time they certainly were so, 

 if viewed merely as financial speculations, yet they shed a 

 lustre over the Society of which it feels the benefit to the pre- 

 sent day. In consequence, however, of the want of pecuniary 

 success attending them, they were abandoned, and replaced 

 by the Garden UxJdbitions, wliich from that time forward have 

 formed a prominent feature in the history of the Society. It is 

 chiefly to Dr. Lindley that the Society and the world owe the 

 idea of these exhibitions, which not only proved a source of 

 profit and renown to the Society, but have been the means of 

 dehghting and improving thousands who have thronged its 

 exhibitions, and those of the numerous societies all over the 

 world which have followed its example. 



By the year 1826 the heavy charges incurred in the forma- 

 tion of the Garden had begun to affect seriously the pecuniary 

 resources of the Corporation. The large revenue derived from 

 the sale of the Horticultural Transactions began to fall off, annual 

 receipts of other kinds had not increased in proportion to the 

 Garden expenditure, and the floating debt had acquired such 

 formidable dimensions that the Councils ceased to lay before the 

 Anniversary Meetings any account of debts and liabilities after 

 May, 1826. In addition to these sources of embarrassment, dif- 

 ferences arose between some Fellows of the Society and the then 

 Secretary, Mr. Sabine, which finally led to the appointment, on 

 the 2nd of February, 1830, of a Committee of Enqtjiby, which 

 was authorised to investigate " the income and expenditure, the 



