tliere would seem to have been little activity in the early 

 proceedings of the Society ; and the number of new members 

 fell off accordingly. In 1806 there were but seventeen elections ; 

 in 1807 they fell to ten ; and in 1808 were only eight. 



On the I7th of April, 1809, the charter of the Society was 

 signed by King George the Third, from which time forwards, the 

 Society has existed as a coepoeate body, with all the legal 

 powers and jiiivileges attaching to such an institution. 



In 1810, the first number of the Horticultural Transactions 

 made its appearance, a pubhcation which ultimately extended 

 to ten. 4to volumes, replete with Horticultural information 

 both theoretical and practical of the highest value, and from 

 which writers on gardening subjects have not failed to extract 

 a large part of their knowledge. The cost of pubhshing these 

 deservedly celebrated volumes had in 1830 amounted to 

 25,250/. ; and they were not finally discontmued until the 

 year 1848. 



The year 1811 was ushered in by the election, on the 1st 

 of January, of the late Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight as President, 

 vice the Earl of Dartmouth deceased ; an event which had 

 great influence on the future destiny of the Society ; for Mr. 

 Kjiight held his office for twenty-seven years, during all which 

 time his uniivalled knowledge and active mind were directed 

 incessantly towards promoting the true interests of Horticulture 

 and especially of this Corporation. 



At this time, however, the mighty war in which all Euroj)e 

 was engaged pressed heavily on peaceful occupations, and 

 Horticulture seems to have shared fully in the general adversity. 

 In 1809 the number of elections had been fourteen; in 



