168 



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 



and to afford such assistance in the furtherance of his object as may conduce 

 to his security and to his speedy return to Europe with his collections for 

 the said Society. 



(Signed) George Bancroft. 



Navy Department, July 10, 1846. 



Copies of these letters were immediately despatched to Messrs. 

 Barron, Forbes, & Co., at St. Bias, with a request that they 

 would forward them to Mr. Hartweg ; and the Council fully 

 believe that the officers of the American squadron would not 

 hesitate to act up to the spirit of their instructions. Under 

 these circumstances, and considering that he was also under the 

 protection of the English Admiral on the Californian station, 

 the Council trust that the cessation of all intelligence from Mr. 

 Hartweg for so long a period has only arisen from some of those 

 accidents to which communications at so great a distance are 

 always liable in unsettled countries, and in time of war.* 



Garden. 



With the assistance and by the advice of the Garden Com- 

 mittee, the Council have continued to take means for the im- 

 provement of the Society's Garden, which, although they have 

 not involved any considerable outlay of money, will nevertheless, 

 it is hoped, add materially to the efficiency of the establishment. 



In addition to maintaining the buildings in a state of thorough 

 repair, and of providing whatever was needed for the due culti- 

 vation of the ground, the addition of new buildings has not been 

 neglected. The anxiety of the Council to improve the Society's 

 financial affairs has however confined the expenditure upon new 

 buildings to the construction of some new brick-pits for the pro- 

 tection of half-hardy plants ; of about 80 feet of small glazed 

 span-roof buildings, for the reception of new shrubs brought 

 home by Mr. Fortune and others ; and to the completion of a 

 ridge and furrow conservatory presented to the Garden by 

 Messrs. Hartley & Co. of Sunderland. This house was intended 

 by the donors for a specimen of a greenhouse which could be 

 contracted for at a fixed price per square foot of the area which 

 it covers, and promised to be useful as a shelter for greenhouse 

 plants, or as a winter garden, or for any of the other purposes 

 for which glazed buildings are required. Owing, however, to 

 the inexperience of Mr. Hartley's workmen, and to defects in its 

 construction, it was found to demand considerable alteration, the 



* Since this Report was read, letters have been received from Mr. Hart- 

 weg, dated Monterey, Jan. 12, 1847, together with a continuation of his 

 Journal, which is printed in a subsequent part of this volume. 



