PREFACE. 



of New York, and into Canada. On his return, he embarked 

 at New York with his whole collection, and arrived in London 

 at the commencement of the present year. This mission was 

 executed by Mr. Douglas with a success beyond expecta- 

 tion : he obtained many plants which were much wanted, and 

 greatly increased our collection of fruit trees by the acqui- 

 sition of several sorts only known to us by name. It would 

 be unjust here to omit mentioning the uniform kindness and 

 attention with which he was received in every part of the 

 United States that he visited. It is most gratifying to have 

 to add, that the presents of cultivated plants to the Society 

 embraced nearly every thing which it was desirous to obtain ; 

 and that the liberality with which they were given was only 

 equalled by the hospitality with which the Collector was 

 received. 



So well were the Council satisfied with the conduct of Mr. 

 Douglas, that they readily embraced an offer which was 

 made in the spring of the present year by the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, to give him a passage out to the mouth of the river 

 Columbia, on the north-west coast of America; and he 

 accordingly sailed for that station in July last. His return is 

 expected in 1826 ; and, when we consider how rich in plants 

 the country is to which he is gone, we may indulge the hope, 

 that most valuable additions will be made by him to the hardy 

 inhabitants of our gardens. About the same time another 

 opportunity offered, which appeared too tempting to be lost : 

 Lord Byron, who had been appointed to the command of 

 the Blonde frigate, destined to carry home the attendants 

 of the late King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands, proposed 

 to the Society to take on board a collector, and to afford him 



