94 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
pany with one another (judging from the delightful recollec- 
tions I have of the one I was enabled to join in), I cannot 
but consider that the Society has had a beneficial influence 
on the progress of Botany, by making new votaries in the 
train, and has not been deficient in social comfort , which 
should be one of our most ardent desires. 
At the request of several of the original members of the 
Society, the Council have determined on publishing the first 
part of its Proceedings, which, they trust, will show that they 
have not altogether been in the back ground, considering 
the short time the Society has been in existence. They 
moreover trust that each individual member will subscribe 
for a copy, and will likewise use his endeavours with his 
friends to do as much as possible in helping to defray the 
expenses attendant on them ; owing to the low annual sub- 
scription and the several advantages the members receive for 
it, they are not enabled to present them gratuitously to the 
members. 
With regard to the Botanic Garden, as proposed as 
one of the objects of this Society, your Council have been 
delayed from entering into any speculations of the kind 
until they feel assured of its success, but have determined to 
proceed surely but slowly in working out that desideratum 
and have set aside all idea at present of carrying it 
into effect ; moreover, 1 find a Society is attempted to be 
established in this metropolis under the name of the Royal 
Botanic Society, for the express purpose of forming a garden 
in the Regent’s Park, which will, I am told, be open to visit- 
ors on the same terms as the gardens of the Zoological So- 
ciety. But while wishing that Society every success, as I 
always have wished every Society that has been established 
for the spread of knowledge and pleasure among the people, 
I think it incumbent on myself to mention, that in their 
Prospectus I find they have placed my name down amongst 
the list of its “ Proposed Fellows ” without the slightest 
authority on my part, and I am informed that the same has 
been done with one of my friends, a member of this society ; 
which is the more to be regretted, as from the expensive 
manner in which the Society appears to proceed, I have 
determined not to be in any way connected with it until it be 
firmly established. 
Having now referred to each of the heads which appear 
most important in direct communication with the Society, I 
wish to say a few words on the progress which Botany has 
made during the past year. Before so doing, it may be as 
