171 
PART Iir. NATURAL HISTORY. 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
Article I. — Ideas on formuig a New Garden, in the nc'ujh- 
hourhood of Londoti, for the collective purposes of the 
Zoological, Horticultural, and Medico-Botanic Societies. 
By Joseph Paxton, F. H.S., Gardener and Forester 
to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, and one of the 
Conductors of this Magazine. 
The chief reason of our calling the attention of the public to this subject, 
at the present time, is from the announcement of the new Zoological 
Garden, now forming on the Surrey side of London. 
Six years ago, not a Zoological Society existed in this kingdom, but 
now, it appears, there are to be two in the vicinity of the metropolis ; 
and in the country, one or two more are in agitation : — this is as it should 
be, in such towns as Liverpool, Manchester, &c. and we feel decided 
pleasure in the prospect of any means that tend to the improvement of 
Science ; we cannot, however, help observing, that we fear Science will 
derive but little real benefit from the establishment of another Zoological 
Garden, near London. The projectors will excuse our remarks, — but 
if their assiduous and very valuable exertions, had been united to those 
of the original Society, a Garden might have been formed, far surpassing 
any thing of the kind ever yet established. 
The income of the Regent's-Park Society, may have spoken volumes in 
favour of the new establishment, but a little consideration will convince 
the latter, that they must necessarily labour under many difficulties, in 
the way of public support. Most of the nobility, and many scientific 
men, lend their aid to the Regent's-Park Society; and the distance that 
the new projected Garden, will be from the fashionable circles of the 
West end, will make it probable that its main support will be derived from 
individuals residing in the immediate neighbourhood ; this being the case, 
the limits of its funds, we fear, will be so contracted, as to prevent it ever 
becoming of sufficient interest to answer the ends originally intended by 
its projectors. But supposing our conjectures to be ill-founded, and the 
new Society does meet with support and patronage from the higher cir- 
cles; — Will not such division of patronage and support, greatly injure 
the interests of both Societies? Instead of promoting Science, will not 
these steps, in the end, be the means of retarding its progress? Before 
