XVI 
INTRODUCTION 
The vast majority of the visitors to Kew doubtless do not realise 
that they owe its very existence to the inconspicuous side of its work, 
of which they can know little except what they can glean from the 
museums. It is improbable that the charms of gardening alone 
could have induced the Government to maintain it. Like that of 
many Royal residences in the past, its existence might have been 
transient but for the accidental circumstance that the Princess Dowager 
of Wales in 1759 — by a notable coincidence the same year in which 
the British Museum was opened — commenced a small botanical 
garden at Kew for her own gratification. George III., who revered 
the memory of his mother as much as he detested that of his grand- 
mother, Queen Caroline, and whose scientific tastes have never re- 
ceived due recognition, continued and extended the collections. In 
this he had the encouragement and advice of Sir Joseph Banks, who 
accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage, and was for forty-two 
years President of the Royal Society. It was mainly due to Banks 
that two of the main features of Kew were started which are in vigorous 
operation at the present day : one was the making Kew the depot for 
the interchange of plants with the Colonies, “which must prove of 
great advantage to the commerce of these kingdoms ” ; the other 
was the training of young gardeners for botanical and cultural 
posts abroad. Nelson, who was sent from Kew, stuck to Bligh 
in the mutiny of the Bounty, and died from exposure in the 
boat which was set adrift. Another Kew man, Hooper, was sent 
with Lord Amherst’s embassy to China. He remained in the East 
and helped to create Buitenzorg, the Dutch Kew in Java. So 
great was the prestige of Kew training that the Royal Family long 
retained the right of nominating two Hanoverians for employment. 
Sir Joseph Banks was in advance of his time, and saw clearly 
that the Greater Britain would require the aid of a national botanical 
establishment for the scientific exploration and material develop- 
ment of the future Colonies. His aim was to secure this at Kew 
under Royal protection. He and George III. died in the same year. 
The decay of the King’s mind had seemed hopelessly to frustrate 
