SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
57 
SELBORNE SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. 
/anuary 28. — Though the unfortunate indisposition of Mr. Murray prevented 
the Selbornians from meeting him, Dr. Kendle, F.L.S., kindly came forward in 
his place, and delivered a most interesting address in the Botanical Department 
of the British Museum. The origin and progress of this Department occupied 
the first part of his address, while the latter part of the time was devoted to the 
examination of early botanical collections and herbals, as well as plates and 
illustrations of plants and flowers from many lands. Although Sir Hans Sloane 
left his collections to the nation, at a price far below their value, they remained 
in the Library of the British Museum for some years as part of the Library. The 
Department of Botany had its real origin in the collection of Sir Joseph Banks, 
who bequeathed it at his death in 1820. His Herbarium contained many 
specimens of his own collecting, as well as many more purchased from other 
collectors. These were all in the care of Robert Brown, who, in 1827, was 
appointed the first Keeper of the Botanical Department, a post which he occupied 
until his death in 1858. The Sloane Collection was then removed from the 
Library to its proper home in the Botanical Department. It numbered about 
333 volumes, which, even now, remain distinct from the general Herbarium. 
The original mahogany cases, with, of course, many later additions to contain 
further accumulated treasures, still line the walls. Some of the first dried 
specimens of plants were shown. Dr. Rendle taking a mint {Mentha aijuatica) 
and showing the original specimen, as well as Linnceus’s own description of it 
(in the Hortus Cliffbrtianus), as he saw it growing in Clifibrt’s garden. The 
preparation, docketing and arrangement of the botanical specimens received at 
the Museum was then shown. Attention was afterwards directed to the cases of 
fruits. The natural order Leguminosa was chosen and specimens of pods were 
inspected, ranging from some as long as two feet to others the size of the ordinary 
garden bean and smaller. Some of Sir Hans Sloane’s original specimens in 
wooden boxes with glass tops and bottoms, labelled in his own handwriting, 
excited much interest. That part of the Library exhibited included several 
immense volumes of Sir Hans Sloane’s original specimens, beginning with the 
seaweeds and other plants, mostly the results of his visit to Jamaica. Some 
beautiful drawings by Ferdinand Bauer, the Ortus Sanitatis, Fuchs’s and Gerard’s 
Herbals, and some early editions of Linnaeus’s works were also on view. Ehret’s 
drawings of the Linnaean system, with notes by the great botanist himself, were 
also shown. Mr. Walker, on behalf of the party, which numbered about 35 
Members, expressed the warmest thanks to Dr. Rendle for the great pleasure 
which he had afforded the Selbornians by his lucid and clear remarks on the very 
interesting subject he had chosen. 
Februaiy ii. — By kind permission of the Master and Wardens of the Com- 
pany, between 60 and 70 Selbornians visited the ancient home of the Vintners on 
this Saturday afternoon. A paper read to the visitors by Mr. George Avenall 
disclosed some Interesting items of information with regard to the Guild’s history. 
According to the ever useful Stow, the Ward of Vintry was the place where 
the Bordeaux merchants unloaded their wines and “made sale of them within 
forty days after ” ; but it is probable that the locality was identified with 
the trade from very early times, seeing that the vine and the trade of the vintner 
were introduced by the Romans into Britain. And it is worthy of note that at 
the time of the Norman Conquest vineyards were cultivated in several English 
counties, which seem to show that our climate was more benign 800 years ago 
than it is now. 
If the records are obscure in some places they are precise in others. In 1256 
the vintners defied the King’s Justiciar, Henry de Ba, because he wanted to 
“amerce” them; and again, on Sunday, September 14, 1276, there was a 
“ diligent inquisition ” into the death of one Adam Schot, who had been killed 
by falling to the ground when trying to climb some one else’s pear tree. Here 
are two instances of precision, while, on the other hand, much that we should 
like to know is either unwritten or has been lost. 
The vintners were sometimes in trouble themselves, and sometimes got 
others into trouble. Early in the fourteenth century they were fined for refusing 
to let their customers see the wine drawn from the cask. Further, in 1609, 
