sweet] 
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGY 
571 
charged with having received a box of plants knowing them 
to have been stolen from the Royal Gardens, Kew, but was 
acquitted after trial at the Old Bailey on February 24 , 1824 . 
In 1826 he left the Colvills, and until June 1831 , when his 
health gave way, he occupied himself wholly in the production 
of his beautiful botanical works, while still cultivating plants 
in his gardens, first at Parson’s Green, Fulham, and later at 
Chelsea. He died January 20 , 1835 , leaving a widow, but no 
family. He had been a Fellow of the Linnean Society since 
February 14 , 1812 . 
He is said to have kept most of the Sylviadae in confine- 
ment for many years, and observed them closely in their 
natural state. His British Warblers appears to have met 
with much misconception at the hands of bibliographers. 
The “ Six ” plates on title appears to have been generally 
taken (cf. Coues, p. 378 ) for a misprint for “ sixteen.” and few 
seem to have been aware that the book exists with both six 
and sixteen plates. We consider that the work was first 
issued with six coloured plates, with full descriptive text, 
while later on the other ten plates with extended text followed. 
Neville Wood ( Ornith . Text Booh , p. 37 , 1836 ) gives the dates 
of issue as 1823 - 32 , while C. T. Wood ( Ornith . Guide , 1835 ) 
says it “ appeared in 3 Numbers.” We have handled three 
copies with the text to the six coloured plates as mentioned, 
and abbreviated text to the other ten. 
1823[— 32.] The | British Warblers. | — | An | Account of the genus | 
Sylvia ; | illustrated by | six[teen] beautifully coloured figures, | 
taken from | Living Specimens in the Author’s Collection ; | 
with | directions for their treatment according to the | author’s 
method : | in which is explained, | how the interesting & fine 
singing birds belonging | to this genus may be managed, | and 
kept in as good health as any common | birds whatever. | — | 
By Robert Sweet, F.L.S. | [&c. 2 lines] | The Drawings by E. D. 
Smith, artist for the Geramaceae. | — | London : | published 
for the Author. | [&c. 2 lines.] | 1823[-32.] 
Collation — 1 vol. 8vo, title +pp. 48 (?) paged only to p. 24, 
and 16 col. plates. (Pub. 16s. 6d.) 
Idem. Abbreviated edition. Perhaps the earliest issue ? 
(vide ante) containing 6 col. plates only, with the full text to each 
as above (=pp. 1-18+ title), and with abbreviated text to Nos. 
