HISTORY OF THE CLUB. 
Botanical Society of Xon^on, 
FOUNDED IN 1838. 
wait rooiwi at Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London. 
President — Dr. J. E. Gr-W, F. R.S., British Museum. 
Acti?ig Secretary — G. E. Dennes. 
Curator — Daniel Cooper, Author of “Flora Metropolitana.” 
Treasurer — John Reynolds. 
This Society formed a library and herbarium, and held monthly 
meetings. The “Phytologist” was started in J841, and in the early 
volumes are accounts of the Society’s meetings. The first Edin- 
burgh “ Catalogue of British Plants ” was published in 1841. The 
first annual distribution of plants was probably initialed by Mr. 
H. C. Watson when he joined the Society some years after itj 
foundation. He drew up the first “London Catalogue” in 1844 
Boswell Syme came from Edinburgh to London in 1851, bringing 
with him a large quantity of plants from the Scottish Highlands 
Mr. J. Gilbert Baker joined the Society in 1851. About 185 
it was found that the funds of the Society were not large enough t 
pay a Curator and keep up rooms in the centre of London, 
was accordingly dissolved, and its possessions were sold by auctioi 
The herbarium was in part bought by Mr. F. Y. Brocas an 
Mr. John Hardy. Mr. J. Gilbert Baker volunteered to carry o 
the distribution at Thirsk till the Society could be reconstitute 
on a new basis, but this never came to pass. Mr. Baker coi 
tinued the distribution from Thirsk from 1857 to 1866, an 
then for a short time in London assisted by H. Trimen. d’lu 
Mr. T. R. A. Briggs, the author of the “ Flora of Idymouth 
undertook the task. 
