June 24. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
plants—and I have seen the poor prisoner, condemned to 
linger out year after year within the narrow limits of his 
place of confinement, gardening in his cell (loud cheers). 
Of the exponents of a language so universal—of the patient 
followers of nature in their efforts to produce the finest 
forms and the richest colours of her most lovely creations, 
which we enjoy alike at all times of life, and which, whether 
on the bosom of beauty, or the breast of old age, are alike 
lovely—surely it is not too much to say that such men have 
a hold upon our remembrance when they themselves need 
I comfort (cheers). And now, therefore, I come at last to 
. the three-times-three cheers with which I ask you most 
heartily to drink success to “ The Gardeners’ lloyal Benevo¬ 
lent Institution, and health to its noble President, the l)uke 
of Devonshire " (loud and continued cheering). 
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm. 
Sir Joseph Paxton said, when he entered the room that 
evening, he was not aware that he should be called upon to 
respond to the toast which they had just heard given in such 
feeling language by the Chairman. That toast was to him 
a mod impressive and important one, and resolved itself 
into two parts. The first was success to this Institution, 
and that required from him the expression of his warmest 
sympathy, because he had been placed by good fortune in a 
position to assist it. The latter part of the toast received 
from him his warmest testimony of lively gratitude, for the 
manner in which the company had drank the health of the 
noble Duke, the President of the Society, with whom he had 
been connected for a period of twenty-six years. He was 
perfectly well aware that he need not make any remark on 
the character of the President, or on the importance of the 
Society, having the Duke of Devonshire for its President 
(cheers); because they well knew, in common with himself, 
that the noble Duke had done more, and had given more 
assistance to horticulture than any one individual in the 
kingdom. He hoped those around him would not think him 
egotistical in saying, that he looked at the vast improvements 
which had taken place as attributable to the great support 
which the Duke of Devonshire had given through him (Sir 
Joseph Paxton) to every branch of horticulture. Ho did 
not mean to say that he had been in advance of his neigh¬ 
bours, but he meant to say that the encouragement of the 
noble Duke had given a feature and an embodiment to the 
science, and had brought forward the energies of many 
intelligent men, from which great results had accrued. It 
was not many years ago, perhaps some few years ago only, 
that a great stimulus was given to the science by the 
erection of the great conservatory at Chatsworth. One 
acre was first brought into cultivation under a new principle ; 
and this gave a stimulus to increased exertion,—that stimulus 
was continued, and he received encouragement as great as 
ever. The Crystal Palace had emanated from the example 
at Chatsworth, and he considered that the merit of the 
Crystal structure which had been the delight of this and all 
civilized nations of Europe, was as much due to the Duke 
of Devonshire, as to himself (applause). Through the noble 
Duke’s liberality, he had the means to make various ex¬ 
periments. The Duke had ever been his constant friend, and 
had supported him through all his trials. When the question 
was raised as to the Crystal Palace standing, the Duke gave 
him his most hearty assistance. But it was eventually 
decided that the Palace should not stand in Hyde Park, and 
after some time he was solicited, by a spirited company, to 
aid them in removing the Crystal Palace to a new site. The 
matter was subsequently argued in the House of Peers, and 
there the noble Duke gave him his cordial support. Within 
the last week the subject had become one of much greater 
interest,, and he should have a new design shortly ready, which 
i had more consideration from him than tire original design had. 
I In reference to his new design, the edifice would be a more 
i magnificent pile (at Sydenham). That in Hyde Park had a 
transept 108 feet high, but that at Sydenham would be with 
three transepts of 200 feet high. In this new building 
would be exhibited the magnificence of nature, in the shape 
of plants and shrubs. The gentlemen who had engaged 
in the undertaking were spirited men, and he had no 
doubt that by that day twelvemonth he should be able 
! to give the public a good account of the Crystal Palace. j 
He now came to the Gardeners' Benevolent Fund. He 
really could not find words adequate to express his admir- | 
187 
ation of, and his gratitude to, his friend, Mr. Charles 
Dickens, for the very feeling, and warm, and enthusiastic 
manner in which he had introduced the toast to their 
notice. He was sure he only spoke the sentiments of 
every one present in thanking their Chairman most cor¬ 
dially. He was satisfied that his amiable friend had never 
done more good in his life-time than in patronizing this 
institution (cheers). 
Sir J. V. B. Johnstone regretted the unavoidable absence 
of two noble friends of his, inasmuch as that fact involved 
him in the task of proposing the toast which he was about 
to give. The toast he had to propose, was the health of ono 
whose name and reputation were as familiar to the mouths 
of Englishmen as his own “ household words ” (great cheer¬ 
ing). He presumed it was not necessary for him to say 
that it was the health of the Chairman, who had been a 
most successful labourer in the garden of literature. He 
had, on various occasions, garnered bouquets of varied 
forms, and their fragrance remained to charm and delight 
all. He would fain hope that those which were even now 
annuals would become perennials. He was sure the com¬ 
pany would join him in assuring the respected Chairman 
how deeply the Society appreciated his presence amongst 
them that day. If their Chairman was not able to make 
them all unbutton their breeches’ pockets, he did not know 
who could (laughter). He hoped every one would join him 
in giving nine times nine cheers. He had to propose the 
health of the Chairman (drank with immense enthusiasm). 
Mr. Dickens briefly returned thanks ; and after the “ Vice 
Presidents,” “Nursery and Seedsmen,” “Botanical and Hor¬ 
ticultural Societies of London,” “ Stewards,” and “ Ladies,” 
had been appropriately drank, the company separated. 
To the exertions of the Secretary, Mr. E. II. Cutler, great 
credit was due for the manner in which the entertainment 
was got up, especially with reference to the arrangement of 
the very elegant dessert. The entertainment was one which 
gave universal satisfaction. 
Mr. Higgs was the toastmaster, and discharged the duties 
of his office with his usual discretion. 
FORSYTH MSS. 
Of the writer of the following letter, Mb. Logan 
Henderson, we regret that we possess no biographical 
particulars, except that he was botanist to the Emperor 
of Russia. It is dated Crimea, 12th September, 1787. 
MR. L. HENDERSON TO MR. FORSYTH. 
The difficulty of getting packets, or even letters, conveyed 
with any degree of safety, has prevented me from sending 
to you many seeds which I have collected here. I now send 
you a few seeds of the plant which they use as horse-radish, 
the root grows to above three and-a-half inches in diameter, 
and some feet long. I have them two feet long, and near 
that size at the smallest end. I have not had an oppor¬ 
tunity of examining the flower, which is white, hut I believe 
it is a Crambe.* The leaf is broad, ragged, and waved, 
something like Scotch kale. I shall be glad if you can cul¬ 
tivate that plant in England, as it is much preferable to 
horse-radish, as it is less heating. If I eat the smallest 
quantity of the English horse-radish at night, it throws me 
into fever; but a plateful of the sort we have here does not 
affect me. I mention this as a proof of its good quality. 
It grows on dry pasture ground. You will also receive some 
seed of a very beautiful winged Salvia, with a trailing stalk, 
and very large white flower spotted with red; this is a 
species undescribed, and peculiar to the Crimea. The seed 
is of last year; I have not been able to procure any this 
year. It also grows on dry ground. The seed of the 
Salvia with the purple bractca is of this year, but it seems to 
degenerate on cultivation. You will receive a few seeds of 
a red bramble, which is, as I believe, a new species. I found 
it in plenty near the top of Cheterdag, our highest moun¬ 
tain here. The Gypsopliila perfoliala is a new variety, witli 
a red flower. 
I have several other seeds for you, hut they are not now 
at hand, and I don’t wish to let slip this opportunity. As 
* It is Crambe cordifolia, or Heart-leaved Sea-kale. 
