405 
rived their ideas of beauty and proportion? 
It is, however, neceffary to the progrefs 
of this fcience, that the fludent fhould be 
fupplied with a&tual and living {pecimens. 
The imperfe€tion of language to give an 
adequate idea of any vegetable produc- 
tion, muf be generally admitted ; and the 
rnoft beautiful and accurate drawings fall 
infinitely fhort of that delicacy and mi- 
nutenefs af parts, on which its fcientific 
diftinGtions effentially depend. Even the 
plants themfelves, when collected and ae 
tempted to be prelerved, are deprived of 
fo many peculiarities incident to their ha- 
bit and growth, that it is only from living 
plants that we can flatter curfelves with 
the hope of obtaining thofe fubfantial dis 
tin&tions which are neceffary to difcrimi- 
nate thefe numerous productions, or of 
extending the limits of the fcience itfeif. 
Without public inftitutions for the pur- 
pole of preferving fuch plants as are im- 
ported into the country, and in the acqui- 
fition of which fo many men of grea 
learning and talents have devoted them- 
felves to long and dangerous voyages and 
expeditions, there is every realon to be- 
Reve that confiderable numbers will foon 
be lot tous. The great repofitories are 
at prefent thofe of the nurfery-men in the 
vicinity of London; but when profit is 
the chief object, it is to be feared thofe 
plants alone will be propagated which will 
belt repay the attention of the cultivator. 
Many {cientific and opulent individuals in 
different parts of the kingdom have con- 
tributed not only to eftadlith this fudy by 
their wealth, but to extend it by their 
talents; yet the tafte of an individual may 
be fuppoléd to attach to fome favourite 
clafs of productions, and at all events, a 
private collection cannot be expected, et- 
ther in copioufnefs or permanency, to con- 
tend with a public inititution, which is 
calculated to comprehend every known ve- 
getable production, and to preferve them 
for a continued feries of years, which in 
many inftances is indifpeniably neceffary 
to their perfeétion. 
Of the expence and attention beftowed 
by many refpectable individuals in fup- 
porting a plealure-garder, the environs of 
the town afford numerous inftances ; what 
then muft be the advantages of a garden 
properly laid out, and Supplied with every 
beautiful prceduéiton of vegetable nature 
which this kingdom ‘affords, yet enjoyed 
‘at the fmall expence of an annual fub{crip- 
tion? Even this fubfcription will, it is 
robable, be more than repaid by the 
privileges to which it is intended the fub- 
{cribers fhall be entitied, in having fuch 
Propzfals for a Botanical Garden at Liverpool, fees is 
plants or feeds divided among them as may 
be the increafe of the garden, and can be 
occafionally {pared without impoverifhing 
the colle€tion. To thofe who are already 
engaged in making a feleétion of plants, 
this inftitution will afford conftant affift- 
ance, and may frequently preclude the 
necefiity of obtaining them trom a diftance, 
at great-expence and rifk. — 
Propofals for a Botanical Garden. 
I. It is propofei to purchafe a piece of 
ground in the vicinity of Liverpool, which 
fhall be laid out as may be afterwards deter- 
mined upon, in fuch a manner as beft to pro- 
mote the objeét of the inftitution, and at the 
fame time to afford to the proprietors.a plea- 
fant retreat for exercife and recreation, 
il. Different parts of the ground will be 
devoted to the culture of aquatics, of alpine 
and bog plants, and other vegetable produc- 
tions which require any peculiarity of ioil or 
fituation. 
Ili. Confervatories and ftoves proper for 
the cultivation of exotics will form amim- 
portant part of the eftablifhment. 
IV. An elegant building will alfo be ere@- 
ed in the garden, part of which will te a 
houfe for the principal gardener; the remain- 
der will be devoted to a Botanical Library, 
which will contain the principal works upoa 
the fubje@ 5 and a Mufeum, fitted up to re- 
ceive fpecimens of dried plants, as well indi- 
genous as exotic. 
V. It is propofed, that there fhall be only 
a limited number of fubfcribers, who are 
to pay upon admiifion the fum of twelve 
guineas, and an annual fubfcription of two 
guineas. 
" WI. Each fubfcriber is to be confidered as 
the proprietor of a fhare in the inftitution, 
which he wiil be at liberty to transfer or 
bequeath to any perfon whatever, provided * 
the perfon to whom the fhare is transferred or 
bequeathed, ailent to and fign the laws of: 
tbe inftitution, e% 
VII. Any perfon who may become the pro- 
prietor of more than one fhare, fhall be pere 
mitted to make an annual nomination of any 
lady or gentleman, who, whilit the nomi- 
nation continues in force, fhall be entitled to 
all the advantages of a fubfcriber. 
Vill. All ftrangers recommended by a 
fub{criber may have free accefs to the gar- 
Gen, upon entering their names and places of 
abode, ina book kept by the porter for that” 
purpofe. 
IX. The concerns of the garden are to be 
managed by a Prefident, to be elected an- 
nually, and a Committee of twelve. pro- 
prietors, four of whom fhall be elected every 
four years from among the fubfcribers at 
large. 
&, The Committee fhall appoint annually 
from among themfelves a Treafurer, who 
fhall’ manage all the pecuniary concerns, and 
alfo four vilitors, who fhall have the more im~ 
mediate . 
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