Mr. URBAN,

THE

Aug. 1.

HE highly improved state of our agr culture, the grand source of the strength and wealth of all nations, has owed its advancement in a great degree to that practical know ledge of Botahy so much aimed at by mankind; not only by familiarising a more perfect acquaintance with such vegetables as are used as food for animals, but also with such as have been deemed noxious to them, or which have a tendency to exhaust the soil. Much information as to the true nature of such vegetables has been discovered through the medium of the Botanic Garden established by the late Mr. Curtis; and therefore I trust a short history of that institution will not prove unacceptable to many of your readers who have the interest of the farming community at heart.

The science of Botany was formerly considered useful, only as an appendage to Medicine; but later times have proved its utility in promoting the views of the artist by assisting him in his researches, and in particular of that class of men whose business is the culture of the earth with a view to produce the greatest quantity of nutritious food for its inhabitants.

Stilling fleet was among the first of our philosophers who seemed to be aware that the husbandry of this country could be benefited by the introduction of many plants, which had been before cither passed over or unknown; and in particular some of our indigenous grasses. With the view of engaging the farmer's attention thereto, he wrote his "Calendar of Flora," a work, which from its superior merit had its due share of attention; yet it appeared that, for want of an opportunity of observing the different plants is a growing state, it fell short of the very laudable object it was intended to accomplish. Mr. Curtis (then an apothecary in Gracechurch-street) seeing the necessity of this, declined the medical profession, and formed the plan of a Botanic Garden in Lambeth-marsh, for the purpose of bringing into one point of view, and of cultivating for experiment, all the plants that are indigenous to this country, and also such as were employed in medicine, or were grown for feeding cattle. In order that students might have an opGENT. MAG. August, 1810.

portunity of studying these severally, they were scientifically arranged in separate quarters of the garde, with their proper names both in Latin and English affixed to each; and, that a further knowledge of each might be acquired, a Library, containing the best works on Botany, Agriculture, and the other sciences depending thereon, was placed therein. This Garden, thus instituted, might have been considered as having arrived at a degree of perfection with regard to the objects it embraced: it was, however, after a few years, found expedient to remove it to brompton, where he had the pleasure of finding it encouraged by the patronage of many of the nobility and other personages, celebrated no less by their rank in life than by their laudable endeavours to promote the p. blic welfare.

In the year 1792, I had the good fortune to become a pupil of Mr. Curtis, and six years afterwards I joined him in partnership; but two years had not elapsed before i had, with the rest of mankind, to mourn the loss of my muca-respected friend. The establishment was still continued there, till within the last o years; when, the lease of the land being nearly expired, I was induced to remove it nearer London, and have now the happiness of having again in great measure completed it; with every prospect of bringing it to a state of perfection equal to any Garden of the kind in Europe.

The subjoined plan is intended to give an idea of its form and extent; and the references to the particu ar departments will explain its arrangement. A course of Lectures on Botany is annually read in the Garden, in which its connexion with Agriculture and the Arts, and the advantages to be derived from a knowledge of the vegetable Kingdom, are pointed out. it is also my intention to examine, by actual expe riments made on the spot, all those plants which are likely to possess su prior properties for agricultural purposes; in which plans i have the hotour of the concurrence of the Board of Agriculture. I trust, therefore, I shall, with the local advantages at tending the present scite of the Liarden, be enabled to make it more worthy

the

A RELATION of a JOURNEY from
LONDON to VIENNA, &c. 1664.

(Continued from p. 23.)

EPARTURE from Vienna. "On

the clock, all the persons of quality, that accompanied Count Lesley in that Embassy, followed him to the water-side in coaches with six horses apiece; but the throngs of spectators were so great (for never the like Embassy was seen at Vienna) they could scarce get to the barges, which, though large, and six and thirty in number, were but sufficient for his Excellency and his company, which amounted to 222.". -"The first of June we arrived at Buda, formerly the Metropolis and Royal Residence of Hungary, and indeed for the pleasant scituation, a place truly Regal, having on the one side hills fruitful in vines, and large and rich meadows on the other, with the Danube gliding by them. The place looks as designed for the Emperour of Hungary, and, though formerly beautified with many noble fabricks, now ruinous and decayed. Here the Ambassador, at landing, was ushered into a Royal tent. The Ambassador sate in a chair, the Basha, &c. sitting like taylors on carpets. The Janizaries lookt like stout fellows, but the horse (except some of the officers') had little and loose necks, and went tossing up their noses like camels in the air; and the Turks ride so short, as 'tis a kind of wonder to see how they can run so madly about; and with their half-pikes in their hands, cling so fast to their little, and so uneasie saddles."-" Caftans resem ble porters' cloaks, with long sleeves to the ground, and the arms thrust out of the slits; and are of a stuff like Italian brocades, of thread and silk, with a mixture of silver."-" Their Musick is the worst in the world. One of them played on a cittern, and sang before his Excellency; but it was like Tom-a-Bedlam, only a little sweetened with a Portugal-like mimickry. And the musick most esteemed among the souldiery is, the shrillest and squeak ingest trumpet that ever was heard, and a bagpipelike instrument, such as accompanies the jackanapes to the bear-garden, with other ill pipes and hoboys, approaching the nearest to our worst city-waits.”—“ The four Bashas, with

the

the Aga and Beque, which accompanied the Ambassadour to and from the Visier, dined that day with his Excellency; and, drinking very plentifully of the wine, pocketted up in their breasts abundance of sweetmeats and sugar-plums."- "All the women generally (those only excepted that are old or very young) have their faces muffled with linnen, so as little is seen but their eyes, and a part of their noses.""The prime Collonel of the Janizaries rode before the Ambassadour, and alone, with a huge and flat white feather, like an old and large Queen Elizabeth's fan, but four times as wide, and the corner forward, not flat."-"The Library at Buda was the glory of the world, for it had a thousand volumes of rare and choice books of excellent Authors of the Eastern Church; how poor a thing 'tis now, since the few books it hath are of little or no use, being almost consumed by moths, dust, and rats."- "The Christians of Belgrade, not accustomed to see so many persons together of the same faith with them, especially of quality, were transported with joy at the Ambassadour's arrival, particularly a Greek Merchant, Signiore Marco Manicato, who, showing us all sort of harmless liberty and freedom, made us excellent chear, and, producing the best wines, did put us in mind of the antient merry Greeks; for he, drinking like a fish, and beating a drum betwixt-whiles with his bare fingers only, and singing to it, was so pleasant and jocund, that he flung, as we usually say, the house out of the windows. His drum was remarkable, for 'twas only a huge earthen bottle, in fashion like a wide-neck ale-jug, with the bottom out; whose top was only covered and stopt with thin vellum or parchment, and on this, with his fingers, he made a pleasing noise."-" Their best horse are the Spahyes, whose merit is rewarded with lands, which are called Timarrs, and are like our old knights' services here; a horseman hath a village, perhaps some a farm, some more." "We came to Jogada, a place naturally pleasant and fit for delights, for it abounded with fountains. Allured with this sweetness, we tarried here two days, and withal because it was said to be half-way be tween Vienna and Constantinopte."

At Musa-Basha-Palanka, the Bul

garian women welcomed us after a new fashion, who, meeting us, strewed bits of butter and salt on the way, presaging and wishing thereby a prosperity to our journey and affairs." "At Philippopolis there is an old tower, and in it a clock, which seemed the stranger to us, since in this vast and barbarous country we saw none before."-" At Adrianople the Grand Signior was ready for the audience. The Ambassadour was led and ushered in, and the Cavaliers soon after introduced in order between two Turks of good quality. All being retired and gone but the Ambassadour, the resi dent, and the interpreter, the last presented the Emperour's letters to the Ambassadour, and he to the Sultan, who, resplendent and glittering with his gold and his gems (which no where are fixed, but carried by camels wherever he goes) looked rather like one from a bed than a throne. After the complements on the part of the Emperour, the publick and private. causes of the Embassy were briefly recited. The Sultan replyed, he was glad to hear of the Emperour's health, and bad the Ambassadour welcome. As to what might conduce to the happiness of both Empires, he said very little, but bad the Ambassadour go to Constantinople, whence he would not be long absent, his Maritime expedition being over; after which the Ambassadour (who alone kist the hem of his garment) repeating his obeisances, returned to his quarters.""At Mahomet Aga's tent, because the Captain of the Castle came not early enough to pay him his respects, as soon as he arrived, he was, as he sat cross-legged, after a little rubbing in Turkish, kickt down with a foot on his breast, and so lying on his back, his leggs were straightway held up, till our Aga, in six or seven blows, broak the biggest end of a great and strong stick on his feet; which was done in a trice, ere my Lord (who was in the tent with the cholerick Aga) could rise up, and catch him by the arm, to hinder him from striking any more (for his Lordship was struck with compassion, to behold a reverend old man of 70 years of age, with a long and milk-white beard to his girdië, so treated and used); and had not my Lord tugged hard, and been of some credit with the Aga, he swore he would have

Mr. URBAN,

TH

Aug. 1.

HE highly improved state of our agr culture, the grand source of the strength and wealth of all nations, has owed its advancement in a great degree to that practical know ledge of Botahy so much aimed at by mankind; not only by familiarising a more perfect acquaintance with such vegetables as are used as food for animals, but also with such as have been deemed noxious to them, or which have a tendency to exhaust the soil. Much information as to the true nature of such vegetables has been discovered through the medium of the Botanic Garden established by the late Mr. Curtis; and therefore I trust a short history of that institution will not prove unacceptable to many of your readers who have the interest of the farming community at heart.

portunity of studying these severally, they were scientifically arranged in separate quarters of the garden, with their proper names both in Latin and English affixed to each; and, that a further knowledge of each might be acquired, a Library, containing the best works on Botany, Agriculture, and the other sciences depending thereon, was placed therein. This Garden, thus instituted, might have been considered as having arrived at a degree of perfection with regard to the objects it embraced: it was, however, after a few years, found expedient to remove it to brompion, where he had the pleasure of finding it encouraged by the patronage of many of the nobility and other personages, celebrated no less by their rank in life than by their laudable endeavours to promote the p. blic welfare.

In the year 1792, I had the good fortune to become a pupil of Mr. Curtis, and six years afterwards I joined him in partnership; but two years had not elapsed before i had, with the rest of mankind, to mourn the loss of my muca-respected friend. The establishment was still continued there, till within the last o years; when, the lease of the land being nearly expired, I was induced to remove it nearer London, and have now the happiness of having again in great measure completed it; with every prospect of bringing it to a state of perfection equal to any Garden of the kind in Europe.

The subjoined plan is intended to give an idea of its form and extent; and the references to the particular departments will explain its arrange

meat. A course of Lectures on Botany is annually read in the Garden, in which its connexion with Agriculture and the Arts, and the advantages to be derived from a knowledge of the vegetable kingdom, are pointed out. it is also my intention to examine, by actual expe riments made on the spot, all those plants which are likely to possess su prior properties for agricultural purposes; in which plans i have the hohour of the concurrence of the Board of Agriculture. I trust, therefore, I shall, with the local advantages at tending the present scite of the Garden, be enabled to make it more worthy

the