[Page 2]
in Botany, than if I had remained at home. Knowing that I should not make a Gardener, I resolved to improve my mind, or rather to make sure of that which would be the means of doing at a future period, which I knew was to be done by collecting Specimens.
When I was with Mr Curtis I had free liberty to get whatever Specimens I had a mind of; after I had done my day's work, I would use his library the same as if it had been my own. When I went to Kew all this vanished, though Mr Aiton wished to indulge me. I shall say this, was I in Mr Aiton's place, I would not allow specimens to be got by the Workmen, except some in particular; but if this was to be granted, the rest would think their case hard. These are my reasons for it: Many a good plant have I seen spoiled by being almost pulled to pieces. Many a scarce plant through ignorance has been lopped, as if it was had been a common one. By not knowing how to prepare a proper Specimen, and for want of convenience, they are often spoiled in drying, and often times if they are well dried, when a wet season comes on, they are spoiled by dampness, therefore all has been labour in vain! If all the specimens that I have seen thus spoiled, were to have be seen by a Botanist it would have been mortifying! I used to think that I should not forget the plants that I once knew, but I have since found my memory to be treacherous; these failings in some instances I have recovered by turning to my Specimens, but if I had not adopted the value of Specimens, I could not have recovered such losses.
While i remained in the vicinity of London, I collected about 2500 Specimens, and I do assure you, they cost me a deal of trouble in drying them and procuring paper; this was what made me I could not remain upon the Kew wages; but now I find as great a pleasure in looking them over as I had trouble collecting them. When I was collecting them, I only got those that I knew I could not get when at home. I must not forget to omit, that I broke through the rules of rotation that one used at Kew; by working in the Botanic ground first; but Mr Aiton to avoid murmuring, did not pay me my wages amongst the rest of the men. I do assure you Sir, it made a great alteration when I left Mr Curtis for to go to Kew, though I was only improving myself at the former then by reading at night, but I was quiet in not being in much company; but in the latter I could not get forward, for where there are so many hands employed, through one discourse and another, the time that one might learn a little, is spent in other matters,and what was still worse to me I was a stranger.