The foundations of the Royal Botanical Garden The foundations of the Royal Botanical Garden

5th Dec 1840. Mr Daniel Bunce. Various statements regarding a botanical garden. 4 December 1840 Sir, Having been for some months past resident in this province pursuing the avocation of collecting Botanist to the Horticultural Society of London. I presume to obtrude myself upon the notice of Your Honors at the suggestion of many respectable Residents to ascertain the possibility or probability of the establishment of a Botanic Garden in this district. I am desirous in the event of such being eventually formed to offer my services in its construction and management for which I feel satisfied that I can furnish ample recommendations. But in the interim before any spot shall be selected as I am in daily expectation of receiving an extensive consignment from the Houses of Messers Cormack Sinclair of covent Garden Messers Whitby & Osborne Falkham Loddges & Sons of Hackney of plants, trees, shrubs, seeds &c of which the invoices have come to hand and not having any place calculated for their reception I have more particularly to solicit from your Honour the permission to pitch my tent upon some land which may hereafter be appropriated for the public use as a Botanic Garden and where I may have the privilege of cultivating the same as a Nursery for the present. As such indulgence would enable me