WARNER'S "PLANTAE WOODFORDIENSES." 275
this may well have been done by Gibson when referring to the
notes in preparing his "Flora."
Gibson probably presented this copy of the "Plantae Wood-
fordienses" to the Saffron Walden library, as one of the many
scientific volumes which he donated to that Library : it is un-
fortunate that, as I am informed by Mr. A. E. Gower, the librarian,
no record of the provenance of this particular volume exists
to confirm this.
This third annotated copy of Warner's Woodford Flora,
though of less value as regards its records, whether considered
from a botanical or from a topographical point of view, than
are the two previously described copies, is yet of interest in that
it confirms the late Professor Boulger's shrewd suspicion that
each of the three brothers Forster possessed his own interleaved
copy of the "Plantae" in which he was accustomed to enter
his own new finds. It may be useful here to record the present
disposition of each of the three copies, viz. :—
1. Thomas Furly Forster's copy, in the Library of the
Literary and Scientific Institution at Saffron Walden ;
2. Benjamin Meggot Forster's copy, hitherto belonging to
our member, Mr. J. J. Holdsworth, but now in the Club's
possession, it having most kindly been presented to the
Library by Mr. Holdsworth ; and
3. Edward Forster's copy, in the possession of our honorary
member, Dr. B. Daydon Jackson.
Gibson remarks that T. F. Forster "does not appear to have
paid any special attention to the botany of Essex." Certainly,
after publication of his "Additions to Warner's Plantae Wood-
fordienses" in 1784, it would seem that he transferred his atten-
tion elsewhere. In 1788 he married, and afterwards went to
live in Clapton, not returning to Walthamstow as a resident until
1823, two years before his death. His business affairs in the
City were probably exigent in their demands upon his time.
He was partner with his father in the firm of Edward Forster
and Son, merchants, of 38, Threadneedle Street (afterwards
of 6, Saint Helen's Place), and he followed in his father's foot-
steps by becoming, by 1804 or earlier,3 a member of the Court
of Assistants of the Russia Company, and, by 1813,4 a director
3 Kent's Directory, 1804, ibid., 1808.
4 Post Office Annual Directory, 1813, ibid., 1817.