xvi Journal of Proceedings.
slab of marble, lingering fragments of the once stately home. The new
hall has very little architectural merit; but it is situated on the crown of
a finely-wooded hill, commanding glimpses of undulating scenery that
looked its best with the fresh green of the foliage lighted up in the
brilliant sunshine. The park, in all probability, at one time formed
part of the Royal Forest of Waltham, and in the last century parts of
the "Warren" were still covered with Hornbeam pollards and brush-
wood. A tract called the "Warren" was stubbed and ploughed, and
then sown with seeds of many kinds of trees, thrown in indiscriminately,
and left to the operations of Nature. The trees now form one of the
best woods in this part of the county, having thriven entirely without
artificial aid. Wright described (about 1833) one tree, a Cedar of
Lebanon, as particularly deserving of notice on account of its rapid
growth. It was sown in 1747, and he says, "the girth of the bowl,
some time ago, measured upwards of twelve feet, and the extent of the
branches on each side exceeded twelve yards."
From Copped Hall the company proceeded over extensive upland
meadows on to the pleasant grounds of "Warlies," where the party was
met at the entrance by Lady Victoria Buxton and family, and most
warmly welcomed. After enjoying an excellent cold collation hospitably
provided by the kind host and hostess, the party broke up into con-
versational groups, inspecting the many historical and art treasures of
Sir Fowell's charming residence, or strolling through the grounds, till
the sound of the Secretary's whistle marshalled the forces on the lawn
in front of the house, where seats were arranged in a semi-circular form,
and Professor Boulger proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to Sir
Fowell and Lady Victoria Buxton for their kind and hospitable reception
of the Club that afternoon. This was seconded by the Rev. J. M.
Crombie, and carried with acclamation. Sir Fowell having briefly
acknowledged the vote of thanks, assuring the members and visitors
that all were most heartily welcome, and that it would always afford
him pleasure to aid, in any way in his power, the researches and
recreations of the Club, Mr. James Britten, F.L.S. (Editor of the
'Journal of Botany,') read an address on "English Plant Names." In
introducing his subject, Mr. Britten said—
" At the outset it may be as well to say a word on a point which is
often brought against botanists by those who are, as they would say,
'fond of flowers,' and who seem to regard their scientific names as
having been invented for the sole purpose of puzzling and perplexing
outsiders. 'If you really loved flowers,' says Tom Hood, ' you wouldn't
call them such hard names.' 'Fancy,' says another writer, 'fancy a
man going a-wooing with a Delphinium donkelarii in his buttonhole.'
There is something very funny in hearing folks who have talked all their
lives of their geraniums and calceolarias denounce the iniquity and
unreasonableness of Latin names, sublimely unconscious that they
themselves are in the position of Moliere's hero, who had talked prose
all his life without knowing it. Now in the first place, I venture to
think that a deliberately coined English name is no English name at all,