From 'Picture of Liverpool: A Strangers Guide Published in 1834
The Botnic Garden is situate a little to the east of Abercromby-square, and was opened in the year 1803. It is enclosed by a substantial stone wall, and occupies about ten acres of land. An extensive conservatory, 240 feet in length stands near the middle of the garden, and is stocked with a rare and choice variety of plants, and the grounds are tastefully laid out and supplied with a great variety of plants. Two neat lodges adorn the entrance. Prior to the establishment of this institution the founders publsihed this address in which they state:
"That the prevailing taste for botanical studies, and the liberality displayed by the inhabitants of Liverpool in the encouragement of scientific pursuits, afford sufficient reason to conclude that the establishment of a botanical garden in the neighbourhod of the town is at present a desirable and attainable object. To enlarge upon the advantages to be derived from botanical knowledge is not the object of this address. It is presumed that it's application to agriculture, gardening, medicine and other arts essential to the comfort and even support of life is generally ackowledged. The claims which it has to our attention when considered merely as an elegant amusement ought not to be neglected: an amusement calculated to interest the understanding whilst it promotes the health and vigour of the bodily frame
"It is however this science that the student should be supplied with actual and living specimens. The imperfections of language to give an adequate idea of any vegetable production must be generally admitted: and the most beautiful and accurate drawings fall infinitely short of that delicacy and minuteness of parts on which it's scientific distinctions essentially depend. Even the plants themselves when collected and attempted to be preserved are deprived of so many peculiarities incident to their habit and growth, that it is only from living plants that we can flatter ourselves with the hope of obtaining those substantial distinctions which are neccessary to discriminate those numerous productions, or of extending the science itself.
"Without public institutions for the purpose of preserving such plants as are imported into the country, and in the aquisition of which so many men of great learning and talents have devoted themselves to long and dangerous voyages and expeditions, there is every reason to believe that considerable numers will be lost to us.
"The great repositories are at present those of nurserymen in the vicinty of London: but when profit is the chief object, it is to be feared these plants alone will be propagated which will best repay the attention of the cultivator. Many scientific and opulent individuals, in different parts of the kingdom, have contributed not only to encourage this study by their wealth, but to extend it by their talents: yet the taste of an individual may be supposed to attach some favourite class of productions: and at all events a private collection cannot be expected either in copiousness or permanancy to contend with a public institution, which is calculated to comprehend every known vegetable production and to preserve them for a continued series of years, which, in many instances is indispensably neccessary to their perfection"
The excellence of these remarks we deem a sufficient apology for having made so copious a quotation. We are informed that a piece of ground near to Edge-lane has lately been purchased, whether it is intended shortly to remove the present establishment, owing to it becoming so much surrounded by buildings