The Botanic Garden

is quoted in Richard Holmes' chapter on William Herschel in "The Age of Wonder|: how the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science". It's a solid work by Erasmus Darwin, Charles' grandfather, who came from Newark, close to where Mrs E and I were married.

"NYMPHS OF PRIMEVAL FIRE! YOUR vestal train
Hung with gold-tresses o'er the vast inane,
Pierced with your silver shafts the throne of Night,
And charm'd young Nature's opening eyes with light;
When LOVE DIVINE, with brooding wings unfurl'd,
Call'd from the rude abyss the living world.
"-LET THERE BE LIGHT!" proclaim'd the ALMIGHTY LORD,
Astonish'd Chaos heard the potent word;-
Through all his realms the kindling Ether runs,
And the mass starts into a million suns;
Earths round each sun with quick explosions burst,
And second planets issue from the first;
Bend, as they journey with projectile force,
In bright ellipses their reluctant course;
Orbs wheel in orbs, round centres centres roll,
And form, self-balanced, one revolving Whole.
-Onward they move amid their bright abode,
Space without bound, THE BOSOM OF THEIR GOD!

The Botanic Garden was taken as a title by the designer Susan Williams-Ellis for the splendid tableware range she evolved from some illustrated books; my Mum had them (you used to be able to get seconds in the Shambles in Worcester) and some of our wedding presents still survive. It's not quite a brand that's been around all my life: I was 6 when the Portmeirion Pottery got going, and 18 when the Botanic Garden line started.

The coffee cups are a good size - about a triple espresso, I suppose.