Royal Botanical Society of London, a red stained ivory pass, legend in wreath, crown above, rev. flowered crest, named (Maj. Gen. Sir R. Harvey, C.B.) and numbered 366, 36mm (D & W 151/389; MG 1070). Tape binding across lower half, otherwise about very fine, very rare; in turned bakelite case bearing the label of Thomas, Jeweller, 10 Strand, London, and an outer label, ‘one duplicate Botanical ticket 1857’ (£50-100)

General Sir Robert John Harvey (†June 1860) entered the 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment as Ensign in 1803; Lieutenant, 60th Regt, 1804; Captain, 53rd Regt, 1806; attended Military College at High Wycombe, 1807-9 and served briefly in Ireland as ADC to Brigadier General Lightburne. He rejoined his regiment in March 1809, it being ordered on foreign service. Harvey accompanied the 53rd to Portugal and served as Assistant Quartermaster General of the British and of the Portuguese armies in Portugal, Spain, and France from 1809 to the close of the war in 1814. He was present at the battles of the passage of the Douro and Busaco, second siege of Badajoz, siege and storm of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, battle of Salamanca, siege of Burgos, battles of Vittoria, Pyrenees (slightly wounded), Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, and Toulouse, besides numerous minor affairs. From 1809 to 1811 he was employed in procuring intelligence of the enemy in advance of the army, in organising no less than nine Portuguese Guerilla Corps, the officers of which presented him with an elegant sword in testimony of his services with them; and in resisting the attempt of the enemy’s passage of the Tagus at Chamusca. From 1811 to 1814 he was the organ of communication between the Duke of Wellington and the Portuguese troops, of whom he was second-in-command under Marshal Beresford. For his conduct at the battle of Orthes, Harvey was thanked by name in the public orders of the Portuguese army, and was granted the Gold Medal. In addition he was made a Commander of St Benito d’Avis and a Knight of the Tower and Sword.