The Athenaeum 1844(849): 98 (Feb 3, 1844)
On the 1st December, 1843, exactly a fortnight previous to Mr. Loudon's lamented death, he published the following statement:—

"The 'Arboretum Britannicum' was got up between the years 1833 and 1838, and published on Mr. London's own account, at an expense of upwards of 10,000/.; the greater part of this sum was owing at the completion of the work, but it sold so well, till the late depression of the book trade in 1841, that only about 2,600/. of the debt remained to be paid off at the end of that year. It is, however, necessary to observe that this large proportion of the debt was not paid off solely by the produce of the 'Arboretum,' but in part by the profits of Mr. Loudon's other literary property, consisting of thirteen different publications, (enumerated below), all of which stand pledged in the hands of his publishers, Messrs. Longman, for the debt on the 'Arboretum.' This debt, at the present time, amounts to about 2,400/.; and hence, if 350 additional subscribers could be got, the debt would be at once liquidated, the works pledged for it set free, and Mr. Loudon or his family would enjoy the whole produce of his literary property.*

"This Appeal would never hare been made, had not Mr. Loudon, who has been an invalid for several years, been lately seized with an inflammation of the lungs, terminating in chronic bronchites, which, even if the disease should be considerably alleviated, will effectually prevent him from any longer pursuing his profession of landscape-gardener, on the produce of which profession, and on the literary labours of Mrs. Loudon, he has entirely depended for his income, since his literary property was pledged for the 'Arboretum.' Under these circumstances Mr. Loudon feels himself justified in taking this mode of soliciting additional Subscribers to the 'Arboretum,' and in begging his Friends and Patrons throughout the country to assist him in obtaining them.

"*It may be thought from the well-known extensive sale, for the last twenty years, of Mr. London's Publications that he ought now to be independent: in consequence of too intense application while compiling the 'Encyclopaedia of Gardening,' Mr. Loudon fell into ill health in 1821, which obliged him ultimately to have his right arm amputated, his left hand being at the same time so much injured as to leave him with only the partial use of two fingers, and his left knee being anchylosed. In consequence of these bodily infirmities. Mr. Loudon has been obliged to keep an amanuensis and a draughtsman for the last twenty years, and also, during the greater part of that time, a servant to act as valet. Had it not been for the expenses thus incurred, and for others arising from the same source, Mr. Loudon might have been now independent, even without his literary property. This explanation is due to those who are ignorant of Mr. Loudon's personal character."

The Athenaeum 1844(849): 98 (Feb 3, 1844)
THE SUDDEN DEATH of Mr. LOUDON has involved his family in the deepest distress in every sense of the word; for although he laboured most incessantly, nearly day and night, for the space of forty years, and his works had an extensive sale—yet, from the circumstance of his being an invalid for years, and the expensive nature of the illustrations to bis Works, he died considerably indebted to the Printers and Engravers; the greater part of this debt was incurred in producing the most valuable, perhaps, of all Mr. Loudon's Works, namely, the 'Arboretum Britannicum,' a work which alone is sufficient to stamp his fame as an author.

After much consideration, it was decided that the best means of providing for his family, (and a means, too, strictly in keeping with the independent spirit which characterised the life of Mr. Loudon), would be by promoting the sale of his truly valuable Publications. There is a large stock on band of the following Works, the sale of which would extricate the family from their present embarrassed state, by enabling Mrs. Loudon to discharge the debt, and reserve the copyrights in her own hands as a means of future support; and it is earnestly hoped that every person who respects the memory of the late Mr. Loudon, will exert himself by soliciting his friends to become subscribers for the Publications enumerated below:—

According to the Preface, vol. 1, p. vii
The engraving and printing of this Work, for which collections had been making for several years (see the Gardener's Magazine, vol. vi., for 1830, p. 582. and p. 718.), was begun in August, 1834; and it has been published in Numbers, the first of which appeared in January, 1835, and the 63d and last on the 1st of July, 1838.