The PREFACE. 
things I had not obferv'd, and feen others in different Seafons from me, 
I wrote to Sir Arthur Rawdon and ‘my very learned Friend Dr. William. 
Sherard, who then was with him, to defire the favour of them, that in 
order to the perfecting my Account of Jamaica, I might have a fight of 
what of that kind he brought over with bim. This Sir Arthur Rawdon 
and Dr. Sherard not only granted, but alfo made me a Prefent of uch 
Samples as had been brought over which I wanted. The Reader will find 
thefe taken notice of, in  feeral Places of this Hiftory. After I had 
perufed them, they were, together with abundance of other rare Plants, by 
> Sheraiel $ Direétion fent to-Oxford, where Mr. Jacob Bobatt has 
made very good uife of them in the Hiftory of Plants he lately publifr'd 
there; and left there might from dry Samples, come any Confufion in Na- 
sand Hiftory, Dr. Sherard afterwards at my Requeft gave me the View 
of fuch Plants as Mr. Bobart had defcrib’'d, which has enabled me to put 
the Synonymous Names of the aforefaid Hiftory of Plants, publifh'd by 
Mr. Bobart, which the Reader will likewife find taken notice of in their 
due places. Thefe were not the-only Favours I had of Dr. Sherard; for be 
ae me with many Jearce pone! he bight in bis Ti repels beyond Sea. 
"Many Perfons were defi rous I Prod publifh a an “Account of what I-met 
with towards the for warding Natural Fi iftory, I confented to this , provided 
the Obfervations I had made, fhould be thought worthy of Publication. 
I thought the greateft Fudge I could advife with, in thefe Circumftances, 
was Mr. Ray, who for his Probity, Learning, Language, &c. feem’d to 
me the propereft to advife with: I therefore waited on him, fhew'd him 
“fome of the Plants, and tranfmitted to him my Obfervations on them. _I 
defwred. him to correét them and add his Emendations. He was pleafed 
‘to approve of them, and think much better of them than I my Jelf did, or 
7 do's ; fo that the Emendations I expeéted, are wanting. I am afraid. his 
Senin and favourable Opinion of me, may be the caufe 5. for I am. fen- 
fible there are herem a great many faults, not only in Hypothefes or 
Opinions, which I propofe only as Conjeétures, and hall cafily part with, 
bid there are lihewife many imperfeétions i in the Language, and in the 0b- 
fervations themfelves, which: were generally written in hafte, and by me, 
who know too well how unduly qualified I am for fuch au Undertaking. 
However, fuch as they were, when I was refolvd to. _publifh them, I 
thought st neceffar ry to look int the Books in Jeveral Languayes,. which 
treated of thofe Subjetts either defs ignedly or accidentally, Some Men 
Seem 
