The PREFACE 
It may be objefted, that there is no end of fuch Difcoveries, that 
every Country, and diftant Clonate, has different Plants, not to be found 
inEngland. I anfwer it is not fo, for tho England be very remote, both 
in Longitude and Latitude, from Jamaica, yet I found there many Plants, 
which grow Sponte, which alfo I found to grow wild in England, and 
more I obfery'd to be common to that Place, and the South Parts of France. 
By Colleétions fent to the very Induftrious and Skilful Botanift Mr. Petiver, 
others, and my-felf, from Spain, Portugal, Barbary, Guinea, and 
the Eaft-Indies, as well as.by the Hortus Malabaricus, I find a great 
many Plants common to Spain, Portugal and Jamaica, more ‘common 
to Jamaica and the Eaft-Indies, and moft of all common to Jamaica 
and Guinea ; fo that the following Hiftory may reafonably be fuppos'd, 
not only to defcribe moft of the Natural Produétions of Ef{paniola, Bar= 
bados and the other bot American Ifles, but alfo. many of thofe of 
Guinea and the Eaft-Indies, and therefore may be thought to contribute 
_to the more diftintt Knowlege of all thofe Parts. 
I have been fo converfant in Matters of this nature for feveral Years, 
that I know tis impoffible to efcape the. Cenfure of feverab forts of Men, 
as the Envious and Malitious, who will, Iam fure, fpare no Pains-to 
find Faults, thofe who ftrive to make ridiculous any thing of this kind, 
and think themfelves great Wits, but are very Ignorant, and under ftand 
nothing of the Argument. Thefe, if one were afraid of them, and con- 
fulted his own Eafe, might pofibly hinder the Publication of any fuch 
Work, the Efforts to be expetted-from them; making pofibly fome ime 
prefiion upon Perfons of equal Difpofitions 5 but confidering: that LE have 
the | Approbation of Others, whofe Judgement, Knowlege, “8c. I have 
great reafon to value, And confidering that thefe forts of Men, have 
been in all Ages ready to do the like, not only to ordinary Perfons, and 
their Equals, but even to abufe their Princes, and blafpheme their Maker; 
I fhall, as I have, ever fince I ferioufly confider'd this Matter, think, of, 
and treat them with the greateft Contempt. 
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