PREFACE. 



former ftock as to render the nomenclature a mafs of eon- 

 fufion. No part of Europe contains fe copious a colleBion 

 of thefc plants as the neighbourhood of London, the botanical 

 world hare therefore fome right to expeB an elucidation of this 

 {'abject in our Magazine, and die Editor thinks himl'elf particu- 

 larly fortunate in having met with fo able and liberal a coadju- 

 tor in this difficult talk. 



What has been already done will (hew how much is due to 

 the indultry and ability of JoKtf Bellf.nden Gawlkr, Efq. 

 with whole aHiikince we hope in a few numbers to complete fo 

 lucid an arrangement of the principal part of this order, that no 

 Botanift will hereafter find any difficulty in- reducing the indi- 

 viduals to their proper genera. 



The fame Artifh are employed in every department of the 

 Work as in Mr. Curtis's time. This will, it is hoped, infure 

 the fame excellence of execution, which is fuch that the figures 

 in the Botanical Magazine, for elegance as well as correct- 

 riefs, will in general fufTer nothing by a comparifon with the 

 mod cxpcnfive botanical works, a facl loudly attefted by the 

 circumstance that a large proportion of the ornaments of our 

 mod cxpcnfive porcelain and cabinet ware is copied from them. 

 The Botanical Magazine will continue to be carried on as much 

 as poffible on the lame plan as by Mr. Curtis himfelf. If fome- 

 what more of critical difcufTion fhould have been introduced, 

 our botanical friends will eafiry perceive that the fubjects de- 

 manded it, and whillt the price is not thereby increaicd, it is 

 not apprehended that any one will complain. 



For himfelf, the Editor folicits the indulgence of the learned 

 Botanift.an indulgence hefecls to be more than ordinarily ncccf- 

 fary ; for being engaged in a laborious and important profeftion, 

 and having ever made Botany his amufement, never a ferious 

 fludy, he has greater dependance upon the continued affill- 

 ance of his more learned friends than upon the exertion of his 

 own abilities. But, with this aid, he flatters himfelf that the Bo- 

 tanical Magazine will continue in every refpeft to deferve the 

 public favour as well as it has heretofore done. 



