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XXIII. Qbferuations on the Britijh Species of Bromus, with Introdutiory 

 Remarks on the Compaction of a Flora Britannic a. By James Edzvard 

 SmitX, M.B. F.R. S, P. L. & 



Read April & 1798, 



TT7HEN I nrft found myfelf in poffeffion of the herbarium/ 

 manufcripts, and library of Linnaeus, feveral great objefts- 

 prefented themfelves to my view, all tending to the advancement of 

 that ftudy to which I then* in my own mind at leaft, entirely de- 

 voted myfelf. The cftablifhment of a Linnxan Society, and the 

 elucidation of the plants of Great Britain, were among thefe objects. 

 The fuccefs of the former, from the concurrence of talents and zeal 

 with which it has been fupported, has exceeded my moR fanguine 

 hopes: happy will it be if the other objea, the attainment of which 

 mufl neceffarily depend more on time and perfonal application, 

 fhould ever be as completely accompliftied. 



Confidering the attention that has already been given to Britifh 

 plants, it would appear that the fubjea muft be nearly exhaufted, 

 and that nothing could be more eafy than to compile a perfeft 

 catalogue of them; fnch flight errors in nomenclature as already 

 exift, being at once to-be removed by turning to the Linnaean her- 

 barium. Perhaps this might be the cafe if we had fewer publica- 

 tions 



