( 216 ) . 
XVII. Description of a new British Rubus, with Corrections of the 
Descriptions of Rubus corylifolius and fruticosus ; and a List of 
some of the more rare British Plants. By George Andersóh, Esq. 
F. L.S. | = 
Read April 20, and May 4, 1813. 
Tue study of Botany in this country, with a few eminent ex- 
ceptions, seems of late years to be chiefly directed to the inves- 
tigation of our own native productions; at least we must own 
that the spirit for importing new foreign plants, and for keeping 
up and increasing our collection of exotics, if it has not declined, 
does not keep pace with the increasing wealth and power of the 
country, or with the rank it holds among European nations. 
And although the lovers of Botany have to acknowledge the 
liberal patronage of some individuals of high rank, still they 
have cause of regret in finding the number among the rich and 
great, who give encouragement to the advancement of know- 
ledge in Exotic Botany, so limited as it is. 3 
Our much respected Ray was among the first who introduced 
a taste for inquiry into the indigenous plants of England; and 
from his time the fashion for this branch has gradually and pro- 
gressively increased as a favourite object of pursuit down to the 
present day, in which we see it so industriously followed by a 
great number of good botanists ; and so greatly has the spirit for 
discovery prompted us, that one would think there was scarcely 
a hill or a rock in the kingdom left unex plored, were it not tor the 
fresh 
