212 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
a short but complete notice, the botanical collections of M. 
Benjamin Delessert ; namely those Herbaria, and the library, 
which collectively form what we term his Botanical Museum ; 
pointing out the origin of the principal portions of this rich 
museum and thus facilitating to naturalists those researches 
and comparisons which are indispensable in Science. And 
to this labour we were the more impelled, because it seemed 
to possess, in addition to its peculiar value, a degree of gene: 
ral usefulness which could not belong to the study of a less 
extensive cabinet. 
M. B. Delessert, actuated by the same feeling as induced 
him to amass these treasures, is most desirous of enlarging 
the circle to which they have been confined ; and is of opinion 
that it would be advantageous to concentrate, in a single vo- 
lume, those scattered details which it is sometimes impossi- 
ble, and always difficult, to obtain when immediately wanted ; 
also to give, along with a history of all his own collections, an 
account of the principal Herbaria existing elsewhere ; and 
adding a description of the more important expeditions which 
have been made for the furtherance of Science." 
The importance of this work will be best understood by an. 
enumeration of the heads into which it is divided, and a few 
remarks on the several subjects treated under them. The 
whole is arranged in three parts, and these again in chapters 
or sections, 
Parr I. GeneraL CorrEorroNs.—HgmnmaRiA of M. 
DELESSERT. 
1. Thisis an Introductory Chapter. 1 
11. On Museums and Cabinets of Natural History. This is 
divided into two heads; 1. On the utility of Collections; — 
2. On private Museums of Natural History, which appear bad l 
have originated in Conrad Gesner of Zurich, who died m — — 
1565. This chapter concludes with the mention ofthe Mu- — 
seum of Sir Joseph Banks, the first that was especially 
devoted to Botany, and to which was added a Botanical Li- 
brary, the richest and most complete that ever had bee? 
formed. 
a 
