

PREFACE. 



in 



this impediment to future success arid promote a more extended cultivalion of this not less 

 delightful pursuit than useful science, is the grand object I have had in view in the pnlilica- 

 tion of this and the other botanical works on which I am engaged. That th^y ^ill pro- 

 duce this effect I have scarcely a doubt and in this hope alone, this work will be con- 

 tinued through at least another volume, though hitherto, the support it has received has been 

 so little commensurate with the labour and cost that, but for this expectation, it would hare 

 ended with this volume. But impressed as I am with the conviction that it will yet fulfil the 

 object of its publication I have resolved deo rolente to carry it through a second volume of 

 equal extent : a resolution in which I am strengthened, not less by the daily increasing in- 

 terest which every thing connected with India is acquiring and l)y the anxiety expressed by 

 .both the European and local governments, to obtain correct information regardhig the pro- 

 ducts and resources of this rich, but until lately, much neglected division of the Briti:5h empire 

 than by the enlarging list of subscribers. Should my anticipations of success bo justified by 

 the result a third volume may possibly be added raising, rhe number of species figured to 1000, 

 after which, it must, 1 imagine, either drop altogether or he resigned into other hand^. I'he 

 latter would of the two, in my opinion, be the preferable alternative, as it could not but be a 

 source of regret, after forming the machinery for carrying it on, that it should so soon 

 cease to work, whi'e there remains so much lo be done. 1 he flora of India, calculated at a 

 very low rate, exceeds 10,000 species, excellent figures of about 2000 of which were left by 

 Roxburgh. Most of these are still unpublished, but are now, by the public spirit and liberality 

 of Dr. Wallich in course of publication here. To allow two thirds of that noble collection 

 to remain unknown, through want of present support to this work, and the knowledge of the 

 indefatigable labours of that excellent man be longer left in obscurity, vvhile the means of 

 bringing them to light are not only at hand but actually working, would indeed be a source 

 of deep regret to future Botanists, but which, I fear, can only be avoided by the living 

 Botanists of the present tinje extending a more liberal patronage to this publication, which, 

 exclusive of the (jovernuient aid, ha-s not paid for paper on which a sm dl impression is 

 printed, and holds out no inducement lo ary one to embark in such an unprofitable concern. 



One other advantage to which this work may lay claim over most other works of a similar 

 description, consists in the rapidity of publication. Stnith's English Botauy, which extended 

 to 2592 plates, was 24 years in publishing: at the rate of publication which I his work has at- 

 tained it would in that time extend to upwards of 5000 species, but supposing only half that num- 

 ber published,the work will form, beyond all comparison, the most valuable book of reference for 

 Indian Botany ever published or likely to be even attempted for yet many year^. With 

 these few remarks I concludes this brief preface and leave the work to speak for itself and most 

 cordially hope it may not speak in vain, but trust it will yet become one of as constant refer- 

 ence as the eminently praiseworthy and, for the time they were undertaken and executed, 

 meritorious labours of the excellent Van Rheede and prove to Indian Botanists, so far as it 

 may extend, what Smith's English Botany has long been to British ones a work of unexcep- 

 tionable antboritv. 



