404? J. E. B. on Mr. Lindley's Statement relative to Orcliideoe. 



these most curious of plants, the author adds, " The errors 

 have been corrected in a more or less perfect manner by va- 

 rious writers, most completely by Mr. Brown in his Prodromus, 

 published in 1810, and subsequently by the late most accurate 

 and indefatigable Richard. But long before the publication 

 of any rational explanation of the structure of the Orchis 

 tribe, while botanists were in utter darkness upon the subject, 

 it had been most fully investigated by a gentleman, unrivalled 

 for the perfection of his microscopical analysis, the beauty of 

 his drawings, and the admirable skill with which he follows 

 nature in her most secret workings ; and let me add, which is 

 a still rarer quality, the generous disinterestedness with which 

 lie communicates to his friends the result of his patient and 

 silent labours. I have sketches before me by Mr. Bauer, 

 executed from 1794? to 1807, in which not only all that has 

 been published since that period is shown in the most distinct 

 and satisfactory manner, but in which much more is repre- 

 sented than botanists are even now aware of. I hope to be 

 the humble means of giving some of these extraordinary pro- 

 ductions of the pencil to the world, in an ' Illustration of the 

 Genera and Species of Orchideous Plants,* which is now in 

 preparation." 



Whether the inference which has been drawn from this 

 passage, that Mr. Brown was indebted for his observations to 

 Mr. Bauer, without acknowledgement, be legitimate, may, per- 

 haps, be questioned. It is enough to say that it has been 

 drawn; and therefore it was incumbent on Mr. Linclley, if he 

 had so worded his statement as to leave his meaning doubt- 

 ful, to take the earliest opportunity, and in the most public 

 manner, to prevent the unfounded impression. 



Mr. Brown has on every occasion been ready to claim for 

 his friend Mr. Bauer the high merit he deserves. In the 

 Prodromus, he acknowledges himself indebted to him for the 

 true character of Ophrys: while in the account of the genus 

 Woodsia (Linn. Trans, vol. xi.), of Rafflesia (Ib. vol. xiii.), 

 and of the Plants collected in Melville Island, he has ex- 

 pressed his obligations in such a manner as manifests an en- 

 tire willingness to do him justice. The fact of twenty years 

 having elapsed since the publication of Mr. Brown's views, 

 and an uninterrupted friendship having continued ever since, 

 furnishes at least a presumption that Mr. Bauer has no ground 

 of complaint; but, to prevent all possibility of doubt, Mr. 

 Bauer has, in writing, wholly and entirely acquitted Mr. Brown 

 of the charge insinuated against him. 



May 6th, 1831. J. E. B. 



LXI. On 



