TO THE SUBSCFiIBEri8.- 



On the conclusiou 6f a work which lias l>een attended with verv cop>- 

 siderable labour and expence, the compiler would be ^^'antillg io 

 that respect due to the tew gentlemen \^ho hav^ patronised it, if he 

 failed to rtturn to them his sincere thanks. Although, at the com- 

 mencement, dnd on the cover of every number, he solicited assistance 

 and information, very lew indeed have been the contributions received. 

 The greatest assistance afforded has been the perusal of the manu- 

 scripts of the late Mr Anthony Hobinson, an; I several papers of the- 

 late Dr. Broughton and others, most obligingly communicatcf* to him 

 by Alexander Aikman^ I'sq. one of the representatives in assembly 

 for the parish ot St. George, iu v.'^hose posaessiou they now are. From 

 these papers several valuable extracts have been made:^ In addition to 

 which, although the original proposals only promised a compilation, 

 many new oi)senations atid descriptiotis will be found interspersetl, as- 

 they occurred to the compiler in the course of" his vaious reseaiches. 

 Upon the wh(jle, lie trusts, . h nvever imperfeet the attempt, that it^ 

 will be found the most complete system of Jamaica botany extant. 

 Had encoufagement oHeredy it was the comjnler's intention not only 

 to have fiirnished plates, but to have extended the work to the animal 

 and mineral kmgdiims of Jamaica; and tlius. have formed an entire 

 natural history of the island, on the same plan. He has. however^, 

 performed, though at a loss, all he at first promised, and must leave 

 it to others, blessed with more leisure, or more able and indefatigable 

 than himself, to perfect the plan, and to correct the many errors and* 

 deficiencies he iscoascioi.s will be luund in every part ol what hcliae:- 

 aeconiplishedo 



