PREFACE; iu 



Fvoval Society: he also published a Treatise on the Siik Worm, in the 

 year 1719, aad, in the same year, a Practical Kitchen Gardener, in two 

 octavo volumes, made its appearance, with the name of Barham as the 

 author, whxh most probably was his composition. Excepting some cx- 

 ti-acts published by Sloane and Long, no part of his Ilortus Americanus 

 was printed until the year 1794, the manuscript of which was rescued 

 from d-jstriiction bv a tbrtunate accident ; having, it is asserted, been 

 thrown, into an out-house, wliere it was discovered by a gentleman 

 uho kuf w how to estimate its value. A more complete copy is, in- 

 deed, mentioned to be in the possession of a gentleman in the parish 

 of St. Ann, which, if so, it is to be hoped he will no longer withhold 

 fi-omthe public eye. The compiler wouid rejoice in the opportunity 

 of enriching this publication by any extracts he might be fkvoured 

 with from so valuable a manuscript. 



The celebrated naturalist. Sir Hans Sloane, arrived in this island 

 in December, 1687, in quality of physician to his grace the Duke of 

 Albemarle; but, owing to the death of his grace, his stay here was 

 onlv fifteen months; yet, in that short space of time, it has been 

 justly observed, he converted his minutes into hours, and brought to- 

 gether such a [jrodigious number of plants as astonished the learned 

 in Europe. These plants formed the materials for the greatest part 

 of his Natural History of Jamaica, in two folio volumes, the first of 

 Avliich was published in the year 1707, and the second not till eight- 

 een years altenvards. 



From the preface of Dr. Patrick Browne we understand that he 

 resided several years in this island, during which time he practised as 

 a physician, and that all his leisure hours had been employed in col- 

 lecting 



