XivV PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 
Impressed with these views, I had determined, after embracing 
the whole of the medicinal plants of these states, to continue the 
work by delineating all the dietetic native vegetables of our country, 
and giving of each a correct coloured plate. Whether this part of my 
design will ever be accomplished, it is difficult to say. There are 
many discouraging circumstances connected with investigations of 
this nature, which I may not feel willing to combat or oppose. Among 
them, is the notorious discouraging influence, at least in this city, rela- 
tive to botanical pursuits, proceeding too from sources where acciden- 
tal and professional elevation gives a kind of adventitious importance 
to opinions, which would otherwise be wholly inefficient in their ope- 
ration, ifnot beneath notice or refutation. As regards my own efforts, 
fam free to confess, that my interests are too deeply connected with 
such opposition to the pursuits of the professorship I have the 
honour to hold, to be very solicitous to run counter to, or struggle 
against, such appalling circumstances. And at least necessity, if not 
the will, would urge a relinquishment of pursuits, which are indus- 
triously taught to be incompatible with the severe, and more useful 
occupations of medicine, or with the attainment of the more conspi- 
cuous eminence to which the practice of physic and surgery lead. 
_ It may now be proper to inform the public of the state of forward- 
ness of this work. The whole number of plates necessary to complete 
it, are engraved; and were it not for the tediousness of the colour- 
