xx EU Dor PRMPRUE 
tanists), occur in some form or other either in the collections before u 
or in those made by the missionaries; and we have been confirmed i 
this view by numerous instances, in which we had authentic materials t 
guide us ; sometimes we have found the descriptions so much at varian 
‘with facts, that it was only by trusting to the correctness of the mi 
sionaries, and we have almost invariably found their information trust 
worthy when weighed with collateral evidence, that we could believe tha 
the describer had the same species before him; in other instances the. 
descriptions have been obviously strained and exaggerated, to exhibit 
difference in words which does not exist in nature. 
In the present volume, for which we are solely responsible, the d 
seriptions having been drawn up by ourselves without any assistance b; 
our friends, we have been careful, as far as possible, to exhaust the 
sources above alluded to, before we attempted to frame a new speci 
from the imperfection of the characters of the essential or invariable 
parts given by most botanists, we have in some instances found it 
yond our power to execute our wishes, and have marked such speci 
with doubt. But grateful shall we feel to any one who may clear the 
up, and point out what they really are: he will act a much kinder 
towards the future botanist, and will contribute much more to the 
 . vancement of the science, who removes a host of the useless names t 
encumber its pages, than he who, through a vain desire of seeing 
name attached to that of a plant, shall contribute to the already too gre 
confusion, by adding species which can neither be characterize 
-words nor are substantiated by nature. It is, however, easier to prev 
.mischief than to remove its evils. 
Our second volume will be enriched by several valuable contributio 
which we take the present opportunity of acknowledging, and for wh 
we beg to return our sincere thanks to the authors. Professor De Can 
dolle has already named for us the greater part of the Composite, 
has communicated some valuable notes on the new species. Pro 
Nees von Esenbeck has elaborated in Wallich’s Plante Asiatice R 
res our Acanthacee and Laurinec, and is again revising for our use t. 
part of his paper particularly referring to the Peninsula. He has li 
wise transmitted us a manuscript. containing the description of the 
lanee and Graminee, and is also at present engaged with our ( 
cee. The Labiate and Scrophularinee are under the care of G 
Bentham, Esq. the able author of the monograph of the Labiate. — 
Lindley is to take up the Orchidee, Dr Hooker the Filices, and 
Greville the Alge. Professor Von Martius has already described, i 
Wallich’s Pl. As. Rar., all our Restiacee, and Dr C. M. Meisner of Be 
our species of Polygonum in the same work. It was Dr Graham's. 
tention, as he had been entrusted with all Dr. Wallich’s, to contribu 
