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TO THE 
K2 1 82G 
ails 
ERMIT, Sir, a fervant rendered happy 
by Your Majefty’s benevolence, to obey 
the impulfe of gratitude, which urges him 
to lay at Your Majefty’s feet, this attempt 
to make public the prefent ftate of the Royal 
Botanic Garden at Kew, 
Small as the book appears, the compofition 
of it has coft him a large portion of the leifure 
allowed by the daily duties of his ftation, du- 
ring more than fixteen years: in all that time 
it has been thought worthy the affiftance 
of men more learned than himfelf; a cir- 
cumftance, which flatters him with the hope, 
that it may not be found utterly unworthy 
of Your Majefty’s infpection, 
As throughout his life he has unremit- 
_ tingly attended to the ftudies of Horticulture ce 
iti 
i. 
3 
Pe 
