TO THE 



RIGHT HONOURABLE 



THE 



EARL of GAINSBOROUGH. 



My Lord, 



QCIENCE will flourim under the Patronage of Virtue, and 

 ^ Men of every Clafs will always approve and purfue thofe 

 Studies, which are diftinguifhed with the Regard and Ap- 

 probation of their Superiors. 



Not to enter into a Detail of the many excellent Qualities 

 wherewith your Lordihip's Name flands diftinguiflied, I have 

 an allured Right to addrefs you, as a Generous Promoter of a 

 Science the mod: rational and moft pleating, as well as the moft 

 effential to the Life of Man, I mean that of Botany. 



But as no, Science can be perfectly and thoroughly under- 

 ftood, rill a Knowledge of its conftituent Objects be attained, 

 — Therefore every proper Attempt to difcriminate and afcer- 

 tain its Species, mult be ufeful, in a greater or lefTer Degree, 

 in Proportion to its Succefs. 



Englifli BOTANY has received many and great Im- 

 provements in the lad: and prefent Ages, and yet the moll 



b 2 extenfive 



