XVlil INTRODUCTION. 



Rome on the 17th of January, 1798, when 

 the Pope appointed a solemn procession of 

 the three most celebrated relics in Rome, to 

 appease the French government for an as- 

 sault committed on their ambassador. These 

 relics consisted of " the portrait of the most. 

 Holy Saviour, the miraculous picture of the 

 Santa Maria in Portico, and the sacred chains 

 wherewith the Prince of the Apostles was 

 fettered." Previous to the procession, the 

 streets were strewed with myrtles, and such 

 flowers as could be obtained at that season 

 of the year. 



The Chinese hold some particular kinds 

 of flowers in great veneration, especially the 

 Eukianthus, which they call Too Chong Fa : 

 its flowers are deemed grateful to the gods ; 

 and, accordingly, at the commencement of 

 the Chinese new year, when the plant is 

 generally in blossom, large branches with 

 flowers are placed in all the temples as an 

 acceptable new year's offering. 



We find that the admiration of these vege- 

 table beauties was not confined to the inhabit- 

 ants of the old world alone, for the Mexicans, 



