PREFxiCE. Vll 



British Algology is making as rapid progress as any other 

 branch of natural science. Many of those persons who 

 spend a month or two in summer on the sea-coast, have 

 discovered that there is great beauty in sea-weeds, and have 

 found that there is great pleasure in preparing little col- 

 lections of these marine paintings, to gratify their inland 

 friends on their return, and to afford to themselves pleasant 

 reminiscences of happy hours spent in healthful recreation 

 on the sea-shore ; and often, we trust, in devout musings 

 on Him whose path is in the deep waters ; whose hand has 

 formed all the wonderful works they contain, and whose 

 voice may be heard in the gentlest whisperings of the waves, 

 or in the mighty noise of the great sea-billows. 



" The gentleness of Heaven is on the Sea : 

 Listen ! the mighty Being is awake, 

 And doth with his eternal motion make 

 A sound like thunder— everlastingly."— Fb/^i2^'<?r^^, 



Rockvale, Saltcoats, 

 May, 1849. 



