78 



a letter from the very excellent Balbis, of Lyons, in which he informs 

 me that his friend and former student, the active Bertero, has re- 

 ceived orders from the Royal Sardinian Government to explore, with 

 a botanical view, that hitherto unknown island, and to compile a Flora 

 of it. He will be provided with all necessary assistance at the public 

 expense : and thus we shall become acquainted with the vegetation 

 of Sardinia, as we are with that of Sicily and Corsica. Much may 

 be expected from the energy and zeal of the indefatigable Bertero. 



I can also give you a piece of botanical intelligence from Paris. 

 The celebrated Baron Bory de St. Vincent will in the course of this 

 year proceed to the Antilles ; there to examine that favourite tribe, 

 the Ferns, of which he already possesses a very complete collection. 

 He expects to be able to elucidate all the points which Plumier left 

 doubtful. From the well-known liberality of mind which this en- 

 lightened naturahst possesses, I should hope that it would be as 

 agreeable to him as to our Germans who are partial to the Ferns, to 

 have this information communicated in these pages ; and, whether 

 before or after his voyage has taken place, to see them thus placed 

 in connection will confer much pleasure on — J. A. Schultes. 



INFORMATION RESPECTING 

 THE GERMAN BOTANICAL SOCIETY, 



JEstahlishedfor the purpose of sending Collectors to different Countries. 



We have already, in Brewster's Edinburgh Journal of Science, given 

 a favourable account of this excellent Institution, and invited our 

 countrymen to encourage it. To that work therefore we may refer, 

 (vol. vii. p. 23.) for ahistory of the foundation and object of this esta- 

 blishment. In London, Mr. Christy, of Gracechurch-street, and Mr. 

 Hunnemann, Queen-street, Soho, have taken a warm interest in its 

 behalf; and through the medium of the latter gentleman a consider- 

 able amount of subscriptions has been transmitted. We are desirous 

 of giving still more publicity to the undertaking, confident as we are 

 that it must tend materially to increase our knowledge of the vege- 

 table productions of the globe ; but feel that we cannot do it bet- 

 ter than in the words of a circular letter which has been translated 



