PREFACE. 



more in Marj^land, with a determination not to retmn 

 to Europe until I should have examined that country to 

 the utmost extent of my means and abilities. In 1811, 

 after an absence of nearly twelve years, I returned to 

 Europe, with an ample stock of materials towards a 

 Flora of North America, an attempt at which I 

 now venture to lay before the public, with the flattering 

 hope, that a generous allowance will be made for its un- 

 avoidable imperfections, when the extent of the under- 

 taking is considered ; and that it will be accepted as it 

 really is intended, as only the groundwork of some future 

 more perfect work upon the subject. 



As it may be interesting to some readers to have a 

 sketch of the particulars of my stay in America, and 

 to be informed of the means by which I became pos- 

 sessed of so general a collection of its plants, I sliall 

 give a few outlines thereof, previous to the necessary 

 remarks respecting the execution of the work itself. 



My first object, after my arrival in America, was 

 to form an acquaintance with all those interested in the 

 study of Botany. Among, these I had the pleasure to 

 account one of the earliest, and ever after the most va- 

 luable, the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg of Lancaster, in Pen- 

 sylvanla, a gentleman whose industry and zeal for the 

 science can only be surpassed by the accuracy and acute- 

 ness of his observations ; I only regret, that his exten- 

 sive and interesting materials towards a Flora of the 

 United States, in which he has been engaged for a num- 

 ber of years, should not before this have been commu- 

 nicated to the public. 



I next visited the old established gardens of Mr. Mar- 

 shall, author of a small " Treatise on the Forest-trees 



