PREFACE. 



ON the occasion of publishing a Botanical Work which owes its 

 origin to t!ie labors of others, the Editor deems it proper briefly to 

 state the circumstances which have thus led him to publish the ma- 

 nuscript of his much valued friend the late Dr. Roxburgh. 



Willi this eminent botanist and friend of science, the Editor 

 v.as for many years on terms of the closest intimacy j and this work 

 liaving been frequently the subject of conversation, he is enabled to 

 say, tliat Dr. Roxburgh repeatedly expressed to him his earnest 

 wibh that it might be published in some future time ; and his ap- 

 prehensions that oilipiwitje, imperfect and garbled copies of the 

 Mork would be published by others not acquainted with him ; ar 

 that if delayed, a part of his labors might be lost by others ()ub- 

 lishino- descriptions of the same plants which he had previously 

 named and described. 



Desirous as he was to publish this work however, he felt unwill- 

 ing to attempt it, till his return to Europe should give him an op- 

 portunity of consulting those eminent botanists in Britain \vi)o do 

 so much honor to the science, and enable him fuil\ to avad himself 

 of their remarks ; a step which he deemed necessary to the perfec- 

 tion of the work, although no immediate opportunity appeared 

 likely to offer. 



^* 



'"' In a little time the illness which unhappily terminated in de- 



j. priving the world of his labors, compelled him to undertake a 



c: voyage for the sake of his health ; which he at first intended should 



"~ A2 



«i 



