

PREFACE TO THE THIRD VOLUME. 



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In consequence of what has been mentioned in the Advertise- 

 ment prefixed to' the First Volume of this work, as well as in an Ar- 

 ticle in the Journal of the Asiatic Society for April 1832, entitled 

 " Review of Indian Botany," page 138, the inference will proba- 

 bly be dra^vn that the Public have much to regret, in its being 

 presented to the world without Dr. Wallich's additions. To deny 

 this is not the intention of the writer of this Preface, but to offer 

 some further explanation of the reasons which led to it. In the 

 latter end of 1830, when the Publishers determined, with the as- 

 sistance of the Author's greatly esteemed friend, the Reverend Dr. 

 Carey, to complete the Publication of the " Flora Indica," up- 

 wards of ten years had elapsed since the First Volume of the old 

 Edition had appeared, during which interval one other Volume 

 only was added to it. At this period (the conclusion of 1830) 

 Dr. Wallich was in England, and the Publishers had no means of 

 judging when he purposed returning to India, or whether he in- 

 tended to remain altogether in Europe. Calls for the completion 

 of the Work had from time to time been made in the Journals and 

 Periodicals of the day, and the obligation they were under not to al- 

 low a Work, the result of much study and labour, to remain longer 

 dormant, had continued undischarged too long. Further delay 

 was out of the question. Two modes of Publication now suggest- 

 ed themselves ; — one, to complete the remaining Volumes, making 

 use of Dr. Wallich's manuscript Notes and Additions ; the other, to 

 publish them without. Both were set aside ; the first was palpably 

 improper, circumstances not admitting of Dr. Wallich's acquies- 

 cence being previously sought : the second would have given to the 

 world a confused and mutilated work. In lieu it was determined, 

 although entailing much additional expence, to reprint the tMO 



