VI PREFACE. 



Amongst the numerous species of plants 

 which Europe has received from China, Ame- 

 rica, and New Holland, but few have hitherto 

 found their way into the language of flowers, 

 and some of these he has ventured to present, 

 as emblematical of such characters or passions, 

 as appeared most appropriate. 



The numerical emblems, as well as those 

 for the days of the week, and the months of 

 the year, were devised by him in order to 

 render the work more complete, so as to 

 enable the emblematists to record dates by 

 floral symbols. 



As the invention of symbolical language 

 appears to have originated in eastern nations, 

 the author's endeavours have been to collect 

 the emblems of those countries, through the 

 aid of their poets, and the assistance of various 

 travellers. 



The most ancient works on heraldry have 



