PREAMBLE. 



TO THE FOURTH AND LAST PART. 



In the process of this work I have met with 

 many interruptions and disappointments. It is 

 neither easy nor agreeable to stem the current 

 of botanical errors and blunders, and whoever 

 swims against the streams of scientific prejudice 

 may reckon on difficulties. I have met such in 

 all my attempts to increase and correct know- 

 ledge ; but I persevere nevertheless, and write 

 for posterity rather than the actual Schools. I 

 feel that my weary labors are not now appre- 

 ciated except by a few, but am confident that 

 in 50 years hence they will be more valued. 

 Of this I have received already some assuran- 

 ces, when young and skilful Botanists have 

 partly approved and adopted my views. 



Meantime I must again repeat that whatever 

 I now state or correct, had been mostly done by 

 me between 1806 and 1815 chiefly, when I had 

 matured my botanical reforms as stated in my 

 Analysis of nature 1815. I then possessed the 

 ample materials of all the works of Wildenow, 

 the great dictionary and illustrations of La- 

 mark and Poiret, Martyn's large edition of Mil- 

 lers in 4 volumes Folio, and the New Diction- 

 ary of Natural History in 24 vol. 8vo . . . be- 

 sides many rare and valuable works . . . which 

 were lost with my Mpts. in my Shipwreck of 

 1815. Having thereby been thrown back upon 

 the world and entered new paths of life, I 

 could only gradualy collect again my materials, 

 and restore my labors imperfectly. Yet I have 

 since then consulted and studied many other 



