BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 621 
pation, and all I have seen confirms my opinion that 15,000 
different species may be procured. I shall study to send you, 
generally, specimens of a manageable size. Itis certainly 
very disadvantageous to us both that I am not a botanist by 
profession; but you may depend upon it, that every thing 
will be done by me to obviate this defect ; it may partly be 
removed by your always sending me the names of all such 
plants as you receive from me, and partly by studying the 
Subject myself. For, as the mere process of collecting is fa- 
tiguing and monotonous, and the nights in Surinam very 
long, so I think part of those hours, and some of the proceeds 
from the sale of specimens, might be devoted to making my- 
self acquainted with Botany. I would request you to have 
the kindness to point out to me such works as would aid me 
most. At present I possess only, Persoon’s Synopsis Planta- 
rum, De Candolle’s Prodromus Syst. Natur. vol. vii, Linneus’ 
Systema Vegetabilium (the 16th edition, by Sprengel), 5 vols. 
and Lindley’s Natural System; of O. Swartz’s Flora Indie 
Occidentalis I have only the perusal. Persoon and Linnaeus 
Sive merely enumerations, and their descriptions are quite 
insufficient, at least, for such beginners in the science as my- 
self, while I should think that experienced botanists might 
dispense with both these works. De Candolle’s pleases me 
very much, but it is incomplete. I do not know what I 
would not be ready to give for such a book as that of Sprengel 
with descriptions like those in your British Flora, or in Lind- 
ley’s System. Of many technical terms, adopted within the 
last twenty years, I am ignorant, and the only book to which 
can refer, is an old edition of Willdenow’s Terminology, 
published in 1821. Besides the few books above mentioned, 
I possess Miller's Gardener’s Dictionary. My magnifying- 
glass, I regret to say, is but very indifferent, 
But though Botany will still claim my preference, yet even 
you, who are wholly devoted to that science, would blame 
me if I neglected the other branches of Natural History, 
which engross the attention of so many distinguished 
men, 
