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whose acquisitions and learned remarks are given to the 

 world by the munificence of the East India Company, in 

 a style which no prince has ever rivalled. That enthusi- 

 astic admirer of nature, Colonel Hardwicke, and the 

 learned botanist Dr. Francis Buchanan, have also contri- 

 buted greatly to increase our knowledge of Indian botany. 

 The latter has enjoyed the advantage of investigating, for 

 the first time, the remote and singular country of Nepaul; 

 so prolific in beautiful and uncommon plants, that few 

 parts of the world can exceed it, and yet meeting, in se- 

 veral points, not only the Floras of the lower regions and 

 islands of India, but those of Japan, China, and even 

 Siberia. The only systematic work on East Indian plants, 

 is the Flora Indica of Burmann, which is classed ac- 

 cording to the Linnsean artificial method. We cannot 

 but wish it were more worthy of the system or the sub- 

 ject; yet, as a first attempt, it deserves our thanks. In 

 speaking of Indian botany, shall we withhold our homage 

 from that great and sublime genius Sir William Jones ? 

 who honoured this study with his cultivation, and, like 

 every thing else that he touched, refined, elevated, and 

 elucidated it, with a beam of more than mortal radiance. 

 No man was ever more truly sensible of the charms of 

 this innocent and elegant pursuit ; and whenever he ad- 

 verted to it, all the luminous illustrations of learning, and 

 even the magic graces of poetry, flowed from his pen. 



But we must extend ourview beyond the utmost bounds 

 of India, and of the then discovered world, to trace the 

 steps of those adventurous circumnavigators who sought 

 out, not only new plants, but new countries, for botanical 

 examination. The names of Banks and Solander have, 

 for nearly half a century, been in every body's mouth. 

 Their taste, their knowledge, their liberality, have diffused 

 a charm and' a popularity over all their pursuits ; and 

 those who never heard of botany before, have learned to 

 consider it with respect and admiration, as the object to 

 which a man of rank, riches, and talents, devotes his life 



