146 
the Mythology, to which there are some curious 
notes indeed, which I shall not make my observa- 
tions upon till you have read that part of the work: 
it entertains and informs me very much, and is writ- 
ten, in my opinion, in the best manner I ever met 
with any account of countries. I judge the author 
to be very liberal, and a sound deep philosopher. 
Your ever affectionate, 
JAMES SMITH. 
Dr. Hope to Mr. James Edward Smith, F RS. 
Dear Sir, Edinburgh, April 24, 1786. 
A few days ago I had the pleasure of receiving 
your kind letter and acceptable present. I thank 
you for a copy in English dress of a Dissertation I 
long wished to see. I thank you for the honour you 
do me in dedicating it to me*; and I thank you very 
much for the many kind expressions in your letter. 
The more I thought of publishing‘on a large scale 
the entire plant of 4ssa fetida, the more difficul- 
ties I perceived in the execution of such a design ; 
till finally I saw clearly I had been mistaken, and 
that Sir J. Banks had done the thing in the best way 
for me, and for which | am much indebted to him. 
I hear with great pleasure of your intention, upon 
your return to Britain, to publish a new edition of 
the Species Plantarum. I most heartily wish you 
success. You have so happy a genius for botany, 
and so much unremitting zeal for the improvement 
of the science, that I heartily wish His Majesty, by 
* Dissertation on the Sexes of Plants, 
