430 
The public has from its commencement ac- 
knowledged the excellence of the figures which 
illustrate this work, by the pencil of the late Mr. 
Sowerby. 
The plates amount to 2592. “ And it is but just,” 
observes its author, “to the memory of the worthy 
and lamented artist, to say that they are, on the 
whole, the most expressive and accurate of their 
kind. In the account of each species, besides cor- 
rected characters, synonyms, and descriptions, I 
have frequently introduced whatever might recom- 
mend the study of plants, diffuse a charm over the 
more dry and technical parts of the subject, improve 
our scientific language, or direct the contemplative 
mind to more important and exalted views of its 
Creator's Works.” 
The English Botany, from which the Pungi* 
only are excluded, “has the singular merit of being 
the only national Flora which has given a figure 
and description of every species native to the coun- 
try whose productions it professes to investigate.” 
It was brought to a termination in 1814, and 
consists of thirty-six octavo volumes. 
For the motto to the first three volumes, Sir 
James chose the following quotation from Virgil : 
** Quos ipsa volentia rura 
Sponte tulere sua.” 
The remainder of the work, with the exception 
of the last volume, has this : 
“‘ Viresque acquirit eundo.” 
* These having been published by Mr. Sowerby in a separate 
work, in three vols. folio. 
