514 
cond volumes, which I ordered to be sent for your 
kind acceptance. Nevertheless, it seems. hard if I 
may not write a letter for mere pleasure,—and I feel 
but too sensibly that Iam deep in your debt. Iam 
in full as good health as when I left your hospitable 
and delightful abode, and hope to give a course of 
ten lectures at the London Institution in May and 
part of June. . The Institution has claims upon me 
as an honorary member, and it is extremely well 
attended. I have many things to say in these lec- 
tures, as well as at the anniversary of the Linnean 
Society, about the present state, progress, and cor- 
ruptions of botany. I know not that I can stem 
the barbarous and muddy torrent, but will try.— 
Have you seen the Systema of my friend DeCan- 
dolle? It is a rich store of knowledge, the greatest 
assemblage of botanical information, as to species, 
characters and synonyms, in the world, but the 
nomenclature and its principles most corrupt! He 
has also published one volume of Prodromus of the 
whole work. His only rule for names is priority 
of date; as to bad or good, classical or barbarous, 
he has no taste. All Linnzan rules are disregarded. 
He condescends indeed to retain all Linnean names; 
but all the classical names of Solander, Swartz, 
Schreber, &c. are abolished, to restore the vile bar- 
barous appellations of Aublet and other illiterate 
French travellers. I know not how the world will 
bear this. Iam no Hercules, to attempt to cleanse 
the stable, but I shall go on in my own way, and 
trust to the good sense of those who may come 
after me. DeCandolle is a most worthy man, and 
