521 
“ My dear Sir,—It was not till late last night that 
I had the pleasure of receiving through the hands 
of my booksellers the first number of Exotic 
Botany, and of perusing the affectionate, and to me, 
highly gratifying address which you have done 
me the great honour to prefix to it. To such 
parts of it as are commendatory, I can only say, 
that although it be an arduous task, I will do the 
best I can to justify you to the world for the 
favourable opinion which you have ventured to ex- 
press; and in this respect I feel as if I had been 
paid beforehand for a work which I have yet to 
perform: but in your kind and friendly expres- 
sions of attachment and esteem I experience the 
most unalloyed and perfect satisfaction, because I 
know that affection can only be repaid zz kind, and 
that I am rich enough to make you a return. May 
this public seal of our friendship not only confirm 
it whilst we live, but long continue to unite our 
names in future times, as associates in our studies 
and pursuits, in our dispositions and our hearts.” 
The Prefaces to the Reflections on the Study of 
Nature, his Tour on the Continent, his Introduction 
to Botany, and to the English Flora, (which last is 
indeed a brief history of the progress of botanical 
science in this country,) are well worthy of being 
read for the information and sentiments which they 
contain. 
In all Sir James’s literary compositions his only 
aim was to express his thoughts with clearness and 
brevity, in the most common words. “ Hard words,” 
