586 
sight of the second volume of the Prodromus of 
Flora Greca. I prize that work and its authors 
so much, that I could not refrain from writing ex- 
pressly to assure you, with what sincerity I thank 
you for this choice present. My friendship for 
you sets me always a nibbling. Upon opening the 
book, I found repeatedly this expression, (Hab‘*.) 
an Delphi, Atho et Olympo Bithyno montibus. 
Now the word Delphi is plural only. The Greeks 
called it AcAdor, and from them the Latins called it 
Delphi, and declined it plurally only, Delphi, Del- 
phorum, Delphis, Delphos, &c. : 
Schoolboys have been often taught, but very 
improperly, to say in English, the Oracle at Del- 
phos: it should be the Oracle at Delphz ; and thus 
in your work it should stand inall such descriptions 
as above. Jn Delphis, Atho et Olympo Bithyno 
montibus. All this is upon the supposition that 
you mean the place where the Oracle at Delphi is 
situated. Perhaps something else may be designed 
by coupling the above with the expression, Jz Del- 
phi monte Eubee, which occurs several times. Is 
Delphi here a modern name? or is it the ancient 
one? Ifso,I should apprehend that still it ought to 
follow the original declination, De/phi-orum &c. 
Sir J. Banks having a slight touch of the gout, 
I had the honour of sitting in the Chair at the coun- 
cil, and at the meeting of the Royal Society in the 
evening. <A paper of Davy’s was read, full of acute 
remarks, observations, and experiments upon hy- 
drogen and oxygen gas, and to which unfortunately 
I have had no opportunity of turning my mind. 
