Sir J. E. Smith's English Flora. 163 



given in an English dress by the hands of such a master. Sir James 

 Smith undertook an arrangement of our native plants in Latin ; and there 

 is, we are sure, but one opinion of the excellency of the Flora Britannica, 

 which has been republished, verbatim, in Germany, and which, besides 

 the correct and extended descriptions made upon the plants themselves, 

 has the merit of settling a great deal of synonymy which was previously in 

 a state of utter confusion. This is a talent, requiring great patience as 

 well as judgment, that Sir James Smith possesses in a very high degree. 

 Many authors, indeed, have benefitted their writings by his amend- 

 ments, although few have acknowledged the obligation which they owe to 

 him. 



A systematic work, similar in its general plan to that of the Flora Bri- 

 tannica, was now required in the English language; and the eagerness 

 with which the various editions of Withering were bought up, notwith- 

 standing that none of them attempted to keep pace with the advanced 

 state of science, was a convincing proof how gratefully would an English 

 Flora be received from the pen of so eminent a writer. Want of neces- 

 sary leisure had, hitherto, we know, retarded its appearance : but, by this 

 delay, the public has been no sufferer ; for every useful improvement in 

 the science, down to the present period, has been adopted and combined 

 with the author's own knowledge, and long experience on the subject, and 

 hence have arisen the two volumes under the title of the English Flora. 



These extend as far as to the end of the class IcosanJria. The artifi- 

 cial system of Linnaeus is adopted, the first object of the book being to 

 furnish the students with means for the easy and accurate determination 

 of our species of native plants, " so that any botanist, by reducing a plant 

 to its class and order, according to the perspicuous and easy rules of that 

 system, may next compare it with the short essential characters of the 

 genera at the head of each class, which genera are there artificially dispos- 

 ed according to those characters. Having determined the genus, he will 

 then find it, amongst its allies, in the body of the work, where its full 

 characters, with all needful observations, and references to figures of the 

 fructification, are given ; the natural order, according to Linnsus, Jussieu, 

 or others, being indicated. For a history of the natural order, and a view 

 of the other genera belonging to it, the student may then turn to the 

 Grammar. Having become acquainted with what relates to the genus of 

 his plant, he will next compare his specimen with all the specific charac- 

 ters under that genus, till he ascertains its species, and confirms his deter- 

 mination of its name by reading the particular description, and consulting 

 as many of the synonyms, or authors quoted, as he may have within his 

 reach ; thus finally becoming acquainted with all that is recorded concern- 

 ing the plant he has gathered." The author has likewise headed each 

 genus by the name of the natural order to which it belongs, and to each 

 genus he has annexed a compendious view of its natural habit, characters, 

 and qualities. The language of the present work is that which is recom- 

 mended in the same writer's Introduction to, and his Grammar of, Bota- 

 ny ; and certainly, with a few very trifling exceptions, it is such as wc shall 



