184 INTERNATIONAL BOTANICAL CONGRESS. 
Sene Papers by Professor Gasparini. 
n the Species of Cotton. With Illustrations. By Professor 
Sob 
Water-colour Drawings, with Analyses of the Flowers. By M 
J. Platzmann, of Leipsic 
Water-colour Drawings of British Plants. By Mr. W. G. Smith, 
of London. 
Before proceeding to the business of the meeting, the President 
made a preliminary statement in English, first as a mark of respect to 
England, and next in explanation of his views for the conduct of pre- 
sent and future meetings of this kind. We have to choose, he said, 
between two alternatives, either that every member should speak in his 
own language or in that of the country where the Congress meets. 
This last method would destroy that equality between members which 
is desirable in every public assembly. Not a few would be reduced 
to silence, or at least prevented from taking part in the discussion, and 
several distinguished men might on this account avoid international 
congresses. The other plan, of letting one speak in his own language, 
appears to me to be much more convenient. For these reasons, I shall 
address you in French, and in doing so I establish in fact the right of 
every Englishman to speak in a at Paris or Berlin, at Florence 
or Vienna, under similar circumstance 
Professor De Candolle then read his Wm address in French, of 
which the following is a literal translation :— 
In order to derive the full advantage from a meeting of so many 
lovers of science, horticulturists and botanists, brought together from 
all parts of Europe, it is necessary that the common object for which 
they have met should be perfectly understood. 
Tt devolves on me; who am called upon to preside (an honour of 
which I feel myself unworthy), to point out the bond which unites 
us, and of which perhaps you have, at present, but a vague and, so to 
speak, an intuitive perception. 
In my opinion, we are not here merely as amateurs to satisfy our 
curiosity. The proof of which is, we are here assembled to listen to 
discussions, instead of wandering about the fairy-like garden of the 
Exhibition. Evidently we seek something more than a mere show, ~ 
and that prem is, in my opinion, instruction. It is not sufficient 
