1861.] ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. 23 



We conclude this subject by repeating that every correspondent 

 is desired to express fully and freely his opinions on all matters 

 connected with botany, or the management of this magazine ; 

 to offer his counsels, or suggestions, or hints with manly inde- 

 pendence, as a promoter of science, and not as a partisan, and 

 without troubling himself about the possibility of his views being 

 either pleasing or distasteful in other quarters. 



Every one will admit that he who writes for the instruction of 

 the public, must study the style of conciliation, and abhor the 

 inspirations of the spirit of detraction, and strive against egotism 

 and self-laudation ; but every botanist may not only avail him- 

 self, to the utmost latitude, of the ' Phy tologist ' for the contra- 

 diction of any statement that appeared therein, but he may 

 exercise his privilege of preserving his incognito, of wearing his 

 mask where and when and as long as he pleases, without a ques- 

 tion about his motives for concealment. 



The Editor apologizes for the unusual length of this article. 

 Since he undertook the editorship, now nearly six years ago, 

 there has been no necessary cause for so long and so unpleasant 

 an Address as the present. He begs to tender the excuse, usually 

 made by those whose indulgence of themselves, at this festive 

 period, has passed beyond the limits of moderation, viz. that 

 " Christmas comes but once a year.^' He, for the succeeding 

 eleven months, abandons all exclusive claims to the pages of the 

 magazine, and freely offers them to those who have something 

 more cheering and instructive to offer to the readers than com- 

 plaints, remonstrances, and requests, for redress of grievances. 



In saluting our friends " with co??^e profound," i.e. making our 

 bow and courteously retiring, we beg to present them all with 

 the usual civilities, the customary compliments of the season, 

 assuring them that with the past we are well contented, and that 

 we see much that is both hopeful and encouraging in the pro- 

 spects of the future. 



In taking our leave of the Old Year, with only a few regrets at 

 its departure, we introduce its successor with the charitable hope 

 that it will not be worse than the last, the weather only excepted : 

 this was so tantalizingly bad, so provoking by its continuous 

 changes from bad to worse, that an apology can hardly be offered 

 or accepted in its behalf. In bidding adieu to our readers, we 

 offer them our good wishes, and pray that they may enjoy as 



