PREFACE. 



writers upon classification can agree respecting the exact 

 sequence in which the natural orders of plants should 

 follow each other. By some the plan of Jussieu is adopted, 

 by others that of De Candolle, and by many the systems of 

 Endlicher, of the author of this work, of Von Martius, of 

 Schultz, or even of Reichenbach may be preferred. This 

 can only be accounted for upon the supposition that the 

 systems of all these authors are equally false. To enable 

 the reader of this book to suit his own convenience in the 

 arrangement of the matter, the work is so printed that the 

 different natural orders may be cut asunder and re-arranged 

 at the pleasure of the possessor ; some space has necessarily 

 been sacrificed to this object, but it is hoped that a cor- 

 responding degree of convenience will attend it. The 

 scheme is, however, only a matter of experiment, and will 

 be abandoned hereafter if it should appear not to be of 

 general advantage. As the work leaves the publisher's 

 hands the sequence of matter corresponds with that of the 

 author's Natural System of Botany, because it will pro- 

 bably be that preferred by the majority of readers in this 

 country. 



It only remains to notice the sources from which the 

 information contained in this work has been procured. As 

 all the Pharmacological works of most repute have been 

 occasionally more or less consulted, it may appear almost 

 invidious to name any one in particular from which such 

 information has been gleaned more than from others. It is, 

 however, an act of the merest justice to say, that the 

 valuable work of Guibourt, the excellent lectures on Ma- 

 teria Medica by Mr. Pereira, published in the Medical 

 Gazette, and Dr. Royle's various writings have furnished 

 the author with the most valuable part of his information 

 upon doubtful points. 



LONDON, June 14. 1838. 



