COMPAKATIVK YIVAV. 173 



however, the greatest part are yet unpublished : and about 

 70 are connuon to other intratropical regions. 



Of unpul)lished genera there are 32 in the colleetion ; 

 twelve of which are absolutely new, and three, though 

 observed in other parts of this coast of equinoctial Africa, 

 had not been found before in a state sufficiently perfect, to 

 ascertain their structure ; ten belong to diii'erent parts of 

 the same line of coast ; and seven are common to other 

 countries. 



No natural order, absolutely new, exists in the herba- 

 rium ; nor has any family been found peculiar to equinoc- 

 tial Africa. 



The extent of Professor Smith's herbarium proves not 

 only the zeal and activity of my lamented friend, but also 

 his great acquirements in that branch of science, which was 

 his more particular province, and to his excessive exertions 

 in the investigation of which he fell a victim, in the ill-fated 

 expedition to Congo. 



Had he returned to Europe, he would assuredly have 

 given a far more complete and generally interesting account 

 of his discoveries than what is here attempted : and the 

 numerous facts which he could no doubt have communi- 

 cated respecting the habit, the structure, and the uses of the 

 more important and remarkable plants, would probably 

 have determined him to have followed a very different plan 

 from that adopted in the })resent essay. 



It remains only that I should notice the exemplary dili- 

 gence of the Botanic Gardener, Mr. David Lockhart, the 

 only survivor, I believe, of the party by whom the river above 

 the falls was examined, in that disastrous journey which 

 proved fatal to the expedition. 



From Mr. Lockhart I have received valuable information 

 concernhig many of the specimens contained in the herba- 

 rium, and also respecting the esculent plants observed on 

 the banks of the Congo. 



Febniary 2, 1S18. 



