PREFACE. xr 



To the number of thofe friends who have 

 contributed their affiftances towards the pre- 

 fent work, I am happy to add the refped:a- 

 ble and celebrated names of Jofeph Banks 

 Efq; and Dr. Solande?^, the two great philo- 

 fophical luminaries of this nation; gentle- 

 men v/ho were ever ready to elucidate a 

 difficult fubjeifl, and who never fail'd to 

 difpel the obfcurity which furrounded any 

 dubious plant. 



Nor will gratitude allow me to forget the 

 obligations I owe to the friendly indulgence 

 of Dr. Sibthorpe, ProfeiTor of Botany at Ox- 

 ford y who with great freedom and kindnefs 

 permitted me to examine Dr. Dilknius's ce- 

 lebrated collecftion of mofles now in his cuf- 

 tody, and thereby enabled me to folve many 

 doubts and difficulties among the numerous 

 fpecies of that minute tribe of vegetables. 



Having now exhibited, as I propofed, a 

 fliort plan of the following work, and enu- 

 merated the various aids I received in the 

 execution of it, it may not be amifs briefly 

 to acquaint the reader, what were my own 

 preparative qualifications for the undertaking 

 7 It. 



