INTRODUCTION. 5 



Pretty mysteries, I say, as opposed to the 

 vulgar and ugly mysteries of the so-called science 

 of botany, — exemplified sufficiently in this chosen 

 page. Respecting which, please observe farther: — 

 Nobody — I can say this very boldly — loves Latin 

 more dearly than I ; but, precisely because I do 

 love it (as well as for other reasons), I have always 

 insisted that books, whether scientific or not, ought 

 to be written either in Latin, or English ; and not 

 in a doggish mixture of the refuse of both. 



Linnaeus wrote a noble book of universal Natural 

 History in Latin. It is one of the permanent 

 classical treasures of the world. And if any scien- 

 tific man thinks his labours are worth the world's 

 attention, let him, also, write what he has to say 

 in Latin, finishedly and exquisitely, if it take him 

 a month to a page.* 



But if — which, unless he be one chosen of millions, 

 is assuredly the fact — his lucubrations are only of 

 local and temporary consequence, let him write, as 

 clearly as he can, in his native language. 



This book, accordingly, I have written in English ; 

 (not, by the way, that I could have written it in 

 anything else — so there are small thanks to me ;) 



* I have by happy chance just added to my Oxford library the 

 poet Gray's copy of Linnreus, with its exquisitely written Latin 

 notes, exemplary alike to scholar and naturalist. 



