eljicatioiu 



JAMES SCOTT BOWEEBANK, F.B.S. F.L.S. 



&c. &c. &c. 



Dear Sir, 



It lias long been my intention to dedi- 

 cate to you this humble endeavour to elucidate a 

 difficult and slighted department of Botany, and the 

 time has at length ariived for the fulfilment of this 

 intention. 



In dedicating to you this History of the British 

 Freshwater Alga3, and which is, I believe, the second 

 work Avhich has as yet appeared, which exclusively 

 treats of the Algre of our fresh waters, and the only 

 one devoted to the consideration of the British species, 

 I am actuated, not by private considerations of 

 friendship, but entirely by public motives. 



The skill which you have displayed in the micro- 

 scopic investigation of minute tissues, the generous 



A 2 



