iaeiftcatfmu 



TO 



JAMES SCOTT BOWEBBANK, F.R.S. F.L.S. 



&c. &c. &c. 



DEAR SIR, 



IT has 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 arrived for the fulfilment of this 

 intention. 



In dedicating to you this History of the British 

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

 work which has as yet appeared, which exclusively 

 treats of the Algaa 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 



