viil INTRODCUTION. 



by adopting such an arrangement of the subject-matter as would 

 best occupy every portion of the page, without rendering it 

 obscure to the reader. How far liis endeavours liave proved 

 successful, must be left to the experience and judgment of those 

 for whose use the work is particularly intended. Should it be 

 useful in advancing the cause of Botanical Science in this coun- 

 try, as the demand for four very large impressions, in the brief 

 space of 7 years, leads him to believe, the end wliich was fondly 

 anticipated at the commencement of the undertaking will be 

 fully accomplislied. During the progress of the labour, it oc- 

 curred to the Author tliat he might give additional interest to 

 the volumes by subjoining short notices of the uses and proper- 

 ties of, or some little Iiistorical reraai-ks relative to, the species, 

 the origin of the generic names, &c. : thereby recommending 

 the pursuit of which it treats, to the attention of the many, who 

 are still apt to look upon Botany as a dry and profitless em- 

 ployment, a system of hard words, destitute of any real utility 

 to mankind. 



IMirbel has well remarked, that " Ceux qui proscrivent I'usage 

 des raethodes artificielles n'en ont point saisi le veritable esprit ; 

 ceux qui ne s'attaclient qu' a ces classifications arbitraires, et 

 qui negligent I'etude des rapports naturels, ignorent la beaute et 

 la dignite de la science ;" — a maxim which it is to be wished 

 were more generally acknowledged. For it is unfortunately 

 too much the practice of the day, for the one party, having 

 devoted an exclusive attention to one or other of these Methods, 

 to decry that with which he is unacquainted, or the advantages 

 of which he has never had the good fortune to experience. The 

 more easy the commencement of a study is made, the more 

 votaries will be drawn to it ; and though they should attain to 

 no further knowledge of a Natural Method than what has been 

 taught by the imperishable writings of a Linnaeus and of a 

 Smith, yet let them be assured that in plants, taken individually, 

 and in an isolated manner, there are subjects that will give 

 ample scope for the employment of the talents of the greatest 

 philosophers : in the due contemplation of which they may de- 

 rive both pleasure and advantage themselves, and be the means 

 of communicating them to others, 



" The well-directed sight 



Brings, in each flower, an universe to light." 



