LATE WILLIAM CURTIS. xix 
such as, the Medical, the Culinary, the Agricultural, the 
Poisonous, the British, &c., was given to each subscriber; 
which catalogue contained very appropriate remarks on 
each head, to direct, and stimulate the student to improve- 
ment. We shall, in this place, transcribe his preface to 
the quarter containing British Plants; and that, because it 
shews, in his own words, how slender were the means to 
accomplish so great an undertaking at that time. 
On the fifth, «* Brivisn Pranrts,” is given the following 
admirable preface. “ To the distinguished abilities, unwea- 
ried assiduity, and communicative disposition of Mr. Ray, as- 
sitsed by many of his contemporaries, we are indebted for the 
first British Flora, which could in anywise be considered as 
complete ; such was his ‘ Synopsis Stirpium Britannicarum,’ 
the third edition of which still remains to be deservedly 
valued. In this work we have an enumeration, and fre- 
quently a description, not only of the more perfect plants, 
but also of the Musci, Fuci, Fungi, &c., all arranged 
according toa system of his own. To this system of our 
great predecessor succeeded that of the celebrated Linnzus, 
the ornament of Sweden ; the excellence of which was 
such, as to create general admiration, and insure it an 
almost universal reception: hence it became necessary (if 
I may be allowed the expression), to Linneanize Mr. Ray. 
This arduous task was attempted by Mr. Hudson; and 
Mr. Ray’s Synopsis, to speak metaphorically, transmigrated 
into Mr. Hudson’s Flora Anglica ; in which form, though 
it retained the advantages of a new body, it lost a portion 
of its original spirit; much useful information being sup- 
pressed, and many distinct species made into varieties : it 
was, however, enriched with many new plants, discovered 
by Mr. Hudson and his friends. 
“In the year 1777, Mr. Lightfoot having accompanied 
Mr. Pennant into Scotland, for the purpose of making 
discoveries in Natural History, favoured the public, on his 
return, with an ample account of the plants discovered in 
