MEN OF SCIENCE IN LEICESTER AND LEICESTERSHIRE 91 
What is to be said of the botanists of Leicestershire may be introduced 
by referring to the title-page and the preface of The Flora of Leicestershire. 
This is the title-page :— 
THE FLORA OF LEICESTERSHIRE 
INCLUDING THE 
CRYPTOGRAMS 
WITH MAPS OF THE COUNTY 
IsSUED BY THE LEICESTER LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 
COMPILED BY THE FOLLOWING SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE 
Socrety’s BioLocicaL SECTION : ® 
F. T. Mort, F.R.G.S. Tuomas Carter, LL.B. 
E. F. Cooper, F.L.S. J. E. M. Fincu, M.D. 
C. W. Cooper, M.B. 
On the basis of a manuscript prepared in 
1852 by the late Rev. W. W. CoLeman, 
which has been enlarged, completed, brought 
up to date, mostly rewritten and entirely 
rearranged in accordance with the third 
edition of HooKer’s ‘ STUDENT’S FLORA.’ 
WILLIAMS AND NORGATE 
1886 
In the preface it is stated that the only published Flora of Leicestershire 
was that of Miss Mary Kirby,® published in 1850; and that in 1875 
Edwin Brown, Esq., of Burton-on-Trent, placed the manuscript of his 
friend the Rev. W. H. Coleman ‘at our disposal.’ The manuscript 
was dated 1852 and was almost ready for publication. Mr. Brown had 
stipulated that if it were published Mr. Coleman’s name should be on the 
title-page. 
The preface goes on to say that there had been great changes in Botany 
since 1852, and that more modern Flora had been published, that of 
Plymouth by T. R. Archer Briggs, and that of Hampshire by F. Townsend. 
Coleman had omitted nativity and habitat. 
Three periods of botany in Leicester are then distinguished. The 
first was before 1820. Its authorities were Richard Pulteney, George 
Crabbe,!® and Dr. Arnold, a physician in Leicester. ‘The second period 
of botany in Leicestershire was 1820-1850 A.D. Its authorities were the 
8 At that time Section D was for ‘ Biology (Zoology and Botany).’ After- 
wards it was for Botany only. 
® Miss Mary Kirby (Mrs. Gregg) and her sister Elizabeth Kirby wrote many 
story-books for children. She also wrote a very interesting book, Leaflets of 
my Life. She had many botanical correspondents, including the Rev. W. H. 
Coleman and the Rev. A. Bloxam. 
10 See above, p. 85, for Richard Pulteney. George Crabbe, the poet, had 
made a catalogue of plants in the vicinity of Belvoir. 
