[ S46 ] 



Acharius, assumes the dignity of an entire and 

 well-arranged Order. The Fungi, better discrimi- 

 nated by Withering than by most popular writers, 

 and well explained by the figures of the excellent 

 and lamented Sowerby, are, in their minutest de- 

 tails, exquisitely illustrated by the Cryptogamic 

 Flora of the ingenious Dr. Greville, and the accu- 

 rate pubUcations of Mr. Purton. These, mar- 

 shalled by the aid of the learned Persoon and 

 others, might possibly have proved less obscure 

 than heretofore. This tribe indeed leads the bo- 

 tanist to the end of his clue, and leaves him in pal- 

 pable darkness, where even Dillenius was bewil- 

 dered. 



All these subjects, if not yet brought into perfect day- 

 light, might well, by the help of those brilliant 

 northern lights, Acharius, Fries and Agardh, have 

 been made more accessible to the student, and 

 more instructive to systematic botanists, by one 

 long accustomed to their contemplation in the wild 

 scenes of Nature, and not unfurnished with remarks 

 of his own. If our bodily powers could keep pace 

 with our mental acquirements, the student of half 

 a century would not shrink from the delightful task 

 of being still a teacher ; nor does he resign the 

 hope of affording some future assistance to his fel- 

 low-labourers, though for the present, "a change 

 of study," to use the expression of a great French 

 •writer, may be requisite " by way of relaxation and 

 repose." 



The student of the Phfenogamic Plants of Britain 

 will, it is hoped, find this publication sufficient for 

 his purpose. The numerous and very curious ad- 

 ditions, received by the author during its progress, 

 and announced at the end of the 23rd Class, en- 

 courage him to think the subject is far from ex- 

 hausted, and to look for still more discoveries to 

 enrich his future volumes whenever they may ap- 

 pear. 



