New Works in Preparation. 221 



Professor La-Gasca, as our "readers will recollect, is the Author of the in- 

 teresting article on the Botany and Gardening of Spain, given in our first 

 volume (p. 2.55.); and whoever recollects the feeling manner with which 

 this truly amiable man deplores the misfortunes of his country, and relates 

 his own unhappy situation, " a fugitive and a prescript from his native 

 country," will join with us in most heartily wishing him that success which 

 he merits, not only as a Botanist, but as a victim in the cause of liberty, and 

 the general progress of society. Little do many of our readers know the 

 arduous struggles for existence incident to a person situated like Professor 

 La-Gasca ; it is necessary to have undergone certain changes, — to have 

 drank one's self of the cup of misfortune, — to form an idea of the almost 

 hopeless adversity of his case. Yet Mr. La-Gasca's resignation, meekness, 

 firmness, and even cheerfulness, are truly exemplary, and may be cited as an 

 example of the moral sublime. Occupation and employment are the re- 

 sources to which he must have recourse, and on these accounts we sin-* 

 cerely hope he will meet with a full measure of demand for his Hortus 

 Siccus. 



The usefulness of such a work to all who are desirous of knowing some- 

 thing of practical botany is unquestionable ; it will be of particular interest 

 to ladies who take an interest in this study, as it furnishes the easiest of all 

 ways of knowing plants by sight ; and a stock of this sort of knowledge 

 laid up in youth, and which may be done by a Hortus Siccus within doors 

 or in a city, creates, like a taste for sketching landscape, a distinct source 

 of enjoyment for walks in the country during the after-period of life. It 

 may be proper to mention, that as the indigenous plants of twenty miles 

 rotind London will include most of the native plants of common occurrence 

 in Europe, any one knowing by -sight all that will be contained in the Hortus 

 Siccus Londinensis, may be considered as having a very respectable know- 

 ledge of plants. 



It will be seen by the prospectus that Mr. La-Gasca has the countenance 

 and assistance of the first botanists - about London. To such botanists in 

 the country, as have specimens of indigenous plants, we would suggest, 

 that their duplicates, or a part of them, would in all probability be very ac- 

 ceptable to Mr. La-Gasca. We would farther suggest to such of our readers 

 as do not know much of botany themselves, or who wish to have it taught in 

 an easy and effectual manner to their children, that they might order from 

 Mr. I ia-Gasca dried plants for this purpose with great benefit. They might 

 for example give any or all of the following orders. 



A Hortus Siccus to illustrate each of the Twenty-four Classes of IAnneeus, 

 and the principal Orders in each Class ; which might be done, exclusive of 

 binding, for any sum from Si. to 20/. 



A Hortus Siccus to illustrate the Classes and Orders of the Natural System, 

 as far as respects Hardy and the Common Hot-house Plants ; from 7/. to 

 50/. 



A Hortus Siccus of the Plants most commonly met with in Great Britain, 

 whether Natives, in Culture, or preserved in Hot-houses ; say as many sorts 

 as can as be afforded for 2/. 3l. 51. 7,1. 10/. 20/. &c. 



A Hortus Siccus of the Plants of any particular Country, which would be 

 very useful for persons going abroad ; or of any particular Class, Tribe, or 

 Family of Plants, as the Grasses, Clovers, Heaths, Common Weeds, Medi- 

 cinal Plants, Poisonous Plants, &c. &c. might be ordered, and the price 

 either limited before hand, or left to the discretion of Mr. La-Gasca. 



Our anxiety that Mr. La-Gasca should be fully occupied will, we trust, 

 be a sufficient excuse to him for having gone into so much detail without 

 saying any thing to him on the subject, and to our readers for having oc- 

 cupied so much room, in showing how he may best be rendered useful to 

 many of them. We shall only further add, that any intermediary service 

 that we can render, it will afford us the greatest happiness to undertake. 



