

PREFACE. 



The utility of this undertaking at a crifis, when the taite for Botanical purfuits fo univerfally prevails, 

 will, it is prefumed, be readily admitted by all thole engaged in them, whether as theorifts, collettors, 

 or cultivators. Such a work, under the immediate dire&ion of ibme principal leader in the fcience, 

 of this country, has been a delideratum of long expectance ; but either from the great expence ne- 

 ceflarily incurred, before any adequate return could be made, or from the trouble attendant on publi- 

 cations, where colouring forms fo considerable a part, as yet, every fimilar attempt has proved abortive. 

 The Bot. Mag. of Mr. Curtis, a work of lingular merit in its way, has occafionally furniihed, it is 

 true, a few fpecimens of new plants; but the greater! part, as its title-page indicates, confifts of thofe 

 well known, common plants, long cultivated in our gardens; the direc! reverfe of the propofals and 

 intentions of the author, in the prolecution of this. From a with to prevent confufion, it was a 

 determined principle at the outlet of the work, not to give any generic or fpecific fynonims; but to 

 follow the mof! generally accepted names, of known and named plants, without a cavil, of our beft 

 Englifh botanifts, or cultivators, if no flagrant error was perceptible, according to the LinnEean fyf- 

 tern: being fatisfied, nothing contributed fo much to reprefs the ardour of young botanifts as the 

 difficulty of affixing the right name to thofe plants, which, (from a captious defire in every pubHiher, 

 to foil! in fomething of his own coinage, upon the moll trifling fuppoled difference,) have undergone 

 feveral changes of title. If the plant was a certain novelty, with us, to have followed the fexual 

 fyftem, without a fchifm; upon that truly grand and comprebenlive fcale of nature; when the 

 formation of a new genus was neceffary; if not, to refer it to fome one already made, if fuch was 

 to be found, in any orthodox author: the fpecific name to be formed from fome oppofed, leading 

 feature, in the habits of the different fpecies of the genus. But although fuch were the Author's 

 intentions, when he entered on this bulinels, yet, from a wifli to oblige many of the fupporters of 

 the work, who have lignified a wifli that fynonims mould be given, an alphabetical Index, with 

 all the various Synonims collated from the beft authorities, fhall be printed feparate for the ufe of 

 thofe who may wifh for fuch an addition. 



As a fair excufe for the Author, (who throws himfelf upon the candour of the Public,) in exte- 

 nuation of the inaccuracies which have, and will neceffarily occur in the profecution of the work, 

 it is juft to fay, that the difficulties to be encountered, and of which none but thofe engaged in 

 fimilar concerns can form any adequate idea, are incalculable; ariling chiefly from the nature of a 

 monthly publication, compofed entirely of novelty, which cannot be anticipated, and of courfe, fo 

 very little time can be allotted for revifal or correc!ion. To remedy as far as poffible fuch flips, a lil! 

 of Erratee will be given, with the Index, at the clofe of each volume. 



Knightsbkidge, Oft. 1/99- 



