6 



LAWS OF NOMBNCLATUEB. 



not, however, occur on points of importance, it was decided 

 tliat less stringent rules should be proposed to the Congress ; 

 that authors might be left at liberty to adopt what course 

 they may think most suitable, and the way might remain 

 open to further improvement. 



The discussion in congress was remarkably well conducted 

 by M. Dumortier, one of our honorary Vice-Presidents, whilst 

 the President himself, author of the scheme, acted as re- 

 porter. In the course of the debates, carried on through 

 several sittings, some useful modifications were introduced 

 into the original text ; but no article of primary importance 

 underwent any essential change. Generally speaking, when 

 it was found necessary to vote, a large majority showed how 

 much opinions had been conciliated by discussion. Finally, 

 after a long sitting, on the 23rd of August, at 11 o'clock at 

 night, the following decision was carried all but unanimously, 

 and with manifest satisfaction, by about a hundred botanists 

 of all countries. 



The Botanists assembled, at Paris, in International Con- 

 gress, in August, 1867, ha/uing examined the collection of 

 ' Laws of Botanical Nomenclature,' laid down hy M. Alph. de 

 Candolle, upon the Report of a Committee appointed hy them, 

 resolve : — 



" That these Laws, as adopted hy this Assembly, shall he 

 recommended as the hest Guide for Nomenclature in the 

 Vegetable Kingdom." 

 The account of the discussions will be published in extenso 

 in the 'Actes du Congres,'^ together with the text of the 

 laws that have been adopted; but it would have been diffi- 

 cult, on account of the number and length of other scientific 

 papers presented, to reproduce the Introduction and the 

 Commentary, which are, nevertheless, of evident importance 

 for the better understanding of the articles. Besides which, 

 to ensure a somewhat general application of the adopted 

 rules, it has appeared very necessary, not only that they 

 should be translated into several languages, but also that 



' 1 vol. 8vo, Paris, 1867, at the office of tlie Botanical Society, Eue 

 de Grenelle Saint-Germain, n. 84. 



