PREFACE. 



It, therefore, may confidently be hoped, that ere long 

 our country will possess a Botanic collection, at ieast 

 equal to many of those which have received the patron- 

 age of the governments of Europe ; and it is but rea- 

 sonable that a country, extending from the Atlantic to 

 the Pacific Ocean, and embracing in its latitudinal di- 

 mensions every climate of the earth, and whose Flora* 

 no doubt, oo-extensive with its variety of climes and 

 soils, must form a very large division of the vegetable 

 kingdom, should possess a Botanic collection superior 

 to those of the diminutive countries of Europe, and 

 which should concentrate at least all the plants indi- 

 genous to our own country ; and it is here, perhaps, to 

 be regretted, that the munificence of our government 

 has not been directed to the accomplishment of such an 

 object, by the establishment of a National Botanic In- 

 stitution founded on this principle at the city of Wash- 

 ington, both its climate and situation being peculiarly 

 favourable to such an undertaking. 



I cannot conclude my prefatory remarks without ac- 

 knowledging my obligations to a number of gentlemen 

 for their polite contributions to this establishment, es- 

 pecially to Professor Thouin, Administrator of the Royal 

 Gardens at Paris ; Thomas Nuttall, Esq. author of the 

 "Genera of American Plants;" Professor Dewy, of 

 Williamstown College ; Professor Peck, of Cambridge 

 University ; the Hon. Jonathan Hunewell, of Boston ; 

 Dr. Porter, of Plainfield ; John Champneys, and N. 

 Herbemont, Esqrs. of South-Carolina ; Mrs. Louisa C* 

 Shaw, Capt. John Le Conte, John Cooper, and John 

 Watkins, Esqrs. of Georgia ; Dr. Hart, of Natchez ; D. 

 Reinhardt, and John D. Beatty, Esqrs. of North-Caro- 

 lina ; Dr. Norton, and Dr. Hening, of Richmond ; Dr* 

 Thornton, of Washington ; the Rev. Mr. Heckewelder, 

 of Pennsylvania ; Dr. James, of Albany ; Dr. David 

 Hosack, Professor Mitchell, the Rev. Mr. SchaefTer, Dr. 

 Torrey, and William Shaw, Esq. of New- York; from 

 all whom seeds or plants have been received, which it 

 would perhaps have been impossible to have obtained 

 from other sources. 



