PREFACE. 



be spared ; but as it is an undertaking of some difficulty, and 

 of considerable expense, they cannot flatter themselves with 

 the hope of very speedily completing it. To the liberality of 

 many of the Members they already owe much, and they in- 

 dulge the expectation, that future presents of works connected 

 with the subject, will materially aid the accomplishment of 

 this part of the plan which they have laid down for the gene- 

 ral improvement of the Society. 



The collection of Drawings of Fruits, formed under the 

 direction of a Committee, is already considerable, and by a 

 perseverance in the plan proposed it will, ere long, surpass 

 all others, in point of numbers, as much as it already does in 

 point of excellence. In justice they cannot omit to state, that 

 to the correct eye and skilful hand of Mr. William Hooker, 

 the Artist regularly employed by the Society, they owe this 

 invaluable assemblage, the importance of which, as standards 

 of reference, will long be felt and acknowledged. Indepen- 

 dent of these, the Society are forming Collections of Drawings 

 of Ornamental Plants, one of which consists of the most re- 

 markable and beautiful plants of China, drawn by an artist 

 retained in their service at Canton ; the superior manner in 

 which these drawings are executed, and the judicious selec- 

 tion of the subjects, render them highly valuable and inter- 

 esting. 



Regent Street, January ; 1 820. 



