INTRODUCTION. 



iii 



ways communicated to those who have applied to him, requires no other witness than 

 the universal voice of the inhabitants of India, and even of many in Europe and Ame- 

 rica, to whom he has constantly and liberally sent supplies. In both these conn- 

 tries, several learned bodies have testified the high sense they entertain of his abiii* 

 ties by electing him one of their members * 



By the formation of Botanical Gardens the labours of scientific men have hem 

 called forth, and greatly aided. The great number of genera, the number of spe- 

 cies belonging to each genus, and the numerous varieties of some species, thereby 

 brought together, and placed in one point of view, afford facilities for the improve- 

 ment of Botanical science which might have been sought in vain without the aid of 

 such institutions. The labours of Tournefort, Linnseus, Smith, Jussien, Cavanilles, 

 D'Herritier, Gssrtner, Barton, and many others equally deserving of notice, would 

 either never have made their appearance, or would have appeared in a form very 

 different, and probably much inferior to that in which they are now published, had 

 such institutions never existed. 



But the Botanical Gardens and other noble collections of plants in Europe could 

 never have been brought to the perfection in which they now appear, had not pub- 

 lic or private repositories of plants been formed in the different settlements in Asia, 

 Africa, and America. Hence their importance in all our foreign settlements is clearly 

 established : for though it is freely confessed, that much has been accomplished by 

 the ardour and enterprize of travellers and collectors; it will be obvious, on the 

 slightest reflection, that the utmost which collectors of plants can do, must neces- 

 sarily be very limited, unless there be some place in the countries where these re- 

 searches are made, in which their collections may be deposited, and afterwards, in 

 many instances, multiplied. A traveller, or a collector of plants, however diligent 



* Dr. Roxburgh has been chosen \ 

 2. Fellow of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia. 



2. Correspond iag Member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts. 



3. Fellow of the Royal Society of Physicians at Edinburgh. 



4. Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London." 



5. Fellow of -die Linnsean Society of Philadelphia. 



6. F. R. S. E. 



7. Honorary Member of the Society of the Friends of Natura l History at Berlin. 



