PREFACE. Xl 
In this age, when fuccefsful advance^ 
jncnts in the ftudy of plants, have fo far 
extended its pleafures, as to render Botany 
almoft falhionable ^ and at a time, when 
Biographical writings find a reception here^ 
tofore unknown ; it became matter of fpe- 
culation, that no one ihould have delineated 
the Rife and Progrefs af Botany in Britain^ in 
connexion with the lives of thofe who have , 
contributed to amplify and embellifh it. 
Among the various enquiries which em- 
ploy the pens of the learned, none perhaps 
afford more general fatisfadlion, than fuch 
as relate to the origin and progrefs of fcience 
and literature. But when thefe lead to ob- 
jefts which we love and cherifh, they come 
recommended by a charm that fecures a 
welcome, and thus promife a more peculiar 
entertainment and gratification : however, 
difquifitions of this kind are of difficult ex- 
ecution, efpecially when applied to fubjedls 
of a fcientific nature, as requiring the union 
of various talents in the writer — an appro- 
priate fhare of learning, an extenfive literary 
as well as praftical acquaintance with the 
fubjed, united to all thofe qualifications re^ 
quifitc 
