'John [on. 129 
many new plants had been introduced, and 
many valuable works publifhed on the con- 
tinent, particularly the Hortus Eyjletfen- 
Jis in 1 61 3, and the Prodromus of Bau« 
hine in 1620. No publications had ap- 
peared at home, except fuch as were 
adapted to the Florift and Gardener ; Gaf- 
par Bauhi?ies invaluable Finax had facili- 
tated and (hortened the labour of confulting 
preceding authors. All thefe circumftances 
were favourable to Johnson ; and his ac- 
knowledged fuperiority to Gerard in the 
learned languages, might juftly raife the ex- 
pedlation of the public ; infomuch that it 
becomes a matter of fpeculation, why John- 
son acquiefced in the charafter of an editor 
only. It may indeed be converted into a 
ftrong prefumption of the value fct by the 
public on Gerard 5 which probably I '-e- 
vented the rife of a new title. 
The general expedation was not difap- 
pointed o The advantages above noted en- 
abled Johnson to amplify and improve 
his author to fuch a degree, that his book 
eminently defer ves the encomium that Hal-^ 
LER has beftowed upon it, when he calls 
Vol, I. K it 
