4 
ALASSIO AND ITS FLORA 
be easily refuted; and in this summary 
description he will proceed with only cur- 
sory notice of his own opinions, allowing 
chief space to demonstrable proof, while 
in treating that part of his subject which 
is of interest to the botanist, he will na- 
turally be outside the promptings of party 
feeling. — If furthermore he has had to 
speak Avith harshness of aught which ap- 
peared to deserve it, he hopes that his 
fellow townsmen will forgive him, bearing 
in mind that the wish to avoid the sem- 
blance of partisanship Avas his inducement 
to keep no unpleasant truth concealed, 
seeing that assertions are of but small 
weight which proceed from one blinded 
by partiality; and considering besides that 
nothing would spur us to mend our own 
faults, wherever it be possible, so much 
as a previous confession of them. 
In a rapid trip which I have made in 
that part of the enchanted western Riviera 
which reaches from Alassio to Nice, I liave 
been surprised that money and treasure 
