14 
INTRODUCTION. 
sedentary life has often made me unhappy or 
unwell. I like the free range of the woods and 
glades, 1 hate the sight of fences like the In- 
dians ! The free constant exercise and pleasu- 
rable excitement is always conductive to health 
and pleasure. 
The pleasures of a botanical exploration ful- 
ly compensate for these miseries and dangers, 
else no one would be a travelling Botanist, nor 
spend his time and money in vain. Many fair- 
days and fair-roads are met with, a clear sky 
or a bracing breeze inspires delight and ease, 
you breathe the pure air of the country, every 
rill and brook offers a draught of limpid fluid. 
What delight to meet with a spring after a 
thirsty walk, or a bowl of cool milk out of the 
dairy ! What sound sleep at night after a long 
day’s walk, what soothing naps at noon under 
a shaded tree near a purling brook ! 
Every step taken into the fields, groves, and 
hills, appears to afford new enjoyments, Land- 
scapes and Plants jointly meet in your sight. 
Here is an old acquaintance seen again; there 
a novelty, a rare plant, perhaps a new one ! 
greets your view : you hasten to pluck it, exa- 
mine itj admire, and put it in your book. Then 
you walk on thinking what it might be, or may 
be made by you hereafter. You feel an exul- 
tation, you are a conqueror, you have made a 
conquest over Nature, you are going to add a 
new object, or a page to science. This peace- 
ful conquest has cost no tears, but fills your 
mind with a proud sensation of not being use- 
less on earth, of having detected another link 
of the creative power of God. 
Such are the delightful feelings of a real bo- 
tanist, who travels not for lucre nor paltry pay. 
