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botanical 
THE AUTHOR TO THE READEI 
HIS little volume has been written with an 
earnest purpose. The various chapters of 
which it is composed will disclose in detail what 
that purpose is. But an author has no right to 
expect that the public, however indulgent, will read 
his book unless he can, in his preface, show cause 
why they should do so. Should he by the exercise 
of rare ability succeed, in his introductory chapter, 
in chaining the interest of his readers, he may need 
no better passport to their continued indulgence 
than that supplied by a powerful imagination and 
a brilliant literary style. But, if he eschews the 
endeavour to dazzle, and merely aspires to be 
useful, he must adopt the humble role of an apolo- 
gist, and give such preliminary explanations of the 
object which he proposes to accomplish as may 
