THE 
INTRODUCTION. 
\ 
A Tranllation of the Genera et Species Plantarum of 
the juftly celebrated Linn^^us, has hitherto been 
unattempted either in our own language, or any other, 
notwithftanding the reputation of the author, the merit 
of the performance, and the preference his Botanic 
System has obtained in the eflimation of the learned 
of all nations. 
It is not the Tranjlatorh defign to enter into an invef- 
tigation of the various fyftems of Botany, that have 
appeared from the time of Theophp.astus, the firfl: 
philofophic botanift, the difciple of Aristotle, who 
fiouriihed in the third century, before the chrifiian cerdy 
to the appearance of the great northern luminary Dr 
Linn/Eus ; it is fufficient that this fyftem is now uni- 
vcrfally followed by the learned; an attempt therefore 
to prefent it in an englilh drefs, certainly needs no ap- 
pology: Neverthekfs, the tranQator confcious to him- 
a ' fclf 
