[ vi ] 
have in all Ages been the nioft defervedly famed, for the honour- 
able mention they have never failed to make of fuch Perfons as were 
either Benefactors to the Gardens in which they were concern’d, 
who fent them Specimens of curious Plants, or laftly, in whofe Gar- 
dens they had the good fortune of feeing any fuch. Clufius has im- 
mortalized the Names of Monfieur ^lateauj and a great many others 
of his Friends, by owning he was obliged to them for feveral of the 
Plants which he has fo excellently deicrib’d. Aldinus has thought 
it ncccifary to acquaint us where he found the Plants, which he has 
examined, viz. in the Farnefian Gardens at Homey FerTarius in 
thofe of Tranquillus Rornaulus of the fame City, and Cornutus 
thofe of yohannes Morinus at Farts. Did the Memory of Gaftoriy 
Duke of OrleanSy deferve to be perpetuated upon no other fcore. 
It will ever live in Dr. Morifon's Dedication of the Hortus Blefenfis 
to King Charles the Second ,♦ and, to name no more. Dr. Boer- 
haavey in his late Hiftory of the Phyfick Garden of Leyden^ Teems 
to have had nothing fo much in view, as to publilh to the World, 
the Names of thofe Perfons to whom it is indebted, for any part 
of the vegetable Treafure, which it contains at prefent. 
As I have endeavoured to imitate thefc Great Authors, in the 
cxaClncfs of my Defeription, I fhould be loath to come behind them 
in point of Gratitude and good Manners. I cannot, therefore, let 
flip this Opportunity of acknowledging, that for the Flowers from 
which I principally took my Obfervations, I am obliged to the 
Right Honourable the Countefs of Hartfordy who did me the Fa- 
vour to fend me, laft Summer, a confiderable number of Roots, 
from her Ladyfhip’s fine Gardens at Marlborough . They were plan- 
ted for me in a proper Soil, by the skilful Hand of that expert Gar- 
dener, Mr. Fatrchildy and they grew in Pots at my own Houfe, 
where the Parlour had all the Advantages of a Hot-houfc, fo agre- 
able to their Nature. There I had as full an Opportunity, as could 
be wifh’d for in one Seafon, of obferving them in all their different 
States, and lince that time I have feen feveral others at Mr. Fair- 
child s at Hoxtoriy which I took fufficient care to compare with my 
own. 
A 
