s 
viii 
the moral and religious hints they convey. She 
hopes, also, though fully sensible how open 
many of them are to criticism, that the universal 
interest of the subject will procure for them the 
indulgence of the public. 
Flowers are a delight to every one ; to some, 
perhaps, merely for their beauty and fragrance ; 
to others, independently of these acknowledged 
charms, for the varied pleasurable associations 
and thoughts they suggest. And foremost 
amongst these is the assurance they afford of 
the exuberant goodness of God. “ The pro¬ 
vision which is made of a variety of objects not 
necessary to life, and ministering only to our 
pleasures, shows,” says an elegant and learned 
author, “ a further design than that of giving 
existence 5 it speaks an intention to superadd 
pleasure to that existence.” And who does not 
feel this when he looks on the hedgerow and 
the mead, 
“ Full of fresh verdure and unnumber’d flowers, 
The negligence of nature ? ” 
