22 INTRODUCTION. 
Lady M. W. Montague was one of the first to introduce 
floral language into Europe. When at Pera, she sent a Turk¬ 
ish love-letter to a friend in England, from which we extract 
the botanical emblems. 
Clove. 
Jonquil. 
Pear. 
A ROSE. 
A STRAW. 
Cinnamon. 
Pepper. 
You are as slender as this clove ! 
You are an unblown rose ! 
I have long loved you, and you have not known it. 
Have pity on my passion ! 
Give me some hope I 
May you be pleased, and your sorrows mine ! 
Suffer me to be your slave ! 
But my fortune is yours ! 
Send me an answer ! 
Her ladyship states that there is no flower without a verse be¬ 
longing to it; and that it is possible to quarrel, reproach, or 
send letters of passion, friendship, or civility, or even of news, 
without ever inking the fingers. 
Happy the young and light-hearted maiden who ignorant of 
the silly pleasures of the world, feels no occupation to be more 
agreeable than the study of plants. She seeks in the field her 
most touching ornaments; each spring brings to her new joys: 
and every morning a fresh harvest of flowers repays her dili¬ 
gent cultivation ; a garden is to her an inexhaustible source of 
delight and instruction. By a charming art these beautiful 
productions of nature are converted into liquid perfumes, pre¬ 
cious essences, or valuable conserves. One of the most delight¬ 
ful accomplishments that can be chosen for the fair sex is that 
of catching the transient shades of beauty which are found 
upon flowers, and fixing them on paper. The able pencil 
