388 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
tion of the people, the diffusion of religious knowledge, the 
maintenance of better health, the protection of life and property, 
and in leading the great body of the people to sympathize with 
these objects, we may hope, with God's blessing, that the future 
of England shall be as great and prosperous, and as free, and even 
more so than in the past — still remembering in all we do that, 
" Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that 
build it." 
THE BOTANY OE PLYMOUTH IN CONNECTION WITH 
- ITS NATURAL FEATURES AND CLIMATE. , 
ABSTRACT OF MR. T. R. ARCHER BRIGGS's PAPER. 
(Read February 6th, 1873.) 
The lecturer commenced by stating that one of the chief objects of 
the Plymouth Institution had often been declared to be the inves- 
tigation of the natural phenomena of the neighbourhood, and on 
this ground sought to justify himself for bringing forward a subject 
which he had to some extent dealt with on previous occasions. 
He stated that the tract of country to which his remarks would 
have reference was that lying within twelve miles of Plymouth on 
every side, so that it would be seen to include a small part of S.E. 
Cornwall, as well as the larger portion of S.W. Devon, having 
altogether an area of 180,204 statute acres, or rather over 281 
square miles. He followed with a sketch of its surface charac- 
teristics, and then traced their influence on its botany, observing 
that, when we take into consideration the natural features and very 
diversified character of this tract, we cannot feel surprised at find- 
ing its Elora remarkably rich, varied, and interesting. On looking 
at its long line of coast, we see it affording all the conditions re- 
quired by many maritime and rupestral species; turning to its 
numerous river estuaries and tidal inlets, we find them offering on 
their sides congenial habitats to others, which, while they need a 
saline soil or air, yet shun the exposure of the coast. Moreover, 
we must remember that large bodies of salt-water influence to a 
certain extent the character of the vegetation to a considerable 
distance around them, probably through imparting salt to the 
atmosphere. Further inland we see the many stream banks sup- 
