anxious desire of making known, many Indian plants as possible, being my principal inducement for undertaking this work, I shall consider it open to the contributions of those who may feel desirous of assisting me by communicating good figures of interesting plants, (if accompanied by specimens to enable me to verify their correctness) all of which shall be duly acknowledged. Occasionally also, when unable to pro- cure specimens from which to prepare original drawings, I shall consider myself at liberty to select from rare and costly works now little known and seldom met with in this country, figures of useful plants. Among the works alluded to, may be mentioned the magnificent ones of Rheede, Roxburgh, and Wallich, the latter of whom, has obligingly permitted me to select from his publications, whatever I may think useful for this one. The plants mentioned in Ainslie's Materia Medica will of course occupy a prominent place, first as more especially appertaining to the Economical Botany of the Peninsula (they will always be accompanied by his names) and secondly because I hold it to be a matter of primary importance, to make known, as many as possible of the plants referred to in a work so generally known and consulted as that is in India.
The grand object of this work may now be summed up in few words, viz. to give to India, (so far as the li- mited resources of a private individual will permit) that which England has so long enjoyed, in " Smith's English Botany," a standard Botanical Book of reference ; by the publication of correct figures, of as many Indian Plants as I possibly can and in the shortest period of time.
The publication of 120 figures per annum is scarcely sufficient to meet my own wishes in that respect, but it is the utmost I can venture to promise at the outset. Should however adequate encouragement be extended to the work, I shall endeavour to increase its speed, by augmenting the number of plates to 15 or more, in each monthly number, but at the same rate of charge (10 per rupee) which is considerably below the English cost of plates of a similar description.
As a proof that others as well as myself have felt the want of such a work, and duly appreciate the advan- tages to be derived from it, I subjoin an anonymous letter, received while engaged in drawing up this Pros- pectus. The author has certainly misunderstood the object of the Illustrations which, as I stated in the Pros- pectus to that work, is simply to supply the Indian Botanical amateur with the means of acquiring a knowledge of the Principles of the natural method of Botanical classification, by presenting him with a series of diagrams of the organs from which the characters of the orders are taken, to enable him to compare them with the written characters. As however the views of the author are strictly in accordance with ray own, in regard to the necessity that exists for this work, I gladly avail myself of their support on the present occasion.
Sir,— Permit me as an admirer of your Illustrations of Indian Botany to suggest an alteration in its plan, which will I think be a decided improvement.
Your present design is I conceive much too limited, and the work, though useful as far as it goes, i3 not comprehensive enough to form a sound and standard work on Botany.
Your " Prodromus" when completed, is intended I believe to form an entire dictionary, so to speak, of In- dian Botany, comprehending every species of the vegetable kingdom, which has come under your observation, either in a state of nature or preserved in collections. Allow me then to suggest, that your Pictorial Illustrations should form a part of this work, that every species in the Prodromus should be delineated in the other, and that instead of the long descriptions you have given, a simple reference should be made to the Prodromus, with the addition of such remarks as you might think necessary.
You may probably object to my design on account of its magnitude, and of the length of time it would occupy. The former of these objections, is scarcely admissible when the work is so divided as to allow but a small part of the labor to press upon you at a time. The latter is answered by its extended usefulness.
You mav urge that many purchase your Illustrations who are not in possession of your Prodromus, but I believe you have only to tell them to buy it.
Should you think of considering my suggestion, you might begin to publish a series of intermediate num- bers, numbered No. 1. a. — 1. b. and so on.
I cannot help thinking that your present plan is too limited, and beg to subscribe myself.
Your admirer, To Robert Wight, Esq. XYZ. Madras.
ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS TO THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.
Adams, Assistant Surgeon J. m. d. 1 Alsop, T. Esq 1 Cadenhead, J. Esq 1 Coleman, J. G. Esq „, 1 Elliot, Walter Esq 1 FitzGerald, Captain J. 42d N. I. Kamptee 1 Herbert, Colonel Charles... * 1 Copies. Maitland, Lieutenant J, I Penny, Lieutenant P. 7th N. 1 1 Rehling, Honorable Colonel J. k. d. Gover- nor of Tranquebar 1 Shaw, J. Esq 1 Templeton, R. Esq. Surgeon Ceylon 1 Trewman, Colonel J. T , , , . . . I ATHENAEUM PRESS— R. HOSIB, PRINTER.
