The western continent is, with respect to Botany; almost a world in itself. There exists, indeed, a general affinity between the plants of North Ameri ca and those of Europe, and many species of the arctic regions, are the same in both ; but there are few common to the more temperate climates of each. A considerable number communicated by Kahn to Linnaeus, which the latter considered as identified with certain well-known plants of our quarter of the world, prove, on more accurate examination, to be corresponding, but distinct species. Instances oc cur in the genera of Carpiaus, Corylus, Quercus, as well as in the Orals tribe, and others. These points of resemblance are found mostly among the vege table productions of the eastern regions of North America. Mexico, and what little we know of the intermediate space, abound with different and pecu liar productions. So, in South America ; Peru, Guiana, Brasil, &c. have all their appropriate plants, of which we know as yet enough to excite our curi osity, rather than to satisfy it. Whatever has hither to been given to the world respecting American bo tany has had one considerable advantage. Each Flora has been founded on the knowledge and ex perience of some one or more persona, long resident, and in a manner naturalized; in the countries illus trated. Those regions commonly comprehendedunder the name of North America, have afforded materials for the Flora Boreali- Americana of Michaux, and the more complete and correct Flora America Sep tentrionalis of Pursh. Michaux, Wangenheim, and Marshall, have particularly illustrated the trees of those countries. But all these works have been en riched by the communications and assistance of men' who had much more extensive and repeated oppor tunities of observation than their authors, except Mr Marshall, could have. Such are the venerable John Bertram, the Reverend Dr Muhlenberg, Messrs Clayton, Walter, Lyon, &c. The Mexican Flora has received, for a long course of years, the 'attention of the able and learned Mutis, who long corresponded with Linnaeus, and whose countryinen have prepared the sumptuous Flora Peruvian ; each of the authors of which has repeatedly tra versed, at various seasons, the rich and interesting regions, whose botanical treasures make so splendid and novel an appearance in those volumes. Of those treasures, we have still more to learn from the unrivalled Humboldt. The French botanist Aublet, after having gained considerable experience in the Mauritius, resided for many years in Cayenne and Guiana, for the purpose of studying the plants of those countries, of which his work, in four quarto volumes, gives so ample a history and representa tion.
All the writers just named have been practical botanists. They have generally excelled in specific • discrimination, nor have they neglected the study of generic distinctions. Any thing further they have scarcely attempted. It is remarkable that they have all followed, not only the Linmean principles of de • finition and nomenclature, but the Linmean artificial system- of classification. This same system was chosen by the veteran Jacquin, in his well-known work on West Indian plants, entitled Stirpiuns Ameri canarum Historic, as well as by Browne in his His tory of Jamaica ; not to mention Swartz, in his Flora India Occidentalis, who only wanders a little out of the way, to adopt some of Thunberg's altera tions. We cannot but observe, that in the very de yet, as a first attempt, it deserves our thanks. In speaking of Indian botany, shall we withhold our homage from that great and sublime genius Sir Wil liam Jones ? who honoured this study with his culti vation, and, like every thing else that he touched, re fined, elevated, and elucidated it, with a beam of more than mortal radiance. No man was ever more truly sensible of the charms of this innocent and ele gant pursuit ; and whenever he adverted to it, all the luminous illustrations of learning, and even the magic graces of poetry, flowed from his pen.
But we must extend our view beyond the utmost bounds of India, and of the then discovered world, to trace the steps of those adventurous circumnavigators who sought out, not only new plants, but new coun tries, for botanical examination. The names of Banks
and Solander have, for nearly half a century, been in every body's mouth. Their taste, their know ledge, their liberality, have diffused a charm and a popularity over all their pursuits; and those who never heard of botany before, have learned to con sider it with respect and admiration, as the object to which a man of rank, riches and talents, devotes his life and his fortune ; who while he adds, every sea son, something of novelty and beauty to our gardens, has given the Bread-fruit to the West Indies, and is ever on the watch to prompt, or to further, any scheme of public advantage. With the recollection of such men must also be associated the names of partment of botany in which he has most signalized himself, and with which he is most philosophically conversant, the Orchidece, he totally rejects the'ideas of Thunberg.
If we now tura our eyes to the oriental world, we 'shall find that the seeds of Lineman botany, sown by Koenig, have sprung up and produced successive harvests among the pious missionaries at Tranque bar, who still continue to interweave a sprig of science, from time to time, among their amaranthine wreaths which are not of this world. India too has long possessed a practical botanist of indefatigable exertion and ardour, who has thrown more light up on its vegetable riches, with the important subject of their qualities and uses, than any one since the days of Rheede and Rumphius. It is scarcely ne cessary to name Dr Roxburgh, whose recent loss we 'deeply lament, and whose acquisitions and learned remarks are given to the world by the munificence of the East India Company, in a style which no prince has ever rivalled. That enthusiastic admirer of nature, Colonel Hardwicke, and the learned bota nist Dr Francis Buchanan, have also contributed greatly to increase our knowledge of Indian botany. The latter has enjoyed the advantage of investigat ing, for the first time, the remote and singular coun try of Nepaul; so prolific in beautiful and uncom mon plants, that few parts of the world can exceed it, and yet meeting, in several points, not only the Floras of the lower regions and islands of India, but those of Japan, China, and even Siberia. The only systematic work on East Indian plants, is the Flora Indica of Burman, which is classed according to the Linmean artificial method. W e cannot but wish it were more worthy of the system or the subject ; the learned Footers, father and son, of Sparrmann, and of Menzies, who have all accomplished the same perilous course, and enriched their beloved science. The cryptogamic acquisitions of the latter in New Zealand, prove him to have attended to that branch of botany with extraordinary success, and at the same time evince the riches of that remote country. Indeed, it appears that any country proves rich, un der the inspection of a sufficiently careful investiga tor. The labours of these botanists have all been conducted according to the principles and classifica tion of Linnteus. Forster, under Sparrmann's aus pices, has judiciously pointed out, and attempted to remedy, defects that their peculiar opportunities en abled them to discover, but with no invidious aim. They laboured, not to overthrow or undermine a system, which they found on the whole to answer the purpose of readily communicating their discove ries, but to correct and strengthen it for the advan tage of those who might come after them. It is much to be lamented that, except the Nova Genera Plantarum, we have as yet so short and compendious an account of the acquisitions made in their voyage. To the technical history of these, however, the younger Forster has commendably added whatever he could supply of practical utility, and has thus given us all the information within the compass of his means.