by my public engagements, I think it necessary to add that prompt payment is indispensable to the continuance of the publication; as it is quite impossible for me to carry on so costly a periodical from my own very limited resources, and on these alone it must mainly depend in the outset. In England, authors of such works are differently situated. There, they contract with a publisher, possessed of the means of continuing the publication until the probability of remuneration is ascertained; but he, to remunerate himself for the risk and sacrifice of capital at the outset, charges a profit of from 30 to 40 per cent. on the cost, while he enjoys every facility which former experience, and the advanced state of the arts in Europe, give, to ensure the work being got up in the best style and at the lowest charge. In Madras the case is totally different: this is the first publication of the kind ever attempted here; we are, therefore, without experience, have no practised publishers, no colourists, find it even very difficult to get colours, and must depend on the chance of the market for our supplies of paper, in place of ordering it direct from the maker, of whatever size, quality and price might appear most suitable; here, in short, every thing must be done for the first time. I mention these incidental sources of disappointment in anticipation, lest imperfections should occur at the outset which might be unavoidable in Madras, but which, in more favourable circumstances, would justly merit censure.
In conclusion, a few words are required to make known the accompanying figure. The genus Boucerosia was first established in my Contributions to the Botany of India, and then consisted of two species only, B. umbellata and B. crenulata; both of these are at once distinguished from the present, by having their flowering branches terminated with a many flowered umbel, of rather long pedicelled flowers, whereas in this they are solitary, or few, and short pedicelled; thus forming a second section in the genus, which may now stand thus:—
§ I. Floribus umbellatis
Umbellis multifloris.
B. umbellnta corollæ segmentis glabris.
B. crenulata corollæ segmentis longe fimbriatis.
§ II. Floribus subsolitariis.
B. pauciflora corollæ segmentis ciliatis.
To Robert Cole, Esq.
Editor to the Madras Jour.
of Lit, and Science.
Yours very faithfully,
Robert Wight.
