COMPAKATIVK YIVAV. 173
however, the greatest part are yet unpublished : and about 70 are connuon to other intratropical regions.
Of unpul)lished genera there are 32 in the colleetion ; twelve of which are absolutely new, and three, though observed in other parts of this coast of equinoctial Africa, had not been found before in a state sufficiently perfect, to ascertain their structure ; ten belong to diii'erent parts of the same line of coast ; and seven are common to other countries.
No natural order, absolutely new, exists in the herba- rium ; nor has any family been found peculiar to equinoc- tial Africa.
The extent of Professor Smith's herbarium proves not only the zeal and activity of my lamented friend, but also his great acquirements in that branch of science, which was his more particular province, and to his excessive exertions in the investigation of which he fell a victim, in the ill-fated expedition to Congo.
Had he returned to Europe, he would assuredly have given a far more complete and generally interesting account of his discoveries than what is here attempted : and the numerous facts which he could no doubt have communi- cated respecting the habit, the structure, and the uses of the more important and remarkable plants, would probably have determined him to have followed a very different plan from that adopted in the })resent essay.
It remains only that I should notice the exemplary dili- gence of the Botanic Gardener, Mr. David Lockhart, the only survivor, I believe, of the party by whom the river above the falls was examined, in that disastrous journey which proved fatal to the expedition.
From Mr. Lockhart I have received valuable information concernhig many of the specimens contained in the herba- rium, and also respecting the esculent plants observed on the banks of the Congo.
Febniary 2, 1S18.
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