P R O S P E C T U S .
specimens, two of which are copies of plates already published in the Illustrations, and the other two copied
from copper plate engravings. The first were selected to admit of comparison with the originals, to enable
those who contemplate supporting the work to judge, how far such figures are fitted to supply the place of
coloured ones m communicating a knowledge of the plant represented. Still further to reduce cost, and
increase the rapidity o f publication, it is not my intention to give letter-press descriptions, but refer for
these to my Prodromus, by numbering the plates uniform with the running numbers of that work
except in cases where new plants, are introduced; and then their place in the arrangement will be
indicated by a double number, and a description given, printed in such a form, as to admit of its bein«-
either pasted on the back of the pl&te, or kept separate. For such descriptions no additional charge
will be made. By the adoption of this plan, these figures will form, so far as they go, a Pictorial Index
to the Prodromus, and to the new species described in . my Illustrations of Indian Botany. Utility and an
anxious desire of making known, as 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 procure 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
1 hold it to be a matter of primary importance, to make known, as many as possible o f 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 limited
resources of a private individual will permit) that which England has so long enjoyed, in “ Smith’s English
Botany," a standard Botanical Book o f reference; by the publication of correct figures, of as many Indian
Plants as 1 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, 1 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 advantages
to be derived from it, I subjoin an anonymous letter, received while engaged in drawing up this Prospectus.
The author has certainly misunderstood the object of the Illustrations which, as I stated in the Prospectus
to 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 o f 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 my own, in regard to the necessity
that exists for this work, I gladly avail myself of their support on the present occasion.
/ Sir,—P ermit 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. 1 ’
Your present design is I conceive much too limited, and the work, though useful as far as it goes, is 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 Indian
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 o f the labor to press upon you at a time. The latter is answered by its extended usefulness.
You may 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 numbers,
numbered No. I. a.—1. b. and so on.
I cannot help thinking that your present plan is too limited, and beg to subscribe myself.
m t> Txr n Your admirer,
l o R obert Wight, Esq. X Y Z
Madras.
P R O S P E C T U S .
P . S. July 1838.—The preceding exposition of the objects of this work must, I think, satisfy every
reader of the necessity that exists for its publication, but many may differ in opinion as to the judiciousness
of the course I am pursuing in its preparation. I allude principally, to the propriety of taking upon myself the
labour of printing the greater portion of the plates while as yet so little conversant with practical Lithograpyh,
which is allowed; by all who have had any acquaintance with it, to be the most difficult, and in its results the
most uncertain of the graphic arts, though the most Simple in its principles. A few words in explanation of
this apparent paradox may not be out of-place here. 1 - . . . Hi
Lithography is essentially founded on chemical principles, or the attraction existing between the stone
used (a soft close grained limeatone) and greasy substances on the one side, and the well known repulsion between
oil and water on the other. A greasy line drawn on such a stone strongly adheres ; the stone being then
wetted, the line throws off the water, retaining its attraction for any fresh portion of grease that may be brought
in contact with it. A roller charged with ink, having an oily substance for its base being now passed over the
stone, a portion of the ink attached itself to the line, while the water prevents its equally adhering
to and soiling the rest of the stone. The: line thus charged being subjected to heavy pressure, Parts Wlttl the
ink, which adheres to the paper to which the impression is to be communicated. . I
Such then are the very simple principles o f Lithography. The dtawing may be communicated to the stone
either directly by means of Lithographic chalk, a substance containing a quantity of tallow, &c. m its composition,
or through the medium of a transfer drawing executed, on paper prepared for the purpose, with
‘ transfer’ ink, also a greasy composition, which on being firmly pressed upon a dry stone, adheres and imparts
the lines which are afterwards to be charged with printing ink. So far all is easy, and the principles so self-
evident, that it seems wonderful the first quarter of the 19th century had nearly passed away before they were
practically applied to the diffusion of knowledge. H H H . . , , ,
The practice however of the art of printing from stone, is as difficult as the principles are simple, and
subject to so many sources of failure, that it seems not less wonderful, such astonishing advances towards per-
fectipn should have been already made. The method pursued in the accompanying figures is that by tranfer, or
the communication of the drawing from paper, and being that with which I am best acquainted, I shall confine
From a bad transfer it is almost, if not actually, impossible to take a good print. Much care is therefore
requisite in this first operation. The transfer being completed and communicated to the stone, the whole may
be destroyed in the first inking, before a single impression is taken off. This accident may happen in two ways,
either the ink may be too firm and adhesive and take the lines off the stone altogether, or it may be too soft and
run the adjoining fine lines into one large blotted one, technically called smutt. Both of these accidents
can, if confined to a small portion of the drawing be in some degree remedied, but never
altogether corrected. In the course of printing, they are so liable to happen that it is rare for
even the best printers to take off fifty consecutive impressions, without the occurrence of one or
other of them in a greater or less degree. Hence the value of a well-proportioned printing
ink, and still more, of one not liable to change its consistence from exposure to the air in the course of
printing. This last is still a desideratum in Lithography; and until supplied we can never expect to have any
considerable number of uniform impressions. Some will always be found darker and others paler, in proportion
to the comparative softness or hardness of the ink, and the skill with which it has been applied. The importance
of a good roller with which to ink the drawing may be imagined from the following simile of a Lithogia-
pher. “ You may as soon expect to write well with a bad pen as to print delicately (m Li hography) with a
bad roller.” Unfortunately for the Lithographer no part of his apparatus is so difficult to make; add to these
causes of failure, and many more not mentioned, the difficulty of making a fine dark and accurately proportioned
ink in the first instance, its liability to change afterwards through the re-action of its component parts on each
other, but especially during printing, and lastly, the great skill required in its application only attainable by
much practice, and we see sufficient reason to wonder at the perfection which has been attained by some printers,
and ample cause for the frequent failures of others Aware as I was, when I entered upon the printing; of
this work, of the difficulties with which I had to contend, it may be asked, why ? unskilled as 1 was in the art,
I embarked in such an undertaking. A variety of circumstances combined to induce me, to be informed of all of
which could but little interest the reader; suffice therefore to say, that I knew, and felt, how much the work
was wanted, I likewise knew that unless I undertook to supply it, no one else in this country possessed the same
means of doing so, and lastly, 1 saw no prospect under the already existing heavy drain on my finances, of
being able to raise the means of paying for the printing in any of our Lithographic printing offices; nor it
I had, of having it better done, now that the little spare time of Mr. Winchester, the Company s Lithographer,
certainly the best in Madras, is so fully occupied with the printing of the Illustrations that he has none to spare
for other work. Add to these that the change from very active, to comparatively sedentary habits, was beginning
to work its usual effects on my health, and that I found the exercise of printing a sufficient compensation
for the more vigorous exercise I formerly took, aad th e n -I think I have given very satisfactory reasons for
making the attempt. I will not adduce the execution of this first number as ,1 (folding a fair specimen
of what the work will be: The adage says “ practice makes perfect’ many of the transfers were
made by new hands and not nearly so good as I now get them-every day’s work is tending to improve my
« prentice hand” while the recent acquisition of a good roller has given greater certainty to my endeavours to
acquire skill in its application.
q A subject probably of greater importance to subscribers, is, to be informed of the nature and extent of my
resources for continuing the work. These I have much satisfaction in adding are most ample. I have already
in hand several hundred drawings: Dr. Wallich, the indefatigable Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic garden
has most liberally undertaken to supply me with copies of the rich collection of drawings, appertaininj
establishment, left by the late Dr. Roxburgh: several Amateurs have besides kindly offered then as
promising to furnish me with additional materials, while I have a Draughtsman on my own establish®