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[Page 2]
Crete & the white mountains of Sphacia [possibly Chania] often retarded by the snow & their greater Elevation offered me a rich & a ripe Harvest. I had there the satisfaction of finding a greater part of the Cretan Plants mentioned by Tournefort in his Corollary & even some which had escaped his Notice. The Mountains of Hymettus near Athens furnished me also with several new species & the Superior Heights of the Asiatic Olympus on which I passed three nights still added more considerably to my collection. My Painter in whom I am particularly fortunate has taken the outlines of above five Hundred Plants & I shall at least have three hundred new Species to add to the Linnean Nomenclature - when my leisure will permit I shall hope some future day then to publish a Flora Græca. I have been particularly attentive in collecting the modern Greek names which I find corresponding wonderfully well with those of Dioscorides & the old Greek writers. I may perhaps also some Day offer to the World a Comment Botanic Critica de Plants Dioscorides. I have lately retired to a Greek Monastery in the Island of Chalcis to make a greater proficiency in the modern Greek & to read Dioscorides without the Puzzle of his Commentators. My Island was only inhabited by Monks & Fishermen. The latter have tempted me to group my Enquiries with our Friend Broussonets Provence - & partly there - & partly in the markets of Pera & Constantinople. I have collected upwards