the Briti/h Fuci\ with particular Defcriptiom of each Species. • 235 



by one common fpirit of refearch after truth, and purfue it with 

 equal difintereftednefs. As we have endeavoured to fix a true ge- 

 neric character for Fucus % U/va, and Conferva, we wiih to abide by 

 our own rules. 



Whatever we have faid in this tract, we again beg may be 

 brought to the teft of the clofefl examination. Particularly we 

 wifli that gentlemen of fcience retailing to the fea-iide, and efpe- 

 cially thofe who are refident on it, would omit no opportunity of 

 examining the growth of marine plants, their various appearances, 

 and the progrefs of the parts of fructification. We are confident 

 of nothing, but that we have dated what we have actually feen. 

 In afubject fo intricate as this, it would be highly advifablc that 

 all prejudices, and all comparifons and ideas of analogy taken from 

 plants growing on land, fhould be entirely laid afide. This firm- 

 nefs of thinking led to a better illuftration of the natural orders of 

 the genera, by the indefatigable Juflieu ; to a deeper investigation 

 of the nature and properties of the feed, by the celebrated Gaert- 

 ner ; and of the mofTes, by the illuftrious Hedwig. Why mould it 

 be thought impofiible, that the fnbmarine plants, like the animals 

 of that element, fhould have powers and properties new, original, 

 and peculiar to themfeives ? The power of God is over all his 

 works, and is feen, to the aftonimment of man, in the variety of 

 his wonders. But what can equal the fatisfadtion which he muft 

 feel, to whofe patient and unwearied obfervation the difcovery of 

 t"his hitherto latent procefs (hall be made manifeft ? What labour 

 would not be well repaid by the difcovery of another chain of rea- 

 foning, leading us to a farther confirmation of the existence and 

 operations of the eternal Godhead ? 



H h 2 XX. Defcrtfi- 



