Dr. Smitn’s Introductory Difcourjz. 25 
this work he laughs without referve at Leeuwenhock’s peculiar 
theory of generation, and fpeaks rather too difrefpectfully of 
Tournefort; for this he has never been forgiven. 
There were at this time feveral botanical fyftems invented befides 
thofe above mentioned ; but few being remarkable for originality or 
ufe, I cannot dwell long upon them. Herman's was one of the 
beft. It was entirely founded on the fruit, and not very different 
from thofe of Ray and Morifon. Boerhaave’s had great merit, in 
being founded more or lefs on all the parts of fructification. The 
method of Chriftopher Knaut is an alteration of that of Ray, 
without any improvement. The paradoxical Chriftian Knaut, 
who thought the effence of a flower confifted in its corolla, was 
never very famous, and would now probably make no profelytes 
at all. ERA ' éd AES 
A fingular fyftem. Was invented by Profeffor Magnol of Montpel- 
lier, founded on the calyx, to which Linnzus was very partial, and 
he even formed a fimilar method of claflification himfelf: happily, 
however, this was not the only one he ever invented. 
Nor was this æra of botany merely a fyftematic one. Linnæus 
has not fcrupled to affert, that within the fpace of 20 years, at the 
end of the laft century, twice as many plants were difcovered as 
had been made known by the joint labours of all preceding botanifts. 
Befides thofe which were collected by Tournefort, Plumier and 
Ray, a noble colleétion was brought from Jamaica by Dr. Sloane, 
afterwards Sir Hans, of which the hiftory in two volumes folio is well 
known. Mr. Sherard conful at Smyrna, who cultivated botany 
with princely munificence and with the ardour and difcernment of 
a true philofopher, has been the means of making known a very - 
great number of plants. His vaft herbarium and library are now 
among the literary treafures of Oxford. The indefatigable Plukenet 
procured and publifhed an immenfe number from all parts of the 
| E world, 
