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XV. Obf: vations on the Language of Botany. By the Rev. Thomas 
— Martyn, B. D. F. R. S. Profefor of Botany in the Univerfity of Cam- 
bridge, and Fellow of the Linnean Society. In a Letter addreffed to the 
Prefident. 
Read Oétober 6, 1789. 
SIR, 
HAVE little doubt of your agreeing with me in opinion, that 
nothing has contributed more to the rapid progrefs which 
the fcience of Botany has made within the laft thirty or forty years, 
than the excellent language which Linnzus invented, and which 
has been by common confent adopted, not only by thofe who follow 
the fyftematic arrangement of the illuftrious Swede, but by all who 
ftudy Botany as a fcience. Without pretending to any peculiar 
forefight, we may venture to affirm, that the Linnean language 
will continue to be in ufe, even though his fyftem fhould in after 
ages be neglected; and that it will be received into every country 
where the fcience of Botany is ftudied, with certain modifications 
adapting it refpectively to each vernacular tongue. 
So long as Botany was confined to the learned few, there was 
no difficulty in ufing the terms of the Linnean language, exa&ly 
as the author had delivered it: but now that it is become a ge- 
neral purfuit, not only of the fcholar, but of fuch as have not had. 
what is called a learned education; and fince the fair fex have © 
Ue adopted 
