2 Mr. Sauiseury on the Perigynous. Insertion 
Who would not be astonished to find among Quadrupeds, any 
Genus with Testiculi originating in the Praputium! Yet among 
Vegetables, Stamina proceeding from the Calyx appear to me 
equally unnatural. ‘The first ideas which we gain on any subject, 
= whether correct or incorrect, attach with such force, that it is no 
easy business to dismiss them afterwards : moreover, very few 
will be at the trouble of examining for themselves, or so unpo- 
pular as not to adopt the fashions of the day. For, unfortu- 
nately, there are fashions in science, as well as in dress: but the 
Laws of Nature, founded by Infinite Wisdom, I believe like Truth 
itself to be immutable, and the Motto which we have lately adopted 
who belong to this Society, will not allow us to deceive ourselves 
or others respecting them. By exposing this pretended perigy- 
nous insertion indeed, many of the Classes, and some of the Orders. 
in the French arrangement must be given up; but the Genera 
themselves will come in more conformably to their Natural Afli- 
nities, and often as Jussiew himself hints in his Notes. I was 
anxious to have gone to Paris in the autumn, to have stated this, 
and many other botanical dubia, with the greatest deference ec 
that great man: “ Lubuit enim integros adire fontes atque haurire? 
but Time flies rapidly unless seized by the forelock, and I know 
not when I can spare a month again. Till so wished-for an 
Occasion, therefore, presents itself, I must be content with such 
assistance as I can gain at home. "That comet-like genius Correa 
de Serres, who is now in the perihelion of Paris, long ago. told. 
me that Corolla-vegularis and irregularis would be, found in every 
Natural Family, and [have reason to think the same may be said 
. of Germen inferum amd superum. Having examined a great 
many flowers to verify that supposition, I could not avoid at- . 
tending also to the insertion of their several- parts: this I have 
constantly found to be in one common point, more or less con- 
spicuous 
