BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 29 
convulsed the earth, and by its weight forced the soil from beneath it, 
so that it lies in a great trench, and mud and stones were driven near a 
hundred feet high, where they have left their marks on neighbouring 
trees." 
'The following paragraph bears very hard upon Dr. Lindley. 
“The name that has been applied to this tree by Professor Lindley, . 
an English botanist, is Wellingtonia gigantea. By him it is declared _ 
to be so much unlike other Conifere, as not only to be a new species, - 
but to require description as a new genus. Other botanists of emi- 
nence think differently. To this, however, he has seen fit to apply the 
name of an English hero, a step indicating as much personal arrogance 
or weakness as scientific indelicacy ; for it must have been a prominent 
idea in the mind of that person that American Naturalists would 
regard with surprise and reluctance the application of a British name, 
however meritoriously honoured, when a name so worthy of immortal 
honour and renown as that of Washington would strike the mind of the 
world as far more suitable to the most gigantic and remarkable vege- 
table wonder indigenous to a country where his name is the most dis- - 
tinguished ornament. As he and his generation declared themselves 
independent of all English rule and political dictation, so American 
Naturalists must in this case express their respectful dissent from all — — 
British scientific ‘stamp acts.’ If the ‘Big Tree’ be a Tawodium, — 
let it be called now and for ever Taxodium Washingtonium. If it — 
should be properly ranked as a new genus, then let it be called to the 
end of time Washingtonia Californica. The generic name indicates - 
unparalleled greatness and grandeur; its specific name, the only locality 
in the world where it is found. No names can be more appropriate ; 
and if it be in accordance with the views of American botanists, I trust — 
the scientific honour of our country may be vindicated from foreign - 
indelicacy by boldly discarding the name now applied to it, and by af- 
fixing to it that of the immortal man whose memory we all love and 
honour, and teach our children to adore. Under any and all cir- 
 eumstances, however, whether of perpetuity or extinction, the name of 
Wellington should be discarded, and that of wale —_, to 
it, and transmitted to the schools of future ages.’ om 
