322 On the Impediments to the Study of Natural History. 



but I would wish to see that nomenclature made correct and 

 applicable, and from its perspicuity and practicability ren- 

 dered available to a far larger portion of an inquiring world 

 than it now is ; and, above all, untainted with the blighting 

 influence of party feeling, which, although naturally and in- 

 variably identifying its pernicious spirit with the intrigues of 

 politicians and controversialists, ought to find little encourage- 

 ment in the mild and peaceful walks of Natural History. But 

 unfortunately, even in them this unsociable intruder finds its 

 way; and angry discussions on the comparative merits of i. - 

 tural and artificial systems have not only stood foremost in 

 the warfare, but done their best to mystify points which under 

 temperate and judicious management might have been ren- 

 dered far more clear, intelligible, and satisfactory. 



On the wide arena of these disputes it is not my intention 

 now to enter. But notwithstanding the high authority of one 

 of these contending partisans, I can by no means acquiesce 

 in an assertion that the latter of these systems (the artificial) 

 is " trivial and contemptible, in comparison with the smallest 

 glimpse of the other." So far, in my humble opinion, from 

 this being the truth, I consider an artificial system, under 

 judicious management, to be of the highest importance; not 

 merely on the ground of intrinsic merits, but as a stepping- 

 stone to the more extended views of the power, the goodness, 

 and wisdom of Providence. If an artificial system confines 

 our knowledge to an acquaintance with individuals, let it be 

 recollected, that in proportion as our intimacy with individuals 

 is enlarged and cemented, in that proportion shall we be led 

 to form just ideas of the societies in which those individuals 

 live, and the circles in which they move; thus ascending from 

 particulars to those general truths, in which our knowledge 

 may revel without restraint, approximating to, and compre- 

 hending the views of the Omnipotent Being who devised the 

 original plan of creation. 



My own opinion is, that the opponents in this incipient war- 

 fare forget, or do not take it sufficiently into consideration, 

 that their respective systems have not of necessity an absolute 

 connection ; that they are essentially different in some very 

 important points; and only produce mischief when they are 

 indiscreetly bi ought into collision. Certainly, if either could 

 be so far improved or purified as to supersede the other in all 

 its theoretical and practical views, there can be no question 

 that it ought to be adopted, to the entire exclusion of a rival 

 less applicable to the necessities of the case : but until that 

 event, most devoutly to be wished for, does occur, let each 

 be valued on its own respective merits and utility; and it will 



not 



