214 Mr. Bicheno on Systems and Methods 



and this they have done without having an ulterior view to 

 their structure and functions, and the relations subsisting 

 amongst them. Much less have they kept in view the end of 

 generalizing the particulars they are accumulating ; but they 

 continue to heap together a " rudis indigestaque moles" until 

 they are actually overwhelmed by their materials. To build 

 up science skilfully, the combination should go on with the 

 collecting, or the superstructure will exhibit neither use nor 

 beauty. 



Mr. Roscoe has clearly illustrated,'the comparative merits of 

 the artificial and natural arrangements in Botany in a former 

 volume of the Transactions * ; and has satisfactorily proved, 

 in my estimation, that however admirable and comprehensive 

 the system of Jussieu may be, yet it ought not to supersede the 

 use of the Linnaean arrangement. The two great masters of 

 botanical science propose different ends, and ought not to be 

 regarded as rivals. The President of this Society has also 

 constantly pressed upon the attention of the student the same 

 important fact. 



In some respects it is not to be regretted that the absolute 

 sway which the name of Linnaeus has had among English na- 

 turalists is somewhat abated : for although authority is an ex- 

 tremely useful bond of union, and has in this instance esta- 

 blished among us a nomenclature which nothing short of ho- 

 mage to the founder could probably have made current, yet it 

 has brought with it the ordinary evils attendant upon great 

 names. The range of the pupil has been limited by that of 

 the master ; and it has been considered a species of hetero- 

 doxy to dissent from the established opinions. The danger 

 to be now apprehended is, that those who adopt other arrange- 

 ments will forget the advantages to be derived from what is 

 old, in their love of that which is new. 



In addition to the remarks made by Mr. Roscoe and the 

 President, I would beg leave to suggest to those who adopt 

 new systems, — and in adopting them think it advisable to break 

 up the old orders and genera into many new ones, — that the 

 artificial and natural systems aim at two very distinct objects, 

 which are in some measure incompatible with each other. The 

 one is to make us acquainted with individuals : and the other, 

 founded upon an acquaintance with individuals, to combine 

 them according to their characters, so as to abridge the la- 

 bour of reasoning, and to enable us to ascend from particular 

 to general truths. 



In order to assist us in these investigations, we employ cer- 

 tain words in a peculiar sense. Thus the word Species, when 

 * Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. xi. p. 50. 



used 



