324 Von Martius on the Life and Writings of Robert Brown, 



of his private library and natural-history collections. This high- 

 minded patron of science appreciated the genius and character 

 of his young friend, and made a provision for him, after his own 

 death, by means of an annuity, besides a life-interest in his col- 

 lections, which were subsequently to become the property of the 

 British Museum. 



Surrounded by the most abundant literary adjuncts, Robert 

 Brown now laboured at the remarkable flora which he had brought 

 from the newly disclosed quarter of the globe. In the year 1810 

 appeared the first ])art of the ^ Flora Novaj Hollandise/ a work 

 which astonishes by the accuracy of the details, the depth of 

 research, the unusual reach of the combinations, and the felici- 

 tous tact in the discovery of commanding points of view. Here 

 was to be found an almost inexhaustible source of new ideas 

 and hints for the theory of systematic characters and the affini- 

 ties of plants. The natural method, which had up to that time 

 found few adherents, gained from it a new foundation and 

 sympathy and an exalted influence. But while scientific men 

 called this work a liber aureus, and accepted it with unmixed 

 praise, as marking a new epoch, a critic in the Edinburgh 

 Review found fault with its latinity, and the author withdrew 

 it from circulation*; so that its extraordinary importance was 

 first clearly displayed on the continent through the reprint in 

 Oken's 'Isis,^ and a second edition by Nees von Esenbeck. 

 Unhappily the work has remained unfinished ; the description 

 of new Proteacese alone appeared as a Supplement (1830) ; and 

 Robert Brown only once more resolved upon an independent 

 work, the * Plantse Javanicse Rariores,^ which he published in 

 connexion with his friends Thomas Horsfield and John J. Ben- 

 nett (1838-1852). 



However, he undertook a number of monographic investiga- 

 tions, the results of which he published either as treatises in the 

 Transactions of learned Societies, or as appendices to Reports of 

 Voyages and Travels. In these he selected the most difficult 

 subjects. The materials — frequently in a very fragmentary con- 

 dition — from the least accessible parts of tropical Africa, could 

 only have been made so important and fruitful by a genius like 

 Robert Brown. The influence of these works upon the progress 

 of botanical science in all its branches has been extraordinary. 



* [The statement here repeated by our excellent author, although fre- 

 quently made during Mr. Brown's life, and vouched for by high authority, 

 is, we have reason to believe, founded in error. The original edition of the 

 *Prodromus' remained for many years in the hands of tlie publishers j and 

 the remaining copies were at last withdrawn from sale only because Mr. 

 Brown was desirous of keeping them in reserve to be given as presents to 

 those botanists to whom he thought they might be most useful. — ^A, H.] 



