^(^0 ON THE METHOD OF JUSSIEU. 



i^rcie hrkxichm^ €iii till it embraces in one grand whole all 

 vegetable creation, 

 and should be But while I point out the difficulties attending the forma- 

 soughtafier. • ^^^^ of fuch a method, still the hope to attain it Should 

 not he laid aside I and though thist^^jeat botanist failed in 

 the foundation of his plan, he has evinced so much judg- 

 ment and knowledge in the arrangement of his different 

 classes^ orders, and generot that thty may serve as a les- 

 son to all those, who would attempt the task. I shall first 

 therefore detail his method, show the defects of it, and 

 then proceed to point out what appears to me to be the 

 means of rend^rin^ it the foundation of future hopes and 

 9tM<^C8« J,|is(8i,ew',i^ plan was so simple, and so beautiful, 

 thatj while discovering the mistake, I could not but re- 

 gret that it was not true, and admire the simplicity of the 

 idea. He appeared to have brought together all those 

 tnarks, both in physiology and botany^ that should discri- 

 xniiiate the different classes, all emerging from three great 

 centres, appearing to arise, as of themselves in the order and 

 genera nature would have dictated. How distressing thea 

 ti) find all this beautiful structure false; I really felt deeply 

 the necessity of undeceiving the botanical wprld, and 

 awakening them from the admiration M^ lovely fiction had 

 caused. Nor was Jussieu to blame ; he is amply vindicated 

 by the poorness of his magnifiers, by the knowledge of 

 those times; though perhaps a little blinded by the beauty 

 of his ovfu conceptions. He examined with the powers he 

 kad ; and> seeing all as others had done, he looked no further* 

 I shall now give a sketch of his method, which vsrill ever 

 di6tin2:aish him as one of the first of philosophic botanists. 

 . it may be thought, that /,.:an obscure individual, am most 

 ptesumplumis in daring to- contradict^snch; a genius : but it 

 i:< not a matter of argument or opinion, but of sight, and 

 having the benefit of better microscopes than he had, it is 

 (kesV'tUfit refute him, not L lie sought truth; and truth 

 is my aim; nor can I .believe if living he would not have 

 %-3hed' the erroneous part oi^ his method to be effaced. 

 J;)s^eu .^Jlisieu conceived all plants to be separated into three 



"iod. i:i;itM3 division*?, or clusBfAj by their cotyledons- oj seiniual 



, 'ik ; t^ Krt» kave» 



