PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 159 



To its imperfections no one was more alive than its admirable au- 

 thor, who, well aware of the value of a truly natural system, la- 

 boured ardently, and in numerous tribes with great success, but 

 still to his accurate and scrutinizing mind not satisfactorily, towards 

 the accomplishment of this desideratum. His unfinished plan, as is 

 well known, was afterwards extended by the learned Jussieu, and 

 now, in fact, forms the basis of the natural system at present in use. 

 The benefits which have accrued to science by the accurate observa- 

 tion and acute discrimination of Linneus, must be abundantly evi- 

 dent to any one who even cursorily glances over the pages of scien- 

 tific works, and notes, in almost innumerable instances, the same 

 genera, often the same species, and the very names adopted and es- 

 tablished by this great man. Truly, and without fear of failure, 

 may we predict, that whilst Science shall flourish, and her temples 

 be incensed with the humble and sincere homage of her numberless 

 votaries, so long shall the name, the discoveries, and the memory of 

 Linneus, bloom with unimpared, undiminished lustre : — 



'* Nulla dies unquam memori te eximet aevo," 



In the seventh and concluding lecture, Dr. Wilson continued the 

 explanation of the remaining classes of the Linnean system, and 

 pointed out the manner of ascertaining the name and history of any 

 plant, and the best modes of drying, preparing, and systematically 

 arranging, specimens of the different tribes for the herbarium. 



After 'detailing the scientific advantages of an herbarium, the 

 lecturer thus feelingly alluded to the delightful associations invari- 

 ably attached to such collections : — " But there is a result from 

 making such collections, which, although unthought of and un- 

 sought for at the time, does not the less surely follow. For what 

 botanist is there who, when he reviews his collection, has not im- 

 mediately painted vividly before him the spot from which each 

 flower was plucked ? Does he not then revisit in his imagination, 

 with feelings almost rivalling reality, every wild scene of nature 

 from the rugged rock to the mountain glen? — or, more tranquil, 

 his thoughts lead him by the gently-flowing stream of the meadow, 

 or he gazes on the ripple of the ocean which murmurs at his feet, 

 till his blood running warmer within him, he remembers the very 

 words and even gestures of dear and departed friends, the compa- 

 nions of his walks. 'Tis thus that the botanist learns to prize and 

 cling to his plants, as all that now remains to remind him of those 

 by whom he was best known and best beloved." 



The learned Lecturer, in conclusion, alluded to the pleasure we 

 all must feel in the pursuit of natural sciences, which, " notwith- 

 standing the aspersions that have been cast upon them as favouring 

 self-conceit, and as being destructive to our best hopes, I maintain 

 are pure and unalloyed, and which, if our knowledge be based upon 

 the sure foundation of religion, must tend to very general improve- 

 ment, and infuse into every grade of society what is best described 



