The Rev. P. Keith on the Classificatio7i of Vegetables, 1 1 1 



of the most profound adept is sufficient to qualify or to entitle 

 any one to do so; neither do we expect from oiw speculative 

 demonstrations a result subversive of their practical arrange- 

 ments. We merely claim the privilege of expressing and re- 

 cording our sentiments, and of stating what seems to us to be 

 exceptionable in the above novel method ; or, at the least, not 

 calculated to facilitate the study of the natural system, or to 

 improve the method of Jussieu, which stands in need of no 

 violent innovations to give it in appearance the preeminence 

 which it possesses in reality. It requires merely a drawing 

 out of the resources which it has within itself, or the addition 

 of such supplementary distinctions as the progress of botanical 

 knowledge may have rendered necessary. In defence of in- 

 novations, it has been said that the system, though altered, is 

 still but the system of Jussieu after all. True; for as there is 

 but one system that is natural, and that sj'stem Jussieu's, bo- 

 tanists cannot conjure up a new one at their pleasure. "Other 

 foundation can no man lay than that is laid," — though]he may 

 disguise the old one, and build upon it a totally different struc- 

 ture, like Thunberg and Withering in their artificial arrange- 

 ments. They counted stamens and pistils as did their great 

 master Linn^us, but they mutilated his system and substituted 

 one of their own in its room. 



But although we do not approve of the change of nomen- 

 clature, or of the innovations upon system introduced, whether 

 by M. DeCandolle or by Dr. Lindley, yet we are very far 

 from wishing to depreciate the merit of their respective works ; 

 — works exhibiting such abundant proofs of extensive research, 

 of accurate discrimination, and of just and logical deduction 

 in the tracing of natural affinities, as will enable their respec- 

 tive authors to maintain that high station in the scale of bota- 

 nical eminence which they had previously reached, and will 

 doubtless secure to them a lasting reputation. If there should 

 be a difficulty in unlocking Dr. Lindley*s orders, even with 

 the help of his analytical key, it is to be recollected that Dr. 

 Lindley has never once attempted to disguise or to palliate 

 difficulties, but rather to impress upon the mind of his reader 

 the absolute necessity of unremitted exertion. 



Nil sine niagno 

 Vita labore dedit mortalibus. — Horace y Sat. 9, Lrb, I. 



His Introduction may not be adapted to the desultory ap- 

 plication of the sciolist or trifler, but it will be found to be a 

 very valuable present to the patient and indefatigable student 

 who is content to encounter difficulties, and willing to obtain 

 knowledge at the expense of labour. 



If we were called upon to say how it is at all practicable to 



