ADVANTAGES OF ARTIFICIAL SYSTEMS. 193 
consists in making us acquainted with an object by 
the shortest and most easy way possible; and that 
all idea of following the order of nature should be 
totally abandoned, as inconsistent with this primary 
object. It is one of the greatest merits of Linnzus 
—who knew, better than most of those who have 
come after him, the true difference between the 
systems in question, —that he saw the truth of this 
position, and acted up to it. His primary object was 
to make things known by their names in the most 
easy manner; and he had the sagacity to’ foresee 
that, by this plan, he should win over to the study of 
nature, numbers of ordinary minds who would other- 
wise have regarded it as too intricate and difficult ; 
and he succeeded to admiration. The world was 
astonished at the simplicity of his system; and 
delighted to find they could ascertain, with so little 
study, the scientific name of an animal or a plant in 
that book which was looked upon as the mirror of 
nature, —as, to a certain degree, it really was. To 
blame this great genius, therefore, for his unnatural 
combinations, is to blame him for what may almost 
be termed: one of his greatest merits. He knew 
that his system, in many parts, made some approach 
to what he imagined was the system of nature; but 
he also knew, that to attempt following this up into 
all the details of his work, would be altogether 
premature, if not impossible. All this, we repeat, 
he well knew, and he framed his system accordingly. 
The perfection, in short, of an artificial arrangement 
is, that it should be thoroughly artificial: the divi- 
sions, as far as possible, should be made absolute ; 
and no affinities, however natural, or however pal- 
Oo 
