the Brlt'tj}) Fuci, with particular Defcripilotis of each Species. 235 



"by one common fpirit of refearch after truth, and purfue it with 

 equal difintereftednefs. As we have endeavoured to fix a true ge- 

 neric charaiSter for FucuSy Ulva, and Conferva, we wilh to abide by 

 our own rules. 



Whatever we have faid in this tra6t, we again beg may be 

 brought to the tefl of the clofeft examination. Particularly we 

 wifh that gentlemen of fciencc reforting to the fea-lide, and efpe- 

 tially thofe who are refident on it, would omit no opportunity of 

 examining the growth of marine plants, their various appearances, 

 and the progrefs of the parts of frudlification. We are confident 

 of nothing, but that we have ftated what we have actually feen. 

 In a fubjedl fo intricate as this, it would be highly advifable that 

 all prejudices, and all comparifons and ideas of analogy taken from 

 plants growing on land, fhould be entirely laid afide. This firm- 

 nefs of thinking led to a better illuftration of the natural orders of 

 the genera, by the indefatigable Juffieu ; to a deeper inveftigation 

 of the nature and properties of the feed, by the celebrated Gaert- 

 ner ; and of the moffes, by the illuftrious Hedwig. Why fhould it 

 be thought impoflible, that the fubmarine plants, like the animals 

 of that element, ftiould have powers and properties new, original, 

 and peculiar to themfelves ? The power of God is over all his 

 works, and is feen, to the aftonilhment of man, in the variety of 

 his wonders. But what can equal the fatisfadtion which he muft 

 feel, to whofe patient and unwearied obfervation the difcovery of 

 fhis hitherto latent procefs fliall be made manifefl: ? What labour 

 would not be well repaid by the difcovery of another chain of rea- 

 foning, leading, us to a farther confirmation of the exiftence and 

 operations of the eternal Godhead ? 



H h 2 XX. Defcrip. 



