429 



Methodical arrangement of natural bodies is but a choice 

 of difficulties. Specific characters, indeed, very often pos- 

 sess this absolute certainty, independent of any casual 

 variation. Generic characters also are, not unfrequently, 

 absolute, and capable of precise limitation. Sometimes 

 they are marked by one most elegant and peculiar cha- 

 racter. But classes and orders, however apparently 

 obvious, are to be defined but in general terms; they are 

 rather to be perceived than described. If, therefore, I 

 shall be obliged, in explaining the method of Jussieu, to 

 point out so many anomalies and inconsistencies, as may 

 seem to render it too difficult and uncertain for the most 

 learned to make any use of, I wish my hearers to attri- 

 bute those imperfections rather to the intricacies of nature, 

 than to the inability of the writer. The difficulties in 

 question do not affect an experienced botanist ; who, 

 knowing the orders themselves, neither wants a clue to 

 make them out, nor a very precise definition of their limits, 

 concerning which he must judge for himself. But for 

 these very reasons, it is clear as the day, that no student 

 can enter upon the first knowledge of plants, and the in- 

 vestigation of their genera and species, by so intricate 

 and precarious a path. 



ON THE SURNAME OF LINN^US— See page 343. 

 Sir J. E. Smith to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 

 Sir, Norwich, March 10, 1810. 



In reply to your correspondent in the Monthly Mag. 

 for March last, p. 123, I beg leave to give my reasons 

 for continuing to write the name of Linnaeus, in its ori- 

 ginal form, rather than Linne. The Swedes did not adopt 

 the use of regular surnames till the early part of the last 

 century. When each family took a name, literary people 

 in general chose one derived from Greek or Latin ; hence 

 arose the family names of Mennander, Melander, Dryan- 



