477 



rank superior to most other seats of botanical science ; 

 the more so perhaps for its being founded in total disinter- 

 estedness, both with respect to authority and emolument. 

 Truth alone, not system, has been the leading object of this 

 school ; unbiassed and gratuitous patronage its support ; 

 and a genuine love of nature and of knowledge its bond 

 of union, among persons not less distinguished from each 

 other by character and opinion, than, by their different 

 pursuits, and various ranks of life. The illustrious Banks, 

 from the time when, after his return from his celebrated 

 and adventurous voyage, he devoted himself to the prac- 

 tical cultivation of natural science for the advantage of 

 others, as he had long pursued it for his own pleasure 

 and instruction, has been the head of this school. Here 

 he fixed the amiable and learned Solander, for the re- 

 mainder of his too short life. The house of this liberal 

 Mecsenas has ever since been, not only open, but, in a 

 manner, at the entire command of the cultivators and ad- 

 mirers of this and other branches of philosophy; inasmuch 

 as his library and museum have been devoted to their free 

 use ; and his own assistance, encouragement and infor- 

 mation are as much at their service, as if his fortune and 

 fame had all along depended on their favour. With such 

 an establishment as this, aided by the perpetual re- 

 sources of the numerous public and private gardens 

 around, botany might well flourish. The liberal spirit of 

 the leaders of this pursuit gave a tone to the whole. 

 The owners of nurseries, though depending on pecuniary 

 emolument for their support, rivalled each other in disin- 

 terested communication. The improvement of science 

 was the leading object of all. One of this latter descrip- 

 tion took his rank among the literary teachers of botany. 

 Lee's Introduction was much approved by Linnaeus, 

 whose system and principles it ably exemplifies, and who 

 became the friend and correspondent of its author. Tra- 

 velling botanists were dispatched, under the patronage of 

 the affluent, to enrich our gardens from the Alps, the 



