483 



adopting real improvements, because they know not which 

 guide to prefer. 



From the combined effects of the various causes which 

 we have endeavoured to trace, the study of botany in 

 England has, for a long period, been almost entirely prac- 

 tical. To determine the particular species intended, in 

 every case, by Linnaeus ; to distinguish and to describe 

 new ones; to improve scientific characters, and to correct 

 synonyms ; these have been the objects of our writers ; 

 and hence many publications of great utility, especially a 

 number of critical and descriptive essays, in the Transac- 

 tions of the Linnaean Society, not unworthy of the school 

 which gave them birth, have enriched the general stock 

 of knowledge. These are the sound fruits of skill and 

 investigation, the solid advantages of real information, 

 applied to practical use. They are independent of theo- 

 retical speculation, and will stand unshaken, amidst any 

 possible changes of system. On such principles the Flora 

 JBritannica has been attempted, and continued as far as 

 the present unsettled state of some of the latter orders, of 

 the last class, will allow. Such impediments, which 

 depend on the difficulties of systematic discrimination, 

 among the Lichens especially, it is hoped will soon be 

 removed. Meanwhile the English Botany of the same 

 writer, illustrated by Mr. Sowerby's expressive and scien- 

 tific figures, has finished its course, and formed so nearly 

 complete a body of local botany, as, we believe, no other 

 country has produced. In this the liberal contributions 

 of numerous skilful observers, from the alpine heights of 

 Scotland to the shores and circumambient ocean of the 

 south, are preserved and recorded ; evincing a degree of 

 general inquiry and acuteness, which hardly any nation 

 can rival. The memory of several benefactors to the 

 science, otherwise in danger of passing away, is embalmed 

 in this national work, which serves at once as their bota- 

 nical testament, and the monument of their fame. Some 

 of our botanists of the present day have thrown great light 



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