DIV1 BOTANICI. 



21 



when appropriated by himself, and for directing his disciples in 

 assigning the highest distinction in their science to its most active 

 and eminent votaries. These Rules derived beautiful characters 

 from the Legislator's enlightened imagination, and especially from 



tionibus rariorum, adjectis figuris : 8vo, Holmiae, 1750, and numerous subse- 

 quent impressions. It was translated into Spanish by Don Antonio Capde- 

 vila; 8vo, Madrid, 1771; and into French by F. A. Quesne ; 8vo, Paris, 

 1788, which is, in the opinion of a French critic, " an imperfect, though re- 

 spectable, version of an almost untranslatable book." The Linnsean Rules 

 for Nomenclature are translated and freely discussed by Dr. Colin Milne, in 

 his Botanical Dictionary, or Elements of Systematic and Philosophical Botany, 

 forming a complete System of Bjtanical Knowledge, for the use of Students 

 in that Science; 8vo, London, 1770, 1777, 1805. This is a very convenient 

 and useful " system ;" and, with its successive improvements, is well calcu- 

 lated to facilitate the researches of naturalists, as they explore the constitu- 

 tion of the "Vegetable Kingdom and the relative adaptations of its elements. 

 Dr. Milne's dictionary is very comprehensive, but concise and perspicuous. 

 It contains descriptions of the parts of plants ; an explanation of the scienti- 

 fic terms used by Morison, Ray, Tournefort, Linnanis, and other eminent 

 botanists; a brief analysis of the principal systems in Botany; a critical in- 

 quiry into the merits and defects of the Linnsean method of arrangement ; 

 sketches of the natural families of plants, their habits and structure, virtues 

 and sensible qualities, and economical uses ; an examination of the doctrine 

 of the sexes of plants; and a discussion of several curious questions in the 

 vegetable economy connected with gardening. Five years afterwards, Mr. 

 Hugh Rose, of Norwich, prepared a pure English version of the entire ori- 

 ginal Treatise of Linnaeus; and, in terms of great modesty, he submitted it 

 to the acceptance of " those who are fond of the study or fashionable amuse- 

 ment of practical Botany which, with him, "consists in the definition, dis- 

 position, and denomination of plants." His book bears the title — The Ele- 

 ments of Botany : containing the History of the Science, with accurate defini- 

 tions of all the terms of art exemplified in eleven copper-plates; the scien- 

 tific arrangement of Plants and Names used in Botany; and Rules concern- 

 ing the general history, virtues, and uses of Plants; being a translation of 

 the Philosophia Bolanica and other treatises of Linnaeus : to which is added 

 an Appendix, wherein are described some Plants lately found hi Norfolk 

 and Suffolk, illustrated with three additional copper-plates, all taken from 

 the life : 8vo, London, 1775. Mr. Rose's Elements of Botany might be 

 advantageously revised and enlarged, so as to support the exquisite System 

 whose principles they disclose with unusual faithfulness and effect. The 

 nomenclature of this system is ingeniously artificial; but, whether it be de- 

 signated the Liniuean or the Sexual, it possesses as many natural features at 

 least as the Natural Arrangement by which, with an excess of wordy effort, 

 it is now so much the fashion to desire that it may be supplanted. Verily, 

 the latter has its merits, and let these be fully acknowledged: yea, let high 

 praise be the meed of its sesquipedalian beauties; but let not this exceed 

 what is just, and thus be a great deal too honoriJicabililxJinitaccoiis .' 



