296 CRITICAL, NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICICATIONS. 



descriptions and classifications, yet derive much pleasure from tracing the 

 relations established between plants and animals, or between plants and 

 their geographical positions. For one ol' these classes to decry the studies of 

 the otner, would be as sensible a proceeding as it would be for the historian 

 to find fault with the moral philosopher, or for tlie anatomist to censure the 

 physiologist, each because the other had a different taste and pursuit ;" for, 

 he mii;ht have added, the constitution of men's minds are as distinct and dis- 

 tinguishable as the shapes of their heads. 



These excellent observations of Air, Watson's are followed by a 

 train of admirable suggestions, the result of experience and reflection, 

 offered to the consideration of any future writer on the typography 

 of our native plants. The high practical value of these suggestions 

 will be readily and fully appreciated by those who may have endea- 

 voured to exercise their ingenuity in perfecting the arrangement of 

 even a limited botanical cabinet and its description. But Mr. Wat- 

 son will prove unfaithful to his own reputation, and he will mate- 

 rially impede the advancement of his second most favourite science, 

 if he shall now withdraw his improving hand from the " Botanists' 

 Guide," for any reason save an unsurmountable necessity. JBy far 

 the most laborious and difficult part of his undertaking is now tri- 

 umphantly accomplished : let him, therefore, cease to contemplate 

 an inglorious retirement: far rather, let him be persuaded forthwith 

 to commence an easy and gradual distribution of the articles of his 

 Supplement into their proper positions ; and thus, with the contri- 

 butions of all generous British botanists, he will be enabled ulti- 

 mately to elaborate a " new edition carefully revised and greatly aug- 

 mented," and printed on writing paper with very " large margins" 

 for the insertion of MS. notes and observations. One more sug- 

 gestion — Wat son began t/ie suggestions — might be offered ; and it is 

 this — that, if at all practicable, tlie British should receive an en- 

 graftment of the Irish phytography, beginning with the meritorious 

 gleanings of Caleb Threlkeld* " that good man," and extending to 

 the fruits of more fortunate researches, in later times. — There is not 

 a book in our native language, better calculated than Mr. Watson's 

 work to ensure the comfort and facilitate the success of an intelli- 

 gent Naturalist, throughout the progress of a social or solitary bo- 

 tanical excursion. 



* As Threlkeld's book was " the first essay of the kind in the kingdom of 

 Ireland," and has now arrived at the honourable distinction of a place among 

 the Rare Boolts, a brief notice of the author and his volume may be accept- 

 able Caleb Threlkeld was born in 1C7(> at Keil)erg, in the parish of Kirk- 



oswald in Cumberland. In IC98, he took his degree of " Master of Arts," 

 at the university of Glasgow, where he first experienced a predilection fiir 

 physic and botany. Having completed the regular course of studies in 1712, 

 hethen obtained the degree of " Docter of Medicine" at Edinburgh ; and, 

 in the following year he removed to Dublin where he practised as a physi- 

 cian, during tlie remainder of his respected and exemplary life. His death 

 took place in 1728, at his house in Frances-street, Dublin, and his remains 

 ■were attended to the grave by the children of an Institution to which he had 

 acted as j)hysician. He was greatly regretted by the poor to whom he had 

 been, both as a man and as a physician, a mist kind and considerate bene- 



