212 Mr.MacLeay om Systems and Methods in Natural History. 



not say this in any spirit but that of good will. I do not leel 

 indeed, except that I happen to have followed in the wake of 

 such idiots as Fabricius and Latreillf, and have subdivided 

 Scai'abseus, that any one of your obbervations personally af- 

 fects me ; and I can never forget that you have always, in the 

 most honourable way, been a friend to the free expression of 

 opinion, and have of late niost warmly patronized Zoology. 

 Yet as every iaw-giver must, in these days, expect to have the 

 goodness of his laws examined before they are adopted, and 

 as it is the duty of every lover of truth to sift them well before 

 he allows them to pass current, I have judged that you v.ould 

 not be displeased if I, although from a very remote quarter, 

 should return them to you for a little amendment. You know 

 that the days of demigods and despotism in science have for 

 ever gone by, and that by publishing your '■^ j^rinciples" you 

 stipulated for criticism. 



Your object may possibly be to clear the way (or the re- 

 ception of a system of your own ; for I observe that you find 

 fault both with the Linnean and Jussieuan schools of Botany, 

 although you appear to prefer the former. I observe, also, 

 that no system of Zoology hitherto propounded, meets with 

 your approbation. You have, therefore, with just confidence 

 taken a wide range for your " first principles of arrangement," 

 and I assure you I shall be glad to hear that your talents are 

 employed in the application of them to observed facts. You 

 must indeed be aware that such an application of your prin- 

 ciples will tend more to give them weight in the eyes of Na- 

 turalists than your most abstract reasoning or profound meta- 

 physics ; however to slight these last may argue the height of 

 folly. It really, however, appears to me high time now to 

 let every one have his own way in Natural History ; and in 

 the spirit of toleration to let the Linnean enjoy his twelve 

 words, colons, and specific differences, while you publish your 

 asterisk system, and the obstinate heretics continue to wallow 

 in the mire of natural groupes and subdivisions. Persecution, 

 I fear, only serves to wed these last unfortunate wretches to 

 their guilt, and, moreover, is perfectly useless trouble, inas- 

 much as we may be sure that the world will swim in the or- 

 thodox channel at last. 



I remain, dear Sir, &c., 



W. S. MacLeay. 



XXX. Note 



