’ 
142 Notice of British Naturalists. 
tram, Audubon, Say,* Conrad, Nutall and many others testify to 
our successful cultivation of Natural History, and the works which 
have been published within the last few years in the United States, 
evince an increasing taste for natural science.t 
We now come to a new era in Natural History. 
In 1735 Laynexvs published in Sweden the first edition of his 
‘Systema Nature.’ The great and most obvious improvements 
which he made, were the introduction of the binomial nomencla- 
ture, and the natural classification of all departments of nature, 
—beginning with man and gradually descending as he could 
trace similitudes. And here he appears to have had some idea, 
but which he did not live fully to elucidate, of the circular theory, 
‘since brought more clearly into notice by Mr. Mac Lay Mr. Vi- 
gors, and Mr. Swainson, of London. 
The discovery of new truths is the peculiar province of an origiN- 
al genius. Linnzeus, absorbed in the studies of nature, carefully 
reviewed all former systems, thus laying his foundations deep ; and 
collecting what he held to be true in each, he then digested, re 
arranged, modified, and invented, according to one general plan. 
As the greatest genius is unavailing without strenuous industry; 
Linneus labored incessantly either in his closet or in the fields. 
The grandest as well as the most correct views, are those which 
have been gained by minute observations, and by the application of 
all the more precise and accurate methods of study. He regarde 
all Nature asa grand unity, infinite in detail, but consistent in exe- 
cution and end ; and with Bacon for his guide, he examined each 
pie Een eo 
* The greater sari of his library and collections he left, on his death, to the Acad- 
emy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. We are truly glad to find a late English 
writer speak as follows of ~_ Tt er ones “ How few vives an adequate 
idea of oa ardent zeal, th the most de- 
cumstances, that indefatigable ae in collecting, that laborious @¢ 
curacy in ota with precision and clearness ; and above all, that hist mo 
worth, that kindness of heart and gentleness of disposition, wines make Say the 
object of veneration to all who knew him, and cause his memory to be che orished 
with fondness by all who had once the happiness of ealling “him their friend.” 
Doubleday, in Mag. of Nat. Hist., No. xxvi1, new series. 
+ Among the signs of this, whieh we rejoice to see, shy be named the inoremet 
demand in our great cities, <a; eS ven in our smaller towns, for lectures. ‘* Not, ® 
Dr. Channing justly obubrvds, that these and other like means of instruction, are sla 
of themselves to carry forward the hearer ;’but they stir up many, who, but for such 
outward appeals, might have slumbered to the end of life.” And they not only doy 
as we find by ses Me many on to deeper research, but they are forming 
an elevated national tas’ 
