870 



Whatever differences of opinion we may entertain respecting some 

 of the author's i*ecommendations on the "manner of studying," we 

 shall certainly not express any against his concluding and pithy remark 

 that " neither they nor any others have real value in the absence of 



Method, Zeal, and Perseverance." 



What an instructive botanical sermon might be wi'itten upon this 

 text ! How strikingly does the deficiency of any one of these three 

 qualities detract from the results of the other two ! We know indi- 

 viduals of really contracted mental power, who have risen to more 

 than respectable eminence in the scientific world, by a happy combi- 

 nation of these three qualities. And, on the contrary, we know indi- 

 viduals of higher mental calibre, whose botanical efforts have been 

 greatly impeded by the want of one of them. There is doubtless a 

 natural adaptation to botanical pursuits, to be included among the 

 requisites ; but this may be said to constitute the chief ingredient of 

 true zeal, which is simply a strong mental impulse in a determinate 

 direction. 



Turn to another portion of the work, and see, reader, what Professor 

 Lindley bluntly writes on cell-formation, &c. " The manner in which 

 the elementary organs are developed is at present uncertain." In a 

 foot-note he enters more explicitly on his reasons for making this (we 

 fear, too true) statement. "The reader who has never investigated this 

 subject for himself, and who is unacquainted with its difficulties, may 

 be surprised at this statement ; but I can come to no other conclusion. 

 In fact, the uncertainty of the facts to which evidence points, and the 

 enormous obstacles that exist in determining what are facts and not 

 deceptive appearances, are sufficiently shown by the conflicting 

 opinions entertained by the most accomplished observers. When 

 men like Mirbel, Mohl, Schleiden, and Nageli, are directly opposed 

 to each other, although their lives have been largely devoted to the 

 pursuit of the inquiry, the prudent man will pause before he forms his 

 opinion." 



Now, when we think of the quantity of pages written on the forma- 

 tion of cells or cell-membrane, and regard that as some measure, on a 

 very reduced scale, of the quantity of time and labour devoted to the 

 subject, it is almost painful to acknowledge that the result is yet nil. 

 The author of the ' Vestiges,' wishing to show that the opinions of 

 most cultivators of science are valueless in great general views, says 

 sarcastically that " facts the most minute make scientific reputations." 



