50 ARENARiA BALEARiCA, [February, 



for improbably native plants have been already reported on the same au- 

 thority, it may become matter of some importance to future botanical 

 topographers, to ascertain virhether this case of the Arenaria balearica is 

 a fair sample of the rest ? Also, how far it may be held an exhibition of 

 editorial care and competence, in announcing new British plants or new 

 British localities? While saying that I cannot place scientific reliance 

 upon Mr. Sim's reports, or upon the phytological records of them, it would 

 be most unfair not to disclaim any insinuation against Mr. Sim personally, 

 on the score of moral truthfulness. I can well believe him writing with 

 perfect sincerity of intention, while imperfect in his reports, and unsound 

 in his conclusions from alleged facts ; the records being made worse against 

 him by want of editorial discernment." (Supplement to ' Cybele,' p. 38.) 



The first sentence is a long one, containing several propo- 

 sitions, hanging rather loosely together, more remarkable for 

 intricacies and involutions than for that clearness and logical 

 precision which might be looked for in the composition of an 

 author who takes credit for more philosophical acumen than he 

 allows to any other botanist, yea, more than to all of them put 

 together. 



Instead, however, of analyzing this ponderous period of the 

 learned Theban's, it will be easier for our readers to scrutinize 

 the facts, which are like Sir John FalstafF's halfpenny roll to a 

 gallon of sack, or like some wretched daub of a painting in a gaudy 

 and clumsy frame. We fear exhausting the attention, or, it may 

 be, the patience of our readers ; and we also regret the space 

 occupied by so worthless a topic. For what advantage will it be 

 to a single individual, whether this Arenaria grow in Scotland 

 or not. Will the publication of its discovery be subservient to 

 human happiness or to the amelioration of mankind ? Only in 

 an imperceptible degree. Its efi'ect on society will be unfelt ; 

 and it will be forgotten, even by botanists, in the space of half a 

 decade of years. The fact itself, in the grand totality of scientific 

 discovery, is like the infinitesimal globules of the homoeopathic 

 practitioner, like a grain of strychnine in a hogshead of water. 

 But the reputation of men is a more important concern than is 

 the discovery or fancied discovery of a south European plant on 

 one of the bleak hills of Caledonia ; and it is to this part of the 

 subject that the candid consideration of our readers is humbly 

 requested . 



" The mischief that would be done " (more, the much mischief 



