6 ADDRESS OF THE EDITOR. [Junurtry, 



of things unavoidable in our case^ where readers and authors are 

 almost synonymous terms. 



From the very admissions of the ingenious inventor of this 

 new doctrine, it may be inferred that his theory of the origin of 

 species is deficient in some of the constituent elements of vitality. 

 If we be hopelessly and utterly ignorant of the mutual relations 

 of all organic beings, as he admits (see p. 78), is it probable 

 that we shall arrive at any satisfactory conclusions about their 

 origin, which ascends so far into the geologic periods of unknown 

 ages. The theory may amuse the speculative, dreamy classes of 

 mankind, who are pleased with the paradise of fools, and who 

 cackle and crow when they have found only a mare's-nest ; 

 but it has no charm for two very influential orders, — neither 

 for the practical and popular, nor for the philosophic mind. 

 To the former it will be repulsive, because it is useless; it 

 wants the utilitarian element; and to the latter it will seem 

 chimerical, because it is not well founded ; the assigned causes 

 are not sufficiently causative of the well-known effects. 



The theory has another weak side; it is a butt at which 

 the wits throw their slight but sharp shafts of ridicule; and it is 

 repulsive to the theologian, who deems it only a fresh develop- 

 ment of pantheism. 



Another paragraph or two, and these personal matters will be 

 dismissed for the present. There was a hint conveyed, in friendly 

 enough terms, that the Editor now and then takes the liberty of 

 giving in our vernacular the equivalents of certain classical 

 (Latin) scraps, with which some correspondents illustrate and 

 embellish their compositions. A friend has intimated that these 

 English versions are uncalled-for and unnecessary ; moreover, 

 that they convey a sort of reproach, or insult, or slur, on botan- 

 ists, who ought to get credit for the ability of translating for 

 themselves. It is far from our intention to give offence to any, 

 and least of all to the learned portion of our readers, who honour 

 us by perusing our lucubrations. The amende honorable is here- 

 by tendered to each and all the botanists who conceive that any 

 imputation, either avowed or implied, has been cast upon their 

 learning. 



While humbly tendering our apology for the past, we take the 

 liberty of pleading, in justification, that there are readers of the 

 * Phytologist ' who do not understand Latin, for a good reason : 



