14B 



For the working with full effect of the spirit of the immortal 

 Swede, our own Ray had prepared the arena. Indi-fagitable, 

 enthusiastick in his pursuits, of clear and comprehensive mind, 

 he gave an impetus to Botany and its corrcllative Arts, more 

 effectual to their advancement than they had recieved during 

 ages of years preceeding. For fifty years he most successfully 

 laboured to clear the path of the Science and to increase her 

 stores. Nor does he enjoy his fame only among his country- 

 men, it is afforded to him by all Europe. Haller says, he was 

 the improver and elevator of Botany into a Science, and dates 

 fro;n his life a new era in its History. In little more than 

 twenty years, Ray recorded an increase in the English Flora of 

 550 Species. His " Catalogus Plantarum Anglice" in 1G70 

 contains 1050 Species: His Synopsis in 1606 describes more 

 than 1600 Species. A Phalanx of Botanists were then con- 

 temporaries which previous ages never equalled, nor succeeding 

 ones surpassed. Ray, Tournefort, Plumier, Plukenet, Com- 

 melin, Rivinus, Bobart, Petivir, Sherard, BoCcone, Linna?us, 

 luay be said to have lived in the same age. 



I will not pass unnoticed, as being of this period, Abra- 

 ham Cowley, the well known Poet, Physician, and Au- 

 thor of "The four Books of Plauts. "Considering, says his 

 Biographer and Critic, Botany as necessary to a Physician, 

 lie retired into Kent to gather plants, and as the predomi- 

 nance of a favourite study effects all subordinate operations 

 of the intellect. Botany in the mind of Cowley turned into 

 Poetry."* Although he deserves little praise as a Bota- 

 nist, or as a Gardenei*, he merits notice as assisting in their 

 advancement by winning to them and encouraging the attention 

 of the literary. Of the influence which Botanists possess over 

 the forwarding the interests of Horticulture, I shall quote but 

 one more instance. Sir Arthur Rawdon was so gratified with 

 the magnificent collection of West Indian Plants possessed by 



* Johnson'* live's of the Poets.— Cowley, 



