318 HISTORY OF BOTANY. 



before observed, but he employed tliem in a manner entirely 

 original. 



This " Northern Light" as he has sometimes been termed, 

 contributed to the progress of physiology both by his own 

 discoveries, and by improving upon the suggestions of those 

 who had gone before him. In the details of science, he was 

 no less accurate, than bold and comprehensive in his general 

 views. The world knew not which to admire the most, the 

 multiplicity, the novelty, or the profound views of this modern 

 Aristotle. His school became the resort of men of science 

 from all Europe ; and he seemed to have acquired that influ- 

 ence over the human mind, which had been peculiar to the 

 ancient philosophers of Greece. 



The defects of this great man, for human nature is never 

 without its imperfections, were that he sometimes carried too 

 far a favourite idea ; endowed with a brilliant imagination, he 

 was at times somewhat blinded by the beauty of his own con- 

 ceptions, and strove to reconcile nature to the visions of his 

 own fancy. 



We have in our investigations of the artificial system, occa- 

 sionally pointed out in it some imperfections, particularly in? 

 the separation of natural families ; but no means of remedying 

 these have yet been found, and we still, after the lapse of near 

 a century, with the exception of a few alterations, receive this 

 system as left by its author. 



Linnaeus died in 1778 ; he is honoured among the scientific, 

 by a title far more proud than any hereditary distinctions ; he 

 is termed " Prince of Naturalists." Ten years after his death, 

 a society distinguished by his name, was founded in London ; 

 tjiis society is now in possession of his library, herbariums, col- 

 lec>k>ns of insects and shells, with numerous manuscripts. Sir 

 James Edward Smith was the founder of this society, and its 

 first and only president until his death, which has recently ol- 

 curred. He translated the writings of Linnaeus, (which were 

 originally in Latin,) and illustrated them by his own comments : 

 no one, perhaps, has done more towards rendering botanical 

 science accessible to all classes of people than this elegant 

 writer. 



The study of plants, after the discoveries and classifications 

 of Linnaeus, became, in a degree, general. The knowledge 

 of vegetable physiology began to be usefully applied to agri- 

 culture. Duhamel of France very successfully laboured to 

 exhibit the connexion between the science of botany and the 



How did he contribute to the progress of physiology, &c.? His defects- 

 Death of Linnaeus Linnsean society in London Botany after the death of 

 Linnaeus. 



