HISTORY OF BOTANY. 11 



botanical researches were continually flowing, the intro- 

 duction of a comprehensive system, founded on truth 

 and sanctioned by simplicity, was still a desideratum 

 much sought for and required. 



This herculean task, was finally completed by that great and 

 illustrious naturalist Carolus Von Linnaeus; who, deducing the 

 observations and plans of his predecessors, established an artificial 

 system, characterized by the simplicity of its foundation, the perspi- 

 cuity of its arrangement, and the infinite extent of its application. 



25. The general assent of nearly all botanists to the 

 superiority of the Linnasan artificial system, has given it 

 an unparallelled circulation through most of the civilized 

 nations of the world ; and it has long been justly con- 

 sidered, as the only practical arrangement calculated 

 to comprehend the immensity of vegetable productions 

 without much uncertainty and confusion. 



Allowing the splendid reputation of the system in question, to be 

 due to the memory of so great a benefactor to the science, and ad- 

 mitting the facility with which it is made practicable for all capacities, 

 it is still defective, and from time to time, botanists have found it 

 necessary to make alterations according to the calls of modern dis- 

 coveries. Nevertheless, the original ground work is still the same, 

 and as a standard arrangement, it is undoubtedly the most easy to 

 be acquired, and the most happy in its purposes, therefore, well 

 adapted for the wants of a general student. But the sjstem which 

 Linnaeus adopted, is not the only labour for which he deserves the 

 applause of posterity : he made considerable researches in vegetable 

 physiology, and his endeavours to render botany useful to medicine 

 and agriculture, are worthy of the highest praise. 



26. Since the introduction of the Linnaean system, 

 botany has appeared under a more clear and interesting 

 view to its numerous admirers ; the rage for making new 

 systems and arrangements has passed away, because 



