12 SKETCH OF THE RISE [LECT. I. 



generalis (London 1693), contains all the Bota- 

 nical learning of bis time ; and displays, in a 

 striking degree, the unwearied assiduity and ex- 

 tensive reading of its author. The first time, 

 however, that Botanists began to be really guided 

 by the light of nature in their researches, was soon 

 after the establishment of the Royal Society, 

 towards the end of the seventeenth century; when 

 Dr. GRE w,in this country, and MALPIGHI on the con- 

 tinent, began their anatomical investigations. The 

 acuteness, patience, and ardour of these celebrated 

 men, in examining the structure of plants, remain 

 yet unequalled, and their works are still standards 

 on vegetable anatomy. Towards the end of the 

 seventeenth century, CAMERARIUS first proved the 

 existence of sex in plants by observation and expe- 

 riments; GEOFFREY., and VAILLANT *, a pupil of the 

 great TOURNEFORT-}-, confirmed, and added to his 

 observations ; but this important fact had few sup- 

 porters till Linnaeus made it the foundation of his 

 system. We mentioned before, that Caesalpinus 



* VAILLANT was born at Vigny, in 1669, and died at Paris 

 in 1722. His observations are contained in an Essay entitled, 

 Sermo de Slructura Florum. Lugd. Batav. 1718. 



f JOSEPH PITTON DE TOURNEFORT was born at Aix, in 

 Provence, in 1656. He travelled into Greece and Asia, at the 

 expense of Louis XV.; and published a system of Botanical 

 arrangement, founding the classes on the formation of the 

 flower, while the orders were ascertained by the fruit. He died, 

 in 174-8, from an injury to his chest, occasioned by his being 

 crushed by a carriage. 



