HISTORY OF BOTANY. 229 



of science lie was no less accurate than bold and comprehensive 

 in his general views. The world knew not which to achnire 

 most, tlie multiplicity, the novelty, or the profound views of tliis 

 modern Aristotle. His school became the resort of men of sci- 

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

 fluence 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 favorite idea ; endowed with a 

 brilliant imagination, he was at times somewhat blinded by the 

 beauty of his conceptions, and strove to reconcile nature to the 

 visions of his own fancy. 



355. We have, in our investigations of the artificial system, 

 occasionally pointed out some imperfections, particularly in the 

 separation of natural families ; but though all admit this as a 

 defect, no system or method has yet been offered so simple and 

 so beautiful as the Artificial Systeni of Linnaeus. This great 

 man died in 1778 ; he is honored among the scientific by a title 

 far more proud than any hereditary distinctions, that of ^^ Prince 

 of Naturalists P His most important works are, " Philosophy 

 of Botany," " Genera and Species of Plants," " System of Ma- 

 ture," and " Flowers of Sweden, Lapland," &c. The ' Linncea 

 horealis was dedicated to him by Gronovius. Ten years after 

 his death a society distinguished by his name was founded in 

 London ; this is now in possession of his library, herbariums, 

 collections of insects and shells, with numerous manuscripts. 

 Sir James Edward Smith, the founder of this society, translated 

 the writings of Linnseus, and illustrated them by his own com- 

 ments. 



356. The study of plants after the discoveries and classifica- 

 tions of Linngeus became in a degree general. The knowledge 

 of vegetahle physiology hegan to be usefully ajyplied to agricul- 

 ture. Duhamel of France successfully labored to exhibit 

 the connection between the science of Botany and the cultiva- 

 tion of plants. Bossuet of Geneva proved by experiments that 

 the vascular systeirb of plcmts is tuhular and transparent / and 

 that leaves perform the office of respiration. Grew of Eno-land 

 had before this period ascertained the existence of the cainSium., 

 and Duhamel afterward proved that it was distinct from the 

 sap and proper juices. The latter opposed the idea till tlien 

 entertained, that earth and water were the only food of ])lants ; 

 he proved that the various solids and fluids difl'used in the soil 

 and atmosphere are all important to vegetation. 



357. The observations of Priestley .^ De Saussure^ and others, 



355. Death of Linnsiis— His works — Linnaean Society in London.— 356, Knowledge of Botany after 

 I inniEus— Dnliamel and Grew. — 357. Priestley, &c. 



