194 STUDY OP BOTANY. 



niially breaking forth throughout his writings. A general 

 mourning took place at his death, in 1778, and his body 

 was attended to the grave with every token of respect. 



Questions. — 1. To what circumstance does Linnaeus ascribe his 

 passion for botany? 2. What is said of his early proficiency? 3 

 How was his thirst for improvement discovered at the University of 

 Lund ? 4. What is said of his pecuniary means on his removal to 

 Upsal ? 5. In what manner did he come into notice at Upsal ? (3. 

 By what means was a taste for natural history diffused throughout the 

 oivilizcd world ? 



LESSON 67. 

 Study of Botany. 



Botany is that branch of natural history which treats of 

 the vegetable kingdom. The study of this science is not a 

 trifling employment, undeserving the time and attention be- 

 stowed upon it. Can we for a moment conceive that the 

 works of God are unworthy the attention of man ? — that 

 those productions which bear such evident marks of the wis- 

 dom and power of the Creator, are too contemptible for the 

 examination of his creatures ? Whoever has had the curio- 

 sity to crop the humblest flower of the field, and to observe 

 the wonderful conformation of its parts, combining the unit- 

 ed purposes of elegance arid utility, will not hastily despise 

 the study of nature. But when these observations are ex- 

 tended through the immense variety of productions which 

 compose the vegetable kingdom ; when the different offices 

 of each particular part of the plant, every one essentially 

 contributing towards its existence and propagation, are con- 

 sidered ; when we advert to the variety of modes by which 

 these ends are effected, and the infinite contrivance which 

 is exhibited in their accomplishment, a wide field for instruc- 

 tion and admiration is opened before us. 



We need not labour to prove how delightful and instruct- 

 ive it is to 



" Look through nature up to nature's God ;" 



neither, surely, need we attempt to show, that if any judi- 

 i^ious or improved use is to be made of the natural bodies 



