Natural History, 139 



riCW modification of the Linnaean system, which, 

 though ingenious, is of very doubtful utility. This 

 modification has been since adopted by the inde- 

 fatigable S.VARTZ," also of Sweden, who is so well 

 known by his successful botanical inquiries in the 

 West-India Islands. Besides these, new systems, or 

 alterations in the Linna^an system, have been pro- 

 posed by Vaillant, Scheuzer, Litdwig, Alston, 

 Adanson, Gmelin, Sir William Jones, and many 

 other distinguished botanists. Bat time would 

 fail in attempting to give a complete catalogue of 

 the numerous writers, and projectors of reform, 

 in this department of natural history. P.^rhaps in 

 few branches of science have caprice and imagin- 

 ation displayed more extensive influence. 



Dr. Darwin, in his Botanic Garden^ and his 

 Phi/tologia, assuming the system of Ltnnjeus, with 

 some proposed alterations, exhibits great learning, 

 genius, and taste. He carries further than any 

 preceding botanist the idea o{ plants being an info- 

 rior order of animals, and ascribes to them sensa- 

 tion, volition, passion, affection, virtue and vice. 

 Indeed, he pushes the doctrine to such an extra- 

 vagant length, and founds upon it so many fanci- 

 ful positions and reasonings, that the sober and 

 wary inquirer must often be offended at the ob- 

 vious triumph of a lawless fancy over the cautious 

 spirit of philosophy. 



The botanists who have inquired with dili- 

 gence, or described with ability, in particular 

 branches of this science, within the period under 

 review, are too numerous to be recounted. The 

 Cryptogamia have been ably treated by Michelt, 

 before mentioned, by Hedwig, and by Dickson 

 and Masson. The Mosses have been faithfully 

 and successfully investigated by Professor Dille- 



» See his Prodromu,! of Wat-India Plants. Stockholm, 17SS. 



