Sect. II.] Botany. I87 



aiid intelligible style o^ description, to the spiotulid 

 representations of niiture, by means of accurate 

 ^figures "^ and coloured -plates whicli every where 

 assist the stndent, or to the nmltiplication of Bota- 

 nic Gar dens f, and of Her bar la, as appendages to 

 seats of science, may be said to have reached 

 a stage of improvement, within a few years, whicli 

 the human mind never before contemplated, 'riuj 

 recent exhibition of the Linniean system bv Dr. 

 Thornton, of London, is not only highly honuiir- 

 Jible to himself and his country, but probably, also. 



the facility of writing books of mediocrity on such a science, and 

 fhe difficulty of composing works which contain novelty of mat- 

 ter." — Stoever's Life of Linmeus. 



* S<?e Additional Noles—CC C.) 



t Though Botanic Gardens have been greatly multiplied, during 

 the last century, in Europe, by scientilic individuals, and by semi- 

 naries of learning, North America has never been able to boost 

 of a single establishment which deser\ ed the name. I'his dcii- 

 ciency is now likely to be in some measure supplied, so far as it 

 respects tlie state of Neu York, by the laudable zeal of Dr. David 

 Hosack, professor of botany in Columbia college. I'iiis gentle- 

 man has lately purchased ground for a botanic garden, in the n ici- 

 iiity of tlie city of New York j and is going on, at his own ex- 

 pense, to furnish it with the necessary stores of indigenous and 

 exotic plants, for rendering it a useful and ornamental institution. 

 It is to. be hoped tliat his exertions will be seconded by public 

 aid; and that the state of New York, already eminently di.siiu- 

 giiish,ed fqr its rapid progress in wealth and improvement, will 

 not suffer the weight of suj)porting such an establishment to tall 

 on an individual ; who, attcr all his care to acconipli>h himsell" J'ur 

 this branch of iustruclion, in a foreign country, anil his zeal in 

 i^brming the best private botanical library in the United Slates, 

 cannot be expected to devote all his resources to an object w hich 

 ought to be fostered by public munihcence, and cherished as one 

 ol the honours of tlie atate. See Jdditioiud 2^'o:r^ — (D D.J 



