14 INTRODUCTION. 



therefore, devoid of interest. I am, for my part, quite con- 

 tented to gather a sweet-smelling nosegay of beautiful gar- 

 den monsters, as botanists denominate them, without trou- 

 bling myself about their scientific names. 



Mrs. B. I will frankly own, that, for many years, I 

 entertained the same prejudices against botany, if such 

 you will allow me to call them ; but having had the good 

 fortune, during a spring I passed at Geneva, to hear a 

 course of lectures on that science by Professor De Can- 

 dolle, I was entirely converted ; and I am fully persuaded 

 that no natural science is dry, unless it be drily treated. 

 If people will attend more to the frame than to the picture 

 which it contains, and if they will even cut and disfigure 

 the picture, in order to make it fit into the frame they have 

 prepared for it, no wonder that the subject should lose its 

 interest. 



Emily. None can be more likely to succeed in convert- 

 ing others, than those who have been converted them- 

 selves ; and if you would indulge us, my Dear Mrs. B., 

 with relating what you learnt at these lectures, I make no 

 doubt that Caroline would be tempted to listen to you, 

 were it but from curiosity to discover whether her first 

 opinions on the subject were correct, or whether she ought 

 not, at least, to acknowledge that they were hastily formed. 



Caroline. Oh, I shall be very thankful to be allowed 

 to remain, provided I am at liberty to depart if I find I 

 do not take an interest in the study. 



Mrs. B. I shall not be ambitious of retaining uninter- 

 ested listeners : and though I was delighted with the in- 

 struction I received myself, I am very sensible that I shall 

 not be able to communicate to you either the same de- 

 gree of pleasure or of information. I will, however, do my 

 best to relate to you what I can recollect of these lectures. 



Mr. De Candolle, so far from confining himself to the 

 classification of plants, examines the vegetable kingdom in 

 its most comprehensive and philosophic point of view. In 

 describing the structure he investigates the habits and 

 properties of plants, and shows, not only how wonderfully 



5. How did Mrs. B. have her prejudices against the science removed 1 

 6. Of what is she persuaded in regard to natural science 1 7. What 

 illustration does she make with the picture and its frame"? 8. How 

 does Professor De Candolle examine the vegetable kingdom 1 ? 9. In 

 describing its structure how does he proceed'? 



