242 THE LIFE OF SIR JOSEPH BANKS 



considered the public good, and devoted his resources 

 toward defraying the cost. 



Banks now invited the Lords of the Admiralty to 

 regard his projects with some consideration ; and pro- 

 fessed himself quite willing to modify the terms of his 

 proposed gift in any way which might be expedient in the 

 case of their having views which differed from his own. 

 He supposed that the operation of arranging the plants 

 in systematic order would occupy at least three years, 

 and that a great number of the paintings would be 

 finished in that time. The whole Collection was at present 

 housed in Soho Square. 



And now began the task, the full performance of which 

 carried Robert Brown to the highest distinction as a 

 botanist. He was occupied for four months in a first 

 arrangement of his plants according to the received 

 methods of the time. With the assistance of Banks 

 and Dryander, a process of selection was undertaken 

 with a view to preparing specimens suitable for the 

 Museum. Several years of assiduous labour passed in a 

 more thorough examination, from which Brown emerged 

 the founder of a better classification than had yet proved 

 finally acceptable. He recognized the value of Antoine 

 Jussieu, and loyally followed his steps. He saw, further, 

 the import of Goethe's suggestions that the Leaf is the 

 common type of all the varying organs of the Plant. The 

 adoption of new views was confirmed in the pains he took 

 with his immense mass of material. 



The first published fruit of Robert Brown's labours 

 was Prodromus Florce Novce Hollandia et Insulce Van 

 Diemen (London, 1810). This work was received with 

 acclamation by all the botanists of Europe. Congratula- 

 tions poured in from France, Sweden, Germany, Italy. 

 Alexander von Humboldt hailed him as Botanicomm 

 facile princeps ; and that title adheres to his name to our 

 own days. He deserved his fame, for Brown was the 



