21 



also, an aim, the philosophical observers; or finally, in some large 

 and beautiful minds, we can discern neither of these ways by itself, 

 but only what seems their real and original union, wherein the di- 

 vine reason appears, avrovopos ai/rfitxos, and facts are observed not 

 only, but eternal laws are prescribed to science, 1 the naturalists. 

 If, then, we are only observers, or only philosophical observers, we 

 shall not only err, but tend in the one case to prejudice and blind- 

 ness, and in the other to mere theory and speculation ; hence, too, 

 as we are in one or the other dilemma, we shall deny, virtually, the 

 equally true and equally false way in which we are not proceeding, 

 and hence finally follows that waste of time and heart in paper 

 wars, when discord sits formally enthroned by man, in the very face 

 and eyes of infinite Harmony. 



Let us, then, possess ourselves of what Fries has discovered, and 

 give him credit for all that he has taught us; for all the light from 

 his words which has made nature brighter about us. But there is 

 yet another artificial-natural system now on almost every botanist's 

 table, that of Endlicher. 2 His "Genera Plantarum" is, of course, 

 a universal work, and hence his system appears in it complete, 

 which gives it great advantages practically. Starting from funda- 

 mental views not foreign to those of Fries, and adopting, indeed, to 

 some extent the same general divisions, the system before us will 

 be seen to differ from the other, and if rather apparently only, still 

 considerably. 



The following view of the construction of the system I take from 

 the Grundzuge of Endlicher and Unger, p. 409, &c. 



The Affinity of species consists especially in the similarity in 

 structure of parts having the same functions, and is the greater, in 

 proportion as more parts agreeing in functions agree also in structure. 



Similar structure in parts which are dissimilar as to their func- 

 tions, presents only Analogy. 



Agreement in the characters of fructification, since it supposes 

 similar anatomical relations, denotes a nearer degree of affinity than 

 that which consists in a mere resemblance in anatomical relations. 



The nearer degrees of Affinity of particular species may then be 

 estimated by the agreement of their organological characters, and 

 in particular of their characters of fructification, while only a re- 

 moter affinity is indicated by anatomical resemblance. 



The affinity, moreover, seems the nearer, the more particular 

 parts agree with one another, and the weightier the points of view 

 are from which they can be compared together. 



1 Urn die Ffllle zu bewaltigen, bedurfte es eines Mannes wie Linne, dem 

 die wirksame Gewandheit nicht abging, urn eine Methode, die, wie die Philoso- 

 phia Botanica, den evvigen Gesetzen des menschlichen Verstandes entsprech- 

 end, nie altern wird, dem widerstrebenden Zeitalter aufzunOthigen. Endlicher 

 & Unger. GrundzGge, p. xi. 



C'est le livre le plus philosophique que j'ai vu de ma vie. J. J. Rousseau, 

 Lettr. 



Quippe qui et canones Philosophise Botanies ubique servare ac applicare 

 religionis ducam. Sprengel, Syst. praef. 



2 Genera Plantarum secundum Ordines Naturales disposita, auctore Stepha- 

 no Endlicher. Vindob. 1836-1840. Grundztlge der Botanik entworfen von 

 Stephan Endlicher und Franz Unger. Wien. 1843. 



