INTRODUCTION. 



LECTURE I. 



IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM. — ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED FROM THE STUDY OP 



BOTANY. 



The universe consists of matter and mind. By the faculties of 

 mind with which God has endowed us, we are able to examine into 

 the properties of the material objects by which we are surrounded. 



If we had no sciences, nature would present exactly the same phe- 

 nomena as at present. The heavenly bodies would move with equal 

 regularity, and preserve the same relative situations, although no 

 system of Astronomy had been formed. The laws of gravity and of 

 motion, would operate in the same manner as at present, if we had no 

 such science as Natural Philosophy. The affinities of substances for 

 each other were the same, before the science of Chemistry existed, 

 as they are now. It is an important truth, and one which cannot be 

 too much impressed upon the mind in all scientific investigations, 

 that no systems of man can change the laws and operations of Na- 

 ture ; though by systems, we are enabled to gain a knowledge of 

 these laws and relations. 



The Deity has not only placed before us an almost infinite variety 

 of objects, but has given to our minds the power of reducing them 

 into classes, so as to form beautiful and regular systems, by which we 

 can comprehend, imder a few terms, the vast number of individual 

 things, which would, otherwise, present to our bewildered minds a 

 confused and indibcriminate mass. This power of the mind, so im- 

 portant in classification, is that of discovering' resemblances. We 

 perceive two objects, we have an idea of their resemblance, and we 

 give a common name to both ; other similar objects are then referred 

 to the same class or leceive the same name. A child sees a flower 

 which he is told is a rose ; he sees another resembling it, and nature 

 teaches him to call that also a rose. On this operation of the mind 

 depends the power of forming classes or of generalizing. 



Some relations or resemblances are seen at the first glance ; others 

 are not discovered until after close examination and reflection ; but 

 the most perfect classification is not always founded upon the most 

 obvious resemblances. A person ignorant of Botany, on beholding 

 the profusion of flowers which adorn the face of nature, would dis- 

 cover general resemblances, and perhaps form in his mind, some 

 order of arrangement ; but the system of Botany now in use, neg- 

 lecting the most conspicuous parts of the flower, is founded upon the 

 observation of small parts of it, which a common observer might not 

 notice. 



System is necessary in every science. It not only assists in the 

 acquisition of knowledge, but enables us to retain what is thus ao- 

 quired ; and, by the laws of association, to call forth what is treas- 

 ured up in the storehouse of the mind. System is important not only 

 in the grave and elevated departments of science, but is essential in 

 the most common concerns and operations of ordinary Ufe. In con- 

 ducting any kind of business, and in the arrangement of household 



By the faculties of mind we examine the properties of matter — Human science can- 

 not alter the laws of nature— Power of the mind to form classes — Classification nol 

 always founded upon the most striking resemblances, as in Botany — Importance of 

 system. 



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