662 BOTANICAL NOTEs^ NOTicKs, AND QUERIES. [December, 



sion of the Natural Orders is broken up, and the old time- 

 honoured terminology abandoned. We wish we could say that 

 substitutes had been found for them ; but this does not appear 

 to have been proposed by our author as a part of his task. He 

 thinks that after all an artificial system will be requisite, that 

 is, if we understand him aright. The terms Monocotyledons, 

 Achlamyds, Monochlamyds, together with " omne quod exit in 

 -gens," Cyclogens, Spermogens, Gymnogens, with the still more 

 ambitious, learned-like terms Acrobrya, Anophyta, Hysterophyta, 

 PeristamineEe, etc., quas nunc preescribere tcedmm est, are appa- 

 rently abandoned. 



From our present imperfect knowledge of our author^s book, 

 it is suspected that the key to the principles on which his system 

 is founded, is in the terms structur(2 norma and evolutionis gra- 

 dus, or in plain English, in the structure and development of the 

 species. But those who are interested in the matter will doubt- 

 less study the system for themselves. 



We will give the subject our earnest attention, and we hope 

 to be able to lay before our readers such an outline of the prin- 

 ciples and details of the system as will help them to understand 

 what it is, and to judge of the merits of the work. This effort 

 to establish the science of botany on a sound foundation is a 

 noble attempt in the right direction. Other and probably 

 younger men will have to labour for its completion. 



BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. 



Dr. George Lawson. 



We have mucli pleasure in aiding the circulation of the following infor- 

 mation. Many of our readers know the gentleman personally, all of tliem 

 know him by name and report. The testimonial is as honourable to the 

 donors as to the receiver. Our space will not admit of the eloquent ad- 

 dresses which were delivered on the occasion : — 



" Professor Balfour then presented to Dr. Lawson a handsome silver 

 salver, Avith this inscription : — ' Presented to Dr. George Lawson (along 

 with a piu'se of .sovereigns), on the occasion of his departure fi-om Britain 

 to fUl the chau- of Chemistry and Natural History in Queen's College, 

 Kingston, Canada, by some of his friends, who desire thus to testify their 

 regard and esteem for him, and their appreciation of the services he has 

 rendered to science in Edinburgh. August 5, 1858.' " 



