50 MEMOIRS OF 



world. To be able to mark the differences of 

 one being from another is the foundation of this 

 science ; the great number of these beings ne- 

 cessitates classification, in order to assist the 

 memory, and facilitate a perfect comprehension 

 of their nature and properties, and the part they 

 perform in creation. To Aristotle belongs the 

 honour of the first epoch, by having invented 

 the true method, that alone which can be per- 

 manent, as it is founded upon organisation, and 

 is the result of personal observation. The 

 writers after him, till the northern barbarians 

 for a time buried all letters in obscurity, con- 

 tented themselves with copying what he had 

 done from one work into another, and by no 

 means followed his example of seeing and judg- 

 ing for themselves. During the middle ages, 

 now and then an enlightened monk, for a mo- 

 ment, threw a glimmering light over some 

 branch of animated nature, and the first revival 

 of learning presents us with many able efforts in 

 tliis department of science. At length Linnaeus 

 appeared, and formed the second era. He as- 

 sembled all known living beings together, and 

 classed them according to the mass which he 

 thus brought before him, selecting one or two 

 individual characters as the foundation of his 



