XXXIV PRELIMINARY SKETCH OF THE 



most acute observers. The general character 

 of his works is order, precision, clearness, ex- 

 actitude of description, and an accurate know- 

 ledge of relations in detail. From the depths 

 of obscurity his genius summoned him to the 

 study of nature, and initiated him into her most 

 secret mysteries. He was the first to give form 

 and order to the shapeless chaos in which na- 

 turalists had left the history of nature. He 

 undertook the task of describing all the known 

 productions of his time, and of classifying them 

 according to a simple method, by which they 

 might individually be recognised in case of 

 need. Instead of indulging in a complete de- 

 scription of each being, he was contented to 

 give the most prominent traits the most precise 

 and essential characters. He co-arranged all 

 bodies according to their analogies, that he 

 might thus be enabled to present a clear and 

 intelligible miniature of the three kingdoms of 

 nature. 



It has been usual to extol to the skies the 

 eloquence of certain writers, and sometimes, 

 we apprehend, for the purpose of depreciating 

 Linnaeus in this particular. But the fame of 

 one great man can never be increased by an 

 attempt to depreciate another. In fact, the 

 style of Linnaeus does not form one of the least 



