APOLOGY. 



Pascitur in vivis livor, post fata quiescit 

 tum suis ex meritis cuique tuetur honos. 





Some apology is certainly necessary, after any endeavour to reform so celebrated and established a System, as the Sexual System of the illus- 

 trious Linn^us. Many alterations in this system have been attempted. The enlightened pupil of Linnaeus, Thunberg, abolished the classes 

 XX. Gynandria, XXI. Monacia, XXII. Di<ecia, and XXIII. Polygamic Gmelin, Professor at Gottingen, to the alterations introduced 

 by Thunberg, ,n publishing a new edition of Linnaeus's Systema Nature, added the abolition of Class XII. Icosandria ; and the no less cele- 

 brated Dr. Smith, preserving the rest of the System entire, has abolished Order V. Monogamia in Class IX. Syngenesia, and Class XIII. Po- 

 lygamic ■ To his Class Polygamic" says Dr. Smith, « many students of tropical plants justly objected in his lifetime, and he, as well as 

 his son, listened to their observations." Dr. Withering, in his Arrangement of British Plants, has followed the system of Gmelin. Pro- 

 fessor Marty*, speaking of the changes introduced by Schreber, in his new edition of Linnaeus's Genera Plantarum, says, that his reduc- 

 tion of Class XX. Gynandria, appears " reasonable," yet the singularity of the Order Diandria surely demanded a separate place to itself. 

 But when he comes to mention the incorporation by Gmelin of the Class Icosandria into the Polyandria, he declares this change to be 

 " abominable." 



I am aware, that venturing to reform in such a degree the Sexual System, as I have done, will bring upon me, with some, much severe 

 reproach. I am conscious, indeed, as well as others, that the credit of the Sexual System of Linnaeus, as an invention, surpasses all power 

 of praise, and hence has found enthusiastic admirers ; and with timid hands I have ventured to take to pieces the superstructure he raised, 

 and build up from the old materials, which I have carefully and religiously preserved, a new ed,p,ce, suited to modern improvement and 

 convenience; hoping, however, that those who may, hereafter, publish the works of Linn^us, will edite the Sexual System as delivered by 

 himself, and not bring forward, in the works said to be those of Linnaeus, what he never either thought or wrote. For a full defence of the 

 Reformed Sexual System vide my « Practical Botany, being a New Illustration of the Genera of Plants, with dissections of each Genus," 

 where this subject has been particularly considered and discussed. 



In a word, as by system is only meant a plan to facilitate the acquirement of the knowledge of plants, the more easy this is contrived 

 to accomplish the proposed end, the better such a system will be accounted; and I have endeavoured so to contrive this, that I hope no longer 

 any very great obstacles can arise in the way of the student, and that this will plead my excuse with a discerning and indulgent public for 

 venturing to step out of the beaten path, to attempt the reformation of a system which has conferred immortal honour upon the inventor, 

 and received the general plaudits and admiration of the learned throughout Europe. It appeared to me more advisable ^ reform the whole,' 

 than to make any partial amendments; either to adopt the system as delivered to us by Linnaeus, or to have the present system, as erected 

 out of the materials of the old ; a system which I hope may not moulder, like the other systems,* into the sand of which they were composed, 

 but resemble the youthful Phosnix arising from the ashes of its parent, or as a rock in the midst of the ocean, may remain until « the wreck 

 of matter and the crush of worlds." 



It is certainly a great satisfaction for me to find, that although the learned and venerable Professor Martyn has long openly disapproved 

 of the changes made in the Sexual System by the several Reformers, yet he writes to me— 



EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO DR. THORNTON, FROM THE REV. M R MARTYN. 

 ' I by no means disapprove of your new attempt to render the Sexual System, by the manner in which you have done it, an easier 

 medium of attaining a knowledge of Plants; and have been long convinced in my own mind, that we strive in vain to unite a natural with 

 an artificial arrangement. Upon your plan, I see no impropriety in bringing the orchibe*. into the Second Class; nor can I even object to 

 your altering, as you have done, the separated classes of Linnaeus, Icosandria and Poltandria. Your method is ably considered through- 

 out; for along with you I hold our great Master's System as sacred, and can never approve of those greater alterations" (he might have said 

 mutilations) " which some of his pupils have made, so differently is to be estimated the conduct of persons engaged in the same object." 

 The Rev. Doctor Milne, the learned author of " A Botanical Dictionary," writes to me— 



EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO DR. THORNTON, FROM THE REV. D" COLIN MILNE. 

 « Your Reformed Scheme of the Linncean System has my entire approbation. It possesses all the admirable and elegant simplicity of 

 that of Rivinus, which has always been a great favourite with me, from the steady adherence of the author to the Principles of his Method 

 and is eminently adapted for practice. Your remarks respecting the Sexual System are truly excellent; your New Illustration admirable." 



Doctor Shaw, of the British Museum, a gentleman not less eminent as a botanist, than a naturalist, declares, » that he believes had 

 Linnaeus been alive, the Reformed Sexual System would be that which he himself would have instantly adopter- 

 Similar are the flattering opinions also of several other distinguished botanists, who have expressed their approval of the Reformed Sexual 

 System. But with extreme diffidence I fubmit it to the judgment of the world. 



• No. les, than 6fty-two system, of Botany have been published, several of :hem of very considerable merit, bnt not practically good, hence most of them are now forgotten. 



