ON THE NATURAL SYSTEM. xl'li'l 



been so analysed, of mathematical demonstration. It would be pre- 

 sumptuous in one, whose knowledge of Botany is very limited, to say 

 how far Mr. Fries has succeeded in demonstrating his second propo- 

 sition ; but I may venture to express an opinion that, in the genera 

 Phan&us and Scarabaus, Mr. Macleay has established it most com- 

 pletely. 



The promulgation of a theory so novel, and so calculated to destroy 

 all received opinions on natural arrangement, gave rise, as might be 

 expected, to much difference of sentiment, particularly among the 

 Naturalists of Britain. Nearly all those whose writings had placed 

 them in the foremost ranks, and who had long viewed the systems 

 of the day as mere helps to the memory, admitted, either wholly or 

 in part, the correctness of Mr. Macleay's views. Others, however, 

 have rejected all such ideas on circular affinities or definite divisions ; 

 but hitherto these objections have only been supported by partial 

 or abstract reasoning. 



Twelve years have now elapsed since the publication of the Horce 

 Entomologies. During this period, some of the most zealous disciples 

 of its author have applied the theory of their master to various depart- 

 ments of Zoology, with different degrees of success. A great insight 

 has thus been gained into several natural groups ; and, in many cases, 

 their systems have made a much more correct approximation to what 

 we see in Nature, than did those of their predecessors. But, without 

 detracting from the just merit of these attempts, we must not be blind 

 to the fact, that they exhibit nothing more than the mere application 

 of a theory; without bringing to light, or without even attempting the 

 discovery, of a single new principle in natural arrangement. The 

 track which had been marked out in the Horce, Entomologies has in 

 no one instance been intentionally deviated from ; and during this 

 long period not the slightest discovery in the general laws of creation 

 has been effected. 



I have thus shown in what respect the philosophy of Zoology has 

 remained stationary ; but it might even be said to have retrograded. 

 One of the great characteristics, apparent in every page of the Horce 



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