186 



LETTERS ON TREES. 



to me, you may as well dispute any or all of the 

 axioms in Euclid. 



14. For the conclusion of this, let me just take 

 notice of the danger of over-great refinements; of 

 going besides or beyond the plain, obvious, first 

 appearance of things.'' Bishop Butler, from whom 

 I quote, makes this observation with reference to 



religion and morals." But it is equally applicable, 

 I think, to our present subject. And he adds, what 

 seems also pertinent to it : Persons of superior 

 capacity and improvement have often fallen into 

 errors which no one of mere common understanding 

 couW." * No one of mere common understanding, 

 I think, could make, or could well be brought to 

 acquiesce in the distinction which Dr Carpenter 

 draws, — and which he is compelled by his theory to 

 draw, between two potato-plants, or two Willow-trees, 

 or two Elms, raised the one from a seed, the other 

 from a bud ; and in the face of the plain, obvious, 

 first appearance of them, indicating that each one in 

 its kind is in every respect the counterpart of its 

 fellow, to regard the one as a real plant and a true 

 individual being, the other as something altogether 

 different. Such an one, too, would, I think, rather 

 distrust the soundness of the theory which required 

 this distinction at his hands, than admit that the 



* Fifteen Sermons,''^ Serm. Y. 



