xxviii 



LINN JEAN SYSTEM. 



works on Greek pliilosopliy in Latin, because those who cared 

 for it would prefer his work in Greek, and those who did not 

 would read it neither in Greek nor Latin. Cicero, however, fortu- 

 nately did not follow this advice, and the splendid success of his 

 works, De Natura Deorum, De Officiis, &c, showed that his friends 

 were wrong: he persevered in the popular style, and led the 

 fashion, as BufFon and our own White did in Natural History. 

 The writers of dry methodical books, indeed, console themselves, 

 like bad poets, with the dream,- that their writings are appre- 

 ciated by the chosen few ; but while it may be admitted that they 

 know the subject on which they write, it is clear they want talent 

 for communicating their knowledge. 



It is pitiful to hear the querulous tone in which the manufac- 

 turers of words and systems complain of their " legitimate" pro- 

 ductions, as they call them, being " unworthily neglected," and 

 " left to languish and decay ;" " because the grown-up public are 

 satisfied with infants' food in the shape of cheap compilations, 

 crude translations, ivonders of the insect world, &c. &c, with such 

 like amusing trifles, fit only for children." * This may be taken, 

 indeed, as the creed of each and every systematist, who looks 

 upon details of the wonders and wisdom displayed in creation as 

 amusing trifles, fit only for children, while the " legitimate 

 science" of names, grouping, and affinities, is fit to " reflect honour 

 upon any age and country." I, on the contrary, claim no merit 

 for looking upon this so-called " legitimate science" as far below 

 the level even of an amusing trifle ; since to every rational reader, 

 not infected with the mania for this sort of frippery, arrogantly 

 and falsely called science, it must appear in the same light. 

 Pitying the dry drudgery of the authors who have spent their 

 hours in thus nibbling down nature to their own narrow measure- 

 ments, and laying their works on the shelf, where they are 

 destined to remain unopened, I bid them a long farewell, and 

 hurrying " forth," as Solomon did of old, " to the field," I can 

 revel with 4 6 ever new delight" in 



" The boundless store 

 Which bounteous Nature to her vot'ries yields ; 



* Mag. of Nat. Hist. iv. 273. 



