. . HISTORY OF BOTANY. 57 



public establishment of this kind, was inade at the nniversity of Padua, 

 in 1540. This public example set in lialy — an example so evidently use- 

 ful to physicians and natural philosophers, was imitated before the close 

 of the sixteenth century by medical gardens at Zurich, Tvriiii and 

 Montpellicr. In this manner the science of botany now became a re- 

 gular academical study. 



During the latter half of the sixteenth century, its novelty and 

 pleasantness gained it several lovers in most of the Southern countries 

 of Europe. Colleftions were made, plants described, voyages of natural 

 discoveries in other parts of the world undertaken, and the charms of 

 Flora created an enthusiasm, which bade defiance to all dangers and dif- 

 ficulties. Mr. Wi ELAND, born at Koenigsbergy in Prussia, wlio after- 

 wards assumed the name of Guilandinus in Italy, made a voyage 

 into Asia and Africa, under the proteflion of a rich patrician at Venice; 

 but on his succeeding voyage to America lie was captured by a Bar- 

 barian pirate, and carried a slave to Algiers. A lover and professor 

 of a science to which be afterwards fell a martyr, Fallopio, pro- 

 fessor of Botany at Padua, generously paid his ransom. Guilandi- 

 nus became the successor of his deliverer in his professorship, and 

 died at Padua in 1589. 



Prosper Alpinus, a Venetian, who a few years after succeedexl 

 Guilandinus as professor, became equally eminent for his zeal in 

 botany and natural history. He made a voyage to Egypt, as physician 

 to the Consul of the Republic, and brought back with him several 

 learned productions* j he died in the year 1617. One of the first and 



* Dc Plantis ^Egypti, Venet. 1592, quarto,-~De plantis Exoticis, Libr. II, Venet 1627,' 

 quarto. — Historial Naturalis i^^gyptiorura Lib. IV. Lejdiny 1735, quarto. 



J most 



