C $3 ) 
from a fancied refembiancc in imaginary vir- 
tues. Much ufeful knowledge has been loft to 
the world, almoft all the medicines, and many 
of the arts of the ancients, we are now igno- 
rant of, from their deficiency in the know- 
ledge of Botany. 
But, notwithftanding this deficiency in ar- 
rangement, we muft not overlook the merits 
of the old writers on this agreeable fcience ; 
to our own countrymen, Dr. Grew and Ger- 
rard, we ought to be particularly grateful. 
Dr. Grew made his inveftigations with an eye 
fo penetrating and accurate, that much in- 
formation may be found in his book on the 
anatomy of plants, particularly in the philofo- 
phical part of Botany; befides, it is pleafing 
to obferve the coincidence of his opinions 
with thofe of Linneus, in regard to the ufe 
of the parts of fruclifi cation. Gerrard's de- 
fer! ptions are full and ftr'ong, and his lan- 
guage amufing ; but, from want of arrange- 
ment, the ftudent is bewildered, when he 
looks for a plant in his Herbal. The various 
lyftems of modern botanifts have defervedly 
had their partifans; but it now feems gene- 
rally allowed, that the works of Linneus are 
beft calculated to enable us to attain a know- 
• E 3 ledge 
