iNTRODUCTION. 
16 
The study of nature, in any of her forms, is highly interesting and 
useful. But the heavenly bodies are far distant from us ; — and. were 
they within our reach, are too mighty for us to grasp , our feeble 
minds seem, overwhelmed in the contemplation of their immensity. 
Animals^ though affording the most striking marks of designing 
wisdom, cannot be dissected and examined without painful emotions. 
But the vegetable world offers a boundless field of inquiry, which 
may be explored with the most pure and dehghtful emotions. Here 
the Almighty seems to manifest himself to us, with less of that daz- 
zling sublimity Avhich it is almost painful to behold in His more mag- 
nificent creations 5 and it would seem, that accommodating the 
vegetable world to our capacities of observation. He had especially 
designed it for our investigation and amusement^ as well as our sus- 
tenance and comfort. 
The study of Botany naturally leads to greater love and reverence 
for the Deity. We would not affirm, that it does in realit}^ always 
produce this effect ; for, unhappily, there are some minds which, 
though quick to perceive the beauties of nature, seem blindly to over- 
look Him who spread them forth. They can admire the gifts, while 
they forget the giver. But those who feel in their hearts a love to God, 
and who see in the natural world the workings of His power, can look 
abroad, and adopting the language of a christian poet^ exclaim, 
My father made them alL" 
Division of the Lectures. 
Having endeavoured to convince you that the study you are about 
to commence, is recommended by its own intrinsic utility, and espe- 
cially by its tendency to strengthen the understanding and improve 
the heart, we will now present you with the arrangement which we 
propose to follow. 
We will divide our course of study into Four Parts, viz. : 
Part I. Will be chiefly devoted to teaching the Analysis of Plants^ 
or lessons in Practical Botany. 
Part II. We shall here consider the various organs of the plant, be- 
ginning with the root and ascending to the flower ; this part will 
include what is usually termed Elementary Botany ; it will also 
contain remarks upon the uses of the various organs of plants, 
the nature of vegetable substances, and other circumstances 
connected with Vegetable Physiology. 
Part III. In this part we shall consider the different systems of Bot- 
any. We shall examine some of the most important Natural 
families ; and then proceed to give a detailed view of the Lin- 
ncean System ; remarking upon some of the most interesting gen- 
era and natural famihes found under each class and order. 
Part IV. In this part we shall consider the Progressive appearance 
of Flowers during the season of blossoming ; their various phe- 
nomena produced by the different states of the atmosphere, fight, 
&c. ; and their geographical distribution. After giving a History 
of the progress of botanical science, we shall, in a general view 
of Nature, consider the distinction between organized and unor- 
ganized matter, with their analogies and contrasts. 
Heavenly bodies — Animals — Study of the vegetable world — The study of Botany 
tends to piety. — Division of the subject into four parts — I. Practical Botany — II. Ve- 
getable Physiology— III. Systematic Botany— IV. Various phenomena of Plants, 
History of Botany, and General Views of Nature. 
