HISTORY OF BOTANY. 
species. Before that time the species, instead of being thus desig- 
nated, required in some cases a whole sentence to express the name. 
But what most tended to render the works of Linnceus popular, 
was his artificial system, in which he had made the stamens and 
pistils subservient to a most simple and clear arrangement; he re- 
marked the different insertion of the stamens ; their union by means 
of their filaments had been before observed^ but he employed them in a 
manner entirely original. 
This " Northern LigJit,''^ as he has sometimes been termed, con- 
tributed to the progress of physiology both by his own discoveries, 
and by improving upon the suggestions of those who had gone be- 
fore him. In the details of science, he was no less accurate than 
bold and comprehensive in his general view^s. The world knew not 
which to admire the most, the multiplicity, the novelty, or the pro- 
found views of this modern Aristotle. His school became the resort 
of men of science from all Europe ; and he seemed to have acquired 
that influence over the human mind, which had been peculiar to the 
ancient philosophers of Greece. The defects of this great man, 
for human nature is never without its imperfections, were, that he 
sometimes carried too far a favourite idea; endowed with a brilliant 
imagination, he was at times somewhat blinded by the beauty of 
his conceptions, and strove to reconcile nature to the visions of his 
own fancy. ^ 
We have, in our investigations of the artificial system, occasion- 
ally pointed out some imperfections, particularly in the separation 
of natural families ; but no means of remedying these have yet been, 
found, and after the lapse of near a century, with the exception of a 
few alterations, we still receive this system as left by its author. 
Linnseus died in 1778 ; he is honoured among the scientific by a 
title far more proud that any hereditary distinctions, that of " Prince 
of Naturalists.^^ The most important works of this great man are, 
Philosophy of Botany," " Genera and Species of Plants," " System 
of Nature," and " Flowers of Sweden, Lapland," &c. TheLinnesa 
borealis was dedicated to him by Gronovius. Ten years after his 
death, a society, distinguished by his name, was founded in London ; 
this is now in possession of his library, herbariums, collections of 
insects and shells, with numerous manuscripts. Sir James Edward 
Smith was the founder of this society, and its first, and only presi- 
dent until his death, which has recently occurred. He translated the 
writings of Linnaeus, and illustrated them by his own comments. 
The study of plants, after the discoveries and classifications of 
Linnseus, became, in a degree, general. The knowledge of vegeta- 
ble physiology began to be usefully applied to agriculture. Duhamel, 
of France, very successfully laboured to exhibit the connexion be- 
tween the science of Botany and the cultivation of plants. Bossuet, 
of Geneva, proved by experiments that the va^idar system of plants 
is tubular and transparent ; and that leaves perform the office of respi- 
ration. 
Grew, of England, had, before this period, ascertained the exist- 
ence of the cambium, and Duhamel afterward proved that it was 
distinct from the sap and proper juices. The latter opposed the 
idea, till then entertained, that earth and water were the only food of 
plants ; he proved that the various solids and fluids diffused in the 
soil and atmosphere, are ah important to vegetation. 
What most rendered his works popular 7— How did he contribute to the progress of 
physiology, &,c. 7— Death of Linnseus— Linnoean Society in London—Botany after thfi 
deaXh of Linnaeus— Duhamel and Gvew. 
