HISTOKT OF BOTANY. 
229 
of science he was no less accurate than bold and comprehensive 
in his general views. The world knew not which to admire 
most, the multiplicity, the novelty, or the profound views of this 
modern Aristotle. His school became the resort of men of sci- 
ence from all Europe ; and he seemed to have acquired that in- 
fluence 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 favorite 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. 
355. We have, in our investigations of the artificial system, 
occasionally pointed out some imperfections, particularly in the 
separation of natural families ; but though all admit this as a 
defect, no system or method has yet been offered so simple and 
so beautiful as the Artificial System of Linnaeus. This great 
man died in ; he is honored among the scientific by a title 
far more proud than any hereditary distinctions, that of Prince 
of Naturalists P His most important works are, " Philosophy 
of Botany," Genera and Species of Plants," " System of Na- 
ture," and " Flowers of Sweden, Lapland," &c. The Linnma 
'horealis 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, the founder of this society, translated 
the writings of Linnaeus, and illustrated them by his own com- 
ments. 
356. The study of plants after the discoveries and classifica- 
tions of Linnaeus became in a degree general. The knowledge 
of vegetable physiology hegan to be usefully applied to agricul- 
ture. Duhamel of France successfully labored to exhibit 
the connection between the science of Botany and the cultiva- 
tion of plants. Bossiiet of Geneva proved by experiments that 
the vascular system of plants is tubular and transparent / and 
that leaves perform the office of respiration. Grew of England 
had before this period ascertained the existence 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 all important to vegetation. 
357. The observations of Priestley.^ De Saussure., and others, 
355. Death of Linnseus— His works— Linniean Society in London.— 356. Knowledge of Botiny sAm 
«.inna us— Duhamel and Grew.— 357. Priestley. &c. 
