FORMATION OF SEEDS. 
19 
instruction and prescribed habits of exercise. The exhibition 
of them is, however, novel and interesting, and wonderful in a 
child. 
S. ELLIS. 
London, 
April 14 th, 1813 . 
V. 
On the Formation of the Seeds of Plants , and other Objects, rela- 
tive to their Structure. In a Letter from Mrs, Agnes 
Ibbetson. 
To Mr. Nicholson. 
SIR, 
I HAVE now to announce one of the greatest discoveries I Discovery an* 
have yet made in Phytology 3 one, likely also to approxi- nounce<1, 
mate us so nearly to the true delineation of the general forma- 
tion of the vegetable world, as at last (I flatter myself) to leave 
no doubt in the minds of the most incredulous 3 for, in this 
case, to look is to find, and those who will labour with me, by 
pursuing the same path, and dissecting the same specimens, will 
receive the same gratification, in the conviction of these im- 
portant truths. They require only habit, good eyes, and instru- 
ments, to behold them, and some ability in dissecting, to be 
satisfied of the reality of all I have shewn. To prove the his- 
tory of botany, by means of dissection, is, indeed, a 72 important 
and difficult process 3 as it is only by degrees the whole can be 
developed 3 many mistakes will inevitably occur. But, if the Q eneral f oun , 
general foundation of the arrangement is but acknowledged to dations. 
be just and true, we shall afterwards, by dissection, easily manage 
the minor parts : finishing them alternately in a more perfect 
style, till the whole forms one grand display of nature, orga- 
nized by the power divine, and shewing discriminations and con * 
sistencies, which his arrangements alone can plan 3 his wisdom 
alone can produce. It is to this exactitude of delineation I 
trusted 3 I was well assured, that if I deviated not from what 
C 2 dissection 
