HISTORY OF BOTANY. 
293 
blance of leaves in their forms and situations ; but the most im • 
portant distinctions he considered as founded upon the organs 
of fructification. 
Among other botanists we would notice L. C. Richard, who 
wrote in French an interesting account of the Orchidete of Eu- 
rope, and assisted in compiling from ancient works a very use- 
ful botanical dictionary. 
Des Fontaines first shewed that the stems of monocotyledon- 
ous and of dicotyledonous plants, differ from each other in their 
structure, and modes of growth ; he divided them into endogenous , 
growing inwardly, as the palms ; and exogenous , growing out- 
wardly as the oak. 
France is distinguished for the number and accuracy of its 
naturalists. Mirbel, a distinguished professor of botany in Pa- 
ris, has pursued his inquiries into the anatomical structure, and 
the physical operations of plants, to an extent not exceeded by 
any other philosopher. The Baron Humboldt spent five years 
in investigating the vegetable productions of the equatorial re- 
gions in America, and his remarks on vegetables, as a criterion 
of climate, are original and interesting. 
Josephine the first wife of Napoleon was distinguished for 
her fondness for this study ; other ladies of distinction stimula- 
ted by her example, cultivated plants with reference to scienti- 
fic observations. 
De Candolle is the author of a work called a Elementary Theory 
of Botany ” ; this is highly valued as a scientific and able per- 
formance ; but it is useful rather for those who have already at- 
tained a knowledge of the elements of botany, than for the be- 
ginner in the science. 
In turning from Europe to our own country, we find the state 
of literature highly flourishing, and a taste for the natural 
sciences, universally diffused. The names of many of our na- 
turalists stand high in Europe, as well as in their own country. 
Among these are Silliman, who established the first scientific 
journal,* and encouraged others to pursue the course of investi- 
gation which he himself has followed so successfully ; and Ea- 
ton, who has indefatigably labored to bring science within the 
reach of every inquirer, by divesting it of the dress of foreign 
languages, and the parade of learning ; not only rendering the 
labors of others of more general utility, but adding to the com- 
mon stock, the result of years of inquiry and observation. 
To go back to the infancy of science in the United States, we 
find the name of Bartram stands recorded in history, as that of 
* Except the Mineralogical Journal of Bruce which ceased after the ap- 
pearance of a few numbers. 
French Naturalists — American. 
25 * 
