HISTORY OF BOTANY. 
295 
other work of the kind. In all the books which we have enu- 
merated, none nave been designed as a full and connected 
course of botanical study. The publication of our present 
course of instruction, may perhaps, remove some obstacles which 
have hitherto impeded the progress of botanical information, 
particularly in schools and among our own sex. From some 
examples in our own class we see, that even children may be- 
come botanists, and lay aside their toys to divert themselves by 
distinguishing the organs of plants and tracing out their classi- 
fication. A few years since, the science of Botany was confin- 
ed almost wholly to those of the medical profession, now it is 
within the reach of all who can read the English language, and 
few indeed are the natives of our republic who are destitute of 
this qualification. 
Of all sciences, perhaps no one is settled on a firmer founda- 
tion than that of botany ; the improvements of future years, 
we are not able to anticipate; but it is probably that as disco- 
veries and improvements are made, they will cluster around the 
principles already established ; each taking its proper place in 
the various departments now arranged for the reception of sci- 
entific truths. 
The spirit of our government is highly favorable to the pro- 
motion and dissemination of knowledge, and although Europe 
may boast of more brilliant stars than appear in our firmament 
of letters, shining with greater lustre, contrasted with the dark- 
ness and ignorance by which they are surrounded ; we may 
justly feel a national pride in that more general diffusion of in- 
tellectual light, which is radiating from every part, and to every 
part of the American republic. 
LECTURE XL VI I. 
general view of nature. 
Organized and Inorganized Bodies — Classification of 
Animals. 
Having considered the vegetable kingdom under its various 
aspects, it may be proper, before closing our course of botanical 
study, to take a general view of that external world of matter, 
of which the part we have examined, extended and diversified 
as it is, constitutes but a very small portion. The science you 
Study of botany within the reach of all. Definition of nature. — 
