102 
ADIANTACEiE. 
ferns, as generally adopted, is artificial. It is, however, with 
great pleasure that I observe some of our authors endeavouring 
to emancipate it from the thraldom thus imposed, and venturing 
an appeal to Nature. Presl, on the continent, has taken the lead 
in this honourable task, and I could wish that his accuracy 
equalled his sagacity ; but there are so many and such striking 
instances of carelessness in his ^ Tentamen Pteridographise,’ 
that the cause of truth and nature will, 1 fear, scarcely reap that 
benefit from his labours which ought to result from the exposi- 
tion of such luminous ideas. In our own country, Mr. John 
Smith, of Kew, has laboured in the same field with no less zeal 
and much more care. From the labours of both these authors 
much greater advantages are to be anticipated than any we have 
yet received. From conversation with Mr. Smith I learn far more 
than from his published works : all his views are characterized 
by a desire to make artificial give way to natural characters, and 
to reject all association of species when not plainly existent in 
Nature ; in fact, to follow Nature rather than to lead her. 
