HISTORY OF BOTANY. 
6 9 
This was Sebastian Vai leant, a Frenchman, born at Vigny in 
Isle de France, in 1669. ' His poverty made him apply rather late to hi 
favourite study. He first w?s an organist, then a surgeon, and after- 
wards secretary to Fagon, first physician to Louis XIV. He learned 
a great deal of this man, made his fortune through him, being ap- 
pointed demonstrator of the plants in the royal botanical garden at Fans, 
under Anthony de Jussieu, professor of botany, whom he soon after 
excelled by his superior talents and merits. Vai ll ant died at Paris in 
1722. He only published two small pamphlets in which he did not en- 
compass with peculiar judgment the whole reign of botany, although 
he displayed many new and original observations in them. Ltuttstus 
stood much indebted to his ingenuity and observations upon the inter- 
nal structure of plants and their sexes, and always remained his wannest 
defender. “ I own,” says Linnaus, in a letter to Baron Haller, 
“ that I never read an author more accurate than Vaillant, nor one 
« who invented more novelty in botany, laboured more, and obtained 
« less reward than him *. 
Tourn efort was and remained the prince of botany; but upon 
nearer investigation there were many imperfections and flaws lound 
his system. Soon after him many articles of his were changed, new 
names and new classes introduced, and fresh methods planned. • But 
those who embarked in such enterprises were men not half so inge- 
nious nor half so penetrating as Tourneeorv. The botamca com- 
monwealth was threatened with fresh barbarism and ravages, had not a 
different legislation broughtabout a total reform. 
. tc™ fateor, «K «olta» legist., ,»i V.ttt.RT.o accurate fait, ,»i flura nova 
invenitTn bvt.tL, P>»« “»"**. l”** F — 1 
