4 * 
INTRODUCTION. 
It would feem as if thefe laft had no connexion with, or relation to 
the former ; but thus far the natural and artificial methods agree, for 
thefe Clafles in both, with the intervention of this, properly follow one 
another ; and nature never lofes the connection. 
It is true there is no connection between the four Clafles of Plants, 
whofe general Flower is compofed of many aflembled Florets, and the 
Clafs of umbelliferous or umbrella’d Plants ; but this is placed be- 
tween them. This gives that connection which they want with one 
another, and with this, they regularly conftitute fix fucceeding arrange- 
ments of Plants ; each truly feparate in its character, yet all united by 
their plain relation. 
This is not a place for entering at large upon the courfe of nature 
in the Vegetable chain ; that will be fhevvn when we fhall come to the 
detail of Plants in our natural method j in which there will be no dif- 
tinCtion of Series or Order, Clafs or Genus, but every Plant will fol- 
low that which it next exceeds in fome mark of certainty. The two 
methods are, and muft be, diflinCt in their manner, as they are in their 
purpofe ; here we feek to know Plants ; there we fhall fludy, being 
known, to arrange them ; here we are to feek general diftinCtions, there 
we are to obliterate them : we can only know things by diftinCtion ; we 
can only underftand them by connection. The marks of Clafles and of 
Genera, are arbitrary and artificial ; nature knows no difference but of 
Species, from Species. Thefe diftinCtions are vague and temporary, 
but her connections certain and eternal. 
Two Genera differ by fome arbitrary character, and it is by this dis- 
tinction that we know the Plants which belong to each; but when we 
know them we can place them better; for we may then find natural 
relations eafily, and we fhall certainly give them the preference to arti- 
ficial Characters. Thefe doCtrines, ftrange to the minds of many who 
are filled with modern fyftems, it may be needful to explain by inftances. 
The great Swede obferves, that in many Plants the Chives cohere 
lengthwile, fo as to form a tube; he makes this the character of an 
artificial Clafs : this Character is found in Plants the molt unlike in 
nature : 
