BOTANY IN TIIE OLDEN TIME 
121 
for considering that both of them came at first out of the same Hand, and 
were therefore the Contrivances of the same Wisdom. I thence fully assured 
myself that it could not be a vain Design to seek it in both.” 
After a long detail of the various processes through which a book had to 
pass, an order was made by which Dr. Nehemiah Grew’s book was duly licensed 
and ordered to be printed by the printer to the Royal Society ; which was done, 
and a copy presented December 7, 1671. Also a presentation was made to the 
Bishop of Chester, “ who was pleased to signifie his acceptance thereof ” by a 
letter dated “ Chester, December 26, 1671.” It would appear that the merit 
of the discovery of the circulation of sap is due to our countryman, and not to 
Malpighi, as is generally supposed, for he says,—“ While I was doing this, I 
received news from London (Grew resided at Coventry) the same day, Decem¬ 
ber 7, 1671,—there was also presented a manuscript (without figures) from 
Seignior Malpighi upon the same subject, dated at Bononia, November 1st, 
1671.” Our worthy author found that “Sigr. Malpighi had procured for his 
book to be translated into Latin for his private use.” Grew had complained 
to the Bishop of Chester of the injustice done to him, for we find that digni¬ 
tary writing, “ it is not Jit that any one should by his Superstructures carry away 
the praise from him who was the first Inventor , and who laid the Foundations 
wherein the greatest difficulty doth consist ,” etc.* 
Having achieved thus much, he continues,—“ I saw that my Journey must 
not here end. So that like one who is got into a Wood, I thought I might as 
fairly find my way out by going on, as by making a retreat. ... I intended 
to have subjoyned the description of those (plants) which are Imperfect , as also 
of Parasitical , Marine, and Sensitive Plants , etc. But these things I leave to 
some other hand.” 
The introduction covers a space of no less than twenty-four pages, and con¬ 
cludes in the following words,—“ If but little should be effected, yet to design 
more can do us no harm. For although a Man shall never be able to hit Stars 
by shooting at them, yet he shall come much nearer to them than another that 
throws at Apples .” 
The illustrations of the work do credit alike to the draughtsman and the 
engraver ; they consist of eighty-three sheets folio. The author thinks it ne¬ 
cessary to make a kind of apology for what would even nowadays be considered 
remarkably good work. “ Some of the Plates , especially those which I did not 
draw to the Engraver s hand, are a little hard and stiff; but they are all well 
enough done to represent what they intend.” It is further remarked, “ All 
the observations conteined in the first Book, except one or two, were made 
with the Naked Eye. To the end that I might first give a proof How far it 
was possible for us to go without the help of Glasses: which many ingenious 
men want; and more the patience to manage them.” What kind of instru¬ 
ments these “ glasses ” were, may be understood from the description given by 
Dr. Hook in his 4 Micrographia,’ mentioned in Mr. Jabez Hogg’s valuable work 
on the Microscope, and alluded to by Dr. Grew ; of their degree of excellence, 
we may judge from these exquisite and elaborate representations,— sections of 
wood, roots, and the anatomy of leaves and flowers. 
The first book is dedicated to “ The Most Illustrious The Royal Society, 
and in their names also proposed to the consideration of other learned men.” 
* That Grew had a definite idea of the circulation of fluids in plants may be gathered from 
Section 32 and elsewhere. “ The Lactiferous vessels are tubulary as the Lymphaeducts, but 
of a somewhat wider Concave or Bore . . . and by this means they are more adapted for the 
free motion of the Milky Content, which being an Oleous or Thicker Liquor than that in the 
Lymphaeducts; and having no advantage of pulsation as the blood hath in Animals ; might 
sometimes be apt to stagnate if the vessels through which it moves were not somewhat 
wider.” 
