ON THE VALUE OF PLATES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 
291 
scientific. ones—no extensive museums to refer to—no naturalist at hand to 
solve his doubts—or if he had, would prefer arriving at the truth by his own 
“ healthfully-exercised” exertions. As Mr. Hylands concedes plates to all other 
parties, why not to a student of this character ?—or to any student ? I am not 
here supposing that “ description” is not applied to; but who that has tried it 
but must admit the paucity—nay the utter inadequacy of language to describe 
with nicety and perfect fidelity all the facts that are intended to be conveyed to 
the mind, or that ought so to be. Nay, the very expressions often used have a 
variable meaning, or no determinate one at all, so that no definite image arises 
before the mind, and the student is but too happy if one or two out of the many 
tests offered, prove available. He must trust to guess for the rest:—or something 
really tangible and obvious to the student, is altogether unnoticed by the 
systematic describer. Thus the question becomes one of accuracy and tact in 
tracing the prominent unvarying features in an object, and the felicity of this, 
“ written with the pen of a master,” I at once subscribe to. But where shall 
we find this master-pen visible in portable hand-books such as a young student 
might successfully employ ? The fact is, adjuncts in some shape to mere 
systematic description in the formulae of science must be employed to facilitate 
that knowledge which is not at once to be attained without it; and if a good 
plate effects this, after language has been exhausted in vain, we ought to be 
thankful for the appearance of such an auxiliary, rather than -scorn the employ¬ 
ment of its useful aid, because it may be thought there is “ empiricism” in it. 
Unfortunately, as I have before observed, there is no talismanic power in scientific 
language—on the other hand it is often so obscure that commentary at least is 
absolutely necessary to decypher it. Having Lindley’s Synopsis of the British 
Flora , 2nd Edit., lying on my table, I may just refer to what is there observed 
relative to the genus Ruhus , which will show, I think, the difficulty language 
alone presents even to the most learned professor adequately to effect the object 
intended. “For the long characters formerly employed,” observes the professor, 
“ I have substituted very short ones, it having been found that the former are 
more perplexing by their vagueness than the latter by their brevity ; and I have 
trusted to foot-remarks for helping the student to understand them.” These 
“ foot-remarks” correspond in some degree with engravings, as pointing out 
circumstances in a familiar way, which specific scientific description would not 
legitimately admit, and consequently, as aiding “empiricism,” I fear Mr. Hylands 
would object to. I must candidly confess, however, that even with the aid of 
these “foot-remarks,” so uncertain is the application of language to varying 
particulars, that I could never satisfactorily understand the British Buhi as 
distinguished by Dr. Lindley in his Synopsis , till by the favour of a botanical 
friend I received a series of specimens, named, I was given to understand, by the 
VOL. iv.— no. xxx. 2 Q 
