438 
MEMOIR OF DR. LINDLEY. 
well adapted for the production of the botanical part of such a work, yet the 
fact of a treatise so much needed having been left to a non-professional writer 
is far from redounding to the credit of British Medicine. But it cannot be 
concealed that this has arisen from the members of the medical profession, 
amongst whom formerly Botany had found its most ardent and able cultivators, 
having fallen under the blighting influence of a system of studying Botany that 
had tended rather to retard than advance its progress; and a few imperfect 
attempts at the description and classification of medicinal plants was all that 
had of late years been produced on the subject of Medical Botany. This work 
is characterised by the author s usual labour and skill; its botanical merits have 
been generally acknowledged, and it will undoubtedly form a work of standard 
reference amongst our pharmacologists. 
In addition to the publications now enumerated, Dr. Lindley is known to be 
the author of many of the volumes and articles published by the Society for 
the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, in their Fenny Cyclopcedia , and other works. 
Although his name is not attached to these, yet their character is such that to 
those acquainted with his other works, there can be no doubt as to their author¬ 
ship. In labouring for the diffusion of a sound knowledge of the principles of 
Botany, Dr. Lindley is an example to many men of science, who are too much 
inclined to disregard the importance of inculcating correct views of science in 
our popular literature, and thus the task of supplying the elements of knowledge 
too often falls into incompetent hands. 
So far we have endeavoured to follow Dr. Lindley through those labours which 
have principally had an influence in introducing to British botanists the study of 
plants according to their natural affinities, and the principles on which such 
study should be established. These, however, are but a part of his scientific 
labours, and but the results of that accurate and extensive knowledge of the 
individual members of the vegetable kingdom, the amount of which has been 
more particularly seen in his works on descriptive Botany. The most important 
of these is his splendid treatise On the Genera and Species of Orchidaceai. The 
illustrations of these plants were from the inimitable pencil of Mr. Bauer, to 
whose genius and talents Dr. Lindley pays a just tribute, in his Natural System , 
at the same time acknowledging the extent to which he was indebted to him, in 
carrying on the publication of this work. 
The Botanical Register , which has now for many years been edited by Dr. 
Lindley, is a monthly Journal containing drawings and descriptions of new 
plants. From its comparatively low price, and the accuracy with which it is 
executed, it is well adapted to supply the wants of the botanist, and amongst 
other works is justly referred to by the celebrated Link as a model of iconography 
worthy the imitation of his countrymen. 
