INTRODUCTION. 
LECTURE I. 
IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM,—ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED FROM THE STUDY OF 
BOTANY. 
The universe consists of matter and mind. By the faculties of 
mind with which God has endowed us, we are able to examine into 
the properties of the material objects by which we are surrounded. 
If we had no sciences, nature would present exactly the same phe¬ 
nomena as at present. The heavenly bodies would move with equal 
regularity, and preserve the same relative situations, although no 
system of Astronomy had been formed. The laws of gravity and of 
motion, would operate in the same manner as at present, if we had no 
such science as Natural Philosophy. The affinities of substances for 
each other were the same, before the science of Chemistry existed, 
as they are now. It is an important truth, and one which cannot be 
too much impressed upon the mind in all scientific investigations, 
that no sy stems of man can change the laws and operations of Na¬ 
ture ; though by systems, we are enabled to gain a knowledge of 
these laws and relations. 
The Deity has not only placed before us an almost infinite variety 
of objects, but has given to our minds the power of reducing them 
into classes, so as to form beautiful and regular systems, by which we 
can comprehend, under a few terms, the vast number of individual 
things, which would, otherwise, present to our bewildered minds a 
confused and indiscriminate mass. This power of the mind, so im¬ 
portant in classification, is that of discovering resemblances. We 
perceive two objects, we have an idea of their resemblance, and we 
give a common name to both ; other similar objects are then referred 
to the same class or receive the same name. A child sees a flower 
which he is told is a rose ; he sees another resembling it, and nature 
teaches him to call that also a rose. On this operation of the mind 
depends the power of forming classes or of generalizing. 
Some relations or resemblances are seen at the first glance ; others 
are not discovered until after close examination and reflection; but 
the most perfect classification is not always founded upon the most 
obvious resemblances. A person ignorant of Botany, on beholding 
the profusion of flowers which adorn the face of nature, would dis¬ 
cover general resemblances, and perhaps form in his mind, some 
order of arrangement; but the system of Botany now in use, neg¬ 
lecting the most conspicuous parts of the flower, is founded upon the 
observation of small parts of it, which a common observer might not 
notice. 
System is necessary in every science. It not only assists in the 
acquisition of kno wledge, but enables us to retain what is thus ac¬ 
quired ; and, by the laws of association, to call forth what is treas¬ 
ured up in the storehouse of the mind. System is important not only 
in the grave and elevated departments of science, but is essential in 
the most common concerns and operations of ordinary life. In con¬ 
ducting any kind of business, and in the arrangement of household 
By the faculties of mind we examine the properties of matter—Human science can¬ 
not alter the laws of nature—Power of the mind to form -classes—Classification not 
always founded upon the most striking resemblances, as in Botany—Importance of 
system. 
