200 
CLASS CRYPTOGAM!A. 
into the natural world we are continually led to exclaim, “ the ways 
of the Almighty are unsearchable, and pas* finding out!” 
After what has been remarked upon the difficulty of analyzing 
these plants, the young pupil will not be likely to expect too much 
from attempts to investigate them. It is well for mankind that there 
are philosophers, whom the enthusiasm of scientific pursuits will lead 
to spend years, even a whole life, in searching into the fructification 
of a moss, or mushroom, or in examining into the natural history of 
a gnat or spider;* as thus, discoveries are continually brought for¬ 
ward, which add to the general stock of knowledge. This is a kind 
of martyrdom in the cause of science, to which but few seem called 
by the powerful impulses of their own minds. Females, in particu¬ 
lar, are not expected to enter into the recesses of the temple of sci¬ 
ence ; it is but of late that they have been encouraged to approach 
even to its portals, and to venture a glance upon the mysteries 
within. 
We have now completed our view of the vegetable wmrld, accord¬ 
ing to the order in which the different tribes of plants have presented 
themselves. As we followed in the train of classification, we have 
endeavoured to notice the most conspicuous genera, and to trace 
their natural relations while considering their artificial arrangement. 
In many cases, departing from the plan of general remarks, we 
have traced the natural history of some one genus, believing this 
method more likely to make a permanent impression, than merely 
general views. In reading the history of nations, we often feel less 
interested in the fate of a whole people, than .in that of some promi¬ 
nent individual; the mind presented with general ideas only, has no 
opportunity of forming images, which are but an aggregate? of par¬ 
ticulars. It is in natural as in civil history,—general remarks upon 
the beauty and utility of the vegetable world, or the curious struc¬ 
ture of plants, make but slight impressions. But by contemplating 
the peculiarities of some one tribe, genus, or species, the mind 
seizes upon something definite, and reason, imagination, and feeling 
are easily awakened ; thus the impression made is permanent. When 
you now look back upon the view you have taken of the vegetable 
world, and consider what impressions are most lively in your minds, 
you will probably find them to be respecting some peculiarities of 
individual plants. Of this tendency of the mind we should avail our¬ 
selves by connecting these particular impressions with facts which 
lead to general principles. Narrow indeed would be our mental 
vision, were it confined to single unconnected observations, laid up 
indiscriminately in the storehouse of thought; but our minds, not by 
our own will, but by a faculty received directly from our Creator, 
instinctively generalize and arrange their mass of single observa¬ 
tions ; and we, with scarcely an effort, perform that operation in 
the world of thought within us, which the great Linnaeus effected in 
the vegetable kingdom. 
* I have been gravely assured by a naturalist of distinction, that the study of spi¬ 
ders is one of the most elegant and delightful of all pursuits. 
Enthusiasm of some naturalists—View of classification completed—Tendency of 
the mind to generalize. 
