Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London - University Library

LIKNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 29
that the derelopment of the natural system proceeded more
rapidly in France, where the Linuean system gained but little
hold, than in Holland, Germany, or England, where it became
firmly established. Linnaeus fully recognised this, and ascribed it
to the greater facility offered by artificial methods for the determination
of plants. '• Some botanists," he says, " would rather read
a book in which the plants are arranged alphabetically, than one
in which they are arranged according to their characters." " I
almost believe," he adds, " that the mind of the botanist is disposed
towards some one system from the outset ; nence it is perhaps
desirable that the beginner should be made acquainted with all
the systems so that this stuff might be got rid of once for all "
(' Classes Plantarum,' Praefatio).
The sway, amounting almost to sovereignty, that Linnteus
acquired in the realm of Natural History could not, however, have
been due to his intellectual qualities alone. Great as these were,
they would have failed to effect that Reformation of which I have
spoken, had they not been reinforced by a capacity for inspiring
to enthusiasm all who came under his influence. That he possessed
this crowning gift in a remarkable degi'ee is the only possible
interpretation of the outburst of activity in Natural History that
followed upon his teaching. Out of the crowds of students who
attended his lectures, many became teachers themselves, and not a
few travelled far and wide in the Old World and the New in
quest of animals and plants. Nor was it exercised only on his
pupils ; it affected the teaching, the botanical teaching at any rate,
throughout Europe, the most distinguished contemporary botanists
avowing themselves his disciples.
Such being the man and his work, it is not surprising— quite
apart from the special circumstauces of the case—that our Society
should have been called after his name. And we, the Fellows of
to-day, may well be proud, as were the Fellows of 1802, to be
thus associated with so great a figure and so momentous an epoch
in the history of the sciences that we cultivate.
It is impossible to recall these great days of old without being
reminded of the great days within our own experience. If our
Society is a living monument to the Reformation brought about by
Linnaeus, it was also directly concerned in the Revolution wrought
a century later by Darwin. This is not the time to draw a parallel
between these two great naturalists ; it will suflice to say that,
however different in other respects, they both laboured, and
laboured triumphantly, to the limit of life and strength, in the
cause of Natural History, and both alike have the strongest claim
upon our veneration and our gratitude.
I have now exhausted my theme, and were this not an especially
memorable occasion for me, I might well bring my address at
once to a close. As it is, I cannot forbear a few words by way
of epilogue. Once more I would express my profound appreciation
of the confidence that raised me to this high and responsible
office, and has maintained me therein during all these years.