LINNEAN ANNALS.

fatigable travellers and naturalists, and largest contributors to the Linnæan Society.

Extract from the Communication of Dr. FELIX PAS-We find his extensive collection of human CALIS, President of the Linnæan Society, at the sitting, Wednesday 23d November, 1825. THE Linnæan Society is a Cosmopolitan institution; the task of the members is not

defined by limits of time or district, in this

or other continents; their numerous scientific connexions oftener require the labours of the closet than those of a public hall; they receive liberally from foreign associates, who never exhaust their abundant stock, and they distribute all that can be obtained, without impoverishing themselves. An accrued interest of honour and merit is

skulls to prove the degeneration of man kind of Makoia! Lalande was the accufrom the Asiatic race down to the brute

rate observer of no less than 13400 animated beings.

The Abbé Correa de Serra comes next, sador from his sovereign, the king of Portuwhom we have seen among us as an ambas

gal, and as an associate of our literary institutions. Cuvier has praised his great skill and judgment in those lines which he drew between all genera and species of organized beings; and Sir J. Ed. Smyth, president of the London Linnean Society, honoured his name by conveying it to a family of plants of the Octandria Monogynia, now called the Correas.

secured to them, with an incontestable right of dominion in nature, and with the intellectual possession of its treasures, whether these are hidden in the bosom of the earth, or incessantly reproduced by the providential laws governing the animated and vege-dent of the British Missionary Establishment The celebrated Th. Ed. Bowdich, presi

table creation.

To the valuable collection of the Parisian Annals, succeeding numbers have been added, which contain new accessions to

in Africa, adorns our necrologic catalogue. He was one of the most successful explorators of the nation of the Ashantees princi

Botany, and to its Physiology, to Horticul-pally; which he proved, by their existing ture, Enthomology, and Zoology.

The number of May last, commencing volume IV, presents us with a necrologic biography of eleven deceased Linnæan members, during the years 1823 and '24. Thus the works and scientific discoveries of our colleagues are laid up for posterity, and intermingled with the history of their attainments and virtues. Edward Jenner is at the head of this catalogue. Notwithstanding the doubts and incertitudes which

of late years have arisen against the efficacy of his admirable process, I am happy to remark, that another Linnæan member has vindicated it by defining to what quality of the variolic virus, and to what degree of that | disease the prophylactic power of the vaccine is applicable; that is, to the virus of the artificial small-pox only, and to the form of the epidemic small-pox, which it changes from a very mortal disease into a benign varioloid. Thus is the Jennerian process equally important and beneficial as it was thought to be at the period of its universal adoption.*

We have also in the Annals, the life of the celebrated Lalande, one of the most inde

Vide Med, and Phys. Jour. of N. York, No. 14.

manners and customs, to be most probably descendants from ancient Egyptians and Abyssinians. Bowdich terminated his short career last year, a victim of the infecting exhalations of that climate, while he was preparing a second inland expedition from the Cape-Coast Castle, at the age of 30 years. He left twenty different works, documents of useful knowledge, far more than a short life could seem sufficient to accomplish.

It is not necessary to notice other characters in the list. They all had acquitted themselves, and discharged a debt which men gifted with extraordinary talents owe to their fellow-creatures. Their memory has remained to us, and will hereafter, as an incentive of emulation to those who can

aspire to their worth, to their usefulness, and to their fame!

The foreign correspondence has, since last spring, put the Linnean Society in possession of many valuable books and encouraging testimonials of respect from learned institutions. Two respectable volumes are recommended to your attention: one is from the Linnean Society of the department of Calvados, at Caen in Normandy, through Mons. De Longchamp, their president, and Mons. Edward Louvet, one of our corres

ponding associates, who now resides in this | ly delineated, to the number of 76, and city, and edits the French Journal called which have varied in different years or seaLe Reveil: the other from the Royal Aca-sons, not only on the above mentioned plant, demy of Sciences at Nancy, transmitted but on the Linaria vulgaris, on the Phlecalso by a Linnæan member, the Chevalier thrantus fructicosus, and others. This acaLouis Valentin, M.D. who has long resided demic exercise teaches us with what cauand practised medicine in our States. In tion botanists must observe and ascertain both volumes, a considerable space is filled the true characters of plants, lest they with subjects of Natural History in every should erroneously admit new individuals department of it, well worthy the attention of the masters and adepts in that science. A correspondence is already opened with

or varieties, which are perhaps nothing but peloria or fortuitous monstrosities. Communications from several of the mem

Errata.

In the last No two mistakes occurred in the state

For the best small coloured paintings," read "the best three coloured paintings."

For obtained by young ladies only," read "young ladies are permitted to contend for all the premiums."

the lovers of Natural History in the inde-bers present will be given in the next No. pendent governments of South America, Mexico, Colombia, and Peru. From the first your president has already been pledgment of premiums: ed for future valuable specimens and observations. He has also the pleasure of introducing the writer of a letter, Dr. Juan Maria Cespedes, the Professor of Botany at Bogota, and keeper of the National Garden, New-York Literary Gazette. who with the juice of a wild but precious berry from the plant Cestrum Tinctoria, expresses his desire of fellowship in the follow-weeks ago, Mr. Cole, a young man from ing words: Philadelphia, came to this city, and placed "This happy era of the final accomplish- three landscapes in the bands of a picturement of our independence offers the best op-dealer for sale. They remained for some portunity for union and brotherhood with time unnoticed, until Col. Trumbull calling you and your fellow-citizens; under the happy effects of which, we can exchange those interesting natural productions that a kind Providence has spread over our soils."

(The president then exhibited the seeds of the above plant, with various known fruits, resins, &c. and a remarkable lump of pure wax obtained from the palm-tree, Ceroxylon Andicola, growing to the height of 160 feet! Professor Cespedes promises and announces a new botanical work, &c.)

Another American Genius.-Six or seven

He immediately

at the dealer's room on business, cast his eye upon one of them, and immediately inquired "Whence came this?" He was told in reply, that it was the work of an untaught and unknown young man. purchased the picture, and expressed the warmest admiration of the genius that executed it. The Col. mentioned his purchase to another artist, who upon the first glance at the picture was equally delighted, and forthwith purchased one of those that reA novel subject in Botany, and which mained. This he carried to Col. Trumbull's since Linnæus, had never been attended rooms, where two of our eminent artists to, is that of the peloria or deformities and were with the Col. These gentlemen also monstrosities of plants. In a dissertation awere instantly struck with admiration of the mong his Amanitates Academicæ, he had pictures, and one of them purchased the thus stated why the plant Antirrhinum vul-third. The four left their cards for Mr. garis presented so many varied, altered, and mutilated parts or forms of its flowers. The labours of Julius F. C. Ratzburg, of Prussia, have been carried still further. He has discovered that many more families of plants Thus we have one more name to add to were subject to such peloria or deformities. the illustrious list (for such it is) of AmeriHis Latin dissertation submitted to the Uni- can painters. The frank and cordial manversity of Berlin, is a well detailed exposi- ner in which Col. T. and his associates weltion of a great number of nævi materni which comed this stranger, confirms an opinion he has found in other plants, and accurate-that we have long held, that in their profes

Cole, who with the modesty generally attendant on genius in its first efforts, had not sought a personal acquaintance with any of our distinguished artists or amateurs.

sion there is a generous and manly emula-Troy, his brains got out of order, much to tion which "noble ends by noble means the regret of a flock of sheep. Now a fool obtains," and which is so free from envy and has no brains to become disordered-ergo, selfishness, that rivals in other professions Ajax was no fool! should blush for the insincerity, the coldness, and the ill-will which they indulge towards one another.

IDLE HOURS.

A chain of unequal links. ST. JEROME Supposes the Adonis of the Grecian mythology to be the same as the Tammuz or hidden one' mentioned in Ezekiel, viii. 4, for whom the prophet saw the women weeping in the temple.

*

*

*

*

The godlike, the lauded, the magnanimous Brutus, he who rose

"Refulgent from the stroke of Cæsar's fate," has never appeared to us in any other light than that of a base, ungrateful and sanguinary monster. Grant that his vaunted love of Rome induced him to consent to the death of his noble benefactor and confiding friend, what need was there for the beloved Brutus to strike the last blow, after Casca and Cassius and Cinna had already plunged their daggers into Cæsar's breast. If no How merciless Shakspeare is towards the man in all Rome could have been found old Greek heroes! He makes Ajax a foolish sufficiently audacious to strike the blow, bully, and Achilles a downright liar. The except Brutus, then it might have been an valour of the son of Thetis is no great matter act of high magnanimity in him to sacrifice even in the strain of old Homer, and in slay his private feeling to the public weal; at ing the pride of Troy, his only merit consist- least there would have been a better exed in wearying his antagonist, till he could cuse for his unexampled ingratitude. As take advantage of his fatigue to strike him things were, it was an act of unnecessary, down; for being vulnerable only in the heel, wanton, and outrageous cruelty; prompted there was no great chivalry in his courage, by vanity and ambition, with which patriparticularly as the xogudaλos Hector was otism had just as much concern as it had not the man to cut at the heel. But Shak- with Cataline's conspiracy. And this is the speare absolutely libels the godlike Achilles; man whom history has loudly proclaimed a he makes him guilty of subornation of per-demi-god, and for whom fame has culled jury. He goes round the field with his myr-the choicest flowers in her garden! This is midons, finds Hector unarmed, commands the patriot whom we are taught to admire them to dispatch him, and then (although he—this is the model we are advised to imihimself had not moved a finger) gives his tate! When will the world learn to see orders

On, myrmidons, and cry you all amain, Achilles hath the mighty Hector slain!"' Now if Shakspeare had not put this fib in the mouth of Achilles, he might have left us to explain his conduct with regard to Hector's death, without disparagement to his character; for, as he was invulnerable, fear could not prevent him from fighting Hector in person, and as his aim was revenge against the Trojan, he would conclude very correctly that it would more embitter the dying hour of the gallant Hector, to fall by the hands of vile slaves than by the sword of the renowned Achilles.

things and actions in their true light! As Doctor Johnson is dead, we may venture a dull pun on this subject, which is pardonable on account of its truth; if every man were a Brutus, all men would be brutes. For the love of mercy, let no one suppose that we lay claim to originality in a pun which, for aught we know, may be as old as a miser's in-door coat; we use it, as we use the old pen with which we are now scribbling, because our knife is too dull to make it better, so our wit is too dull to make a better pun, and we have not as yet bought a hone, whereon we might sharpen either knife or wit. We are thus particularly

Old Homer's Ajax, too, was a plain, bluff modest, because some of our exquisitely soldier, but he was no fool-he knew how to loving friends are on the watch to catch use his tongue to some purpose, as the scold- us tripping, that they may apply a little ing he gives to Idomeneus (Book 23,) satis-wholesome correction to our wayward and factorily proves. Besides, after the sack of wilful behaviour; but we give fair warning,