A lecture delivered in King's College, London, on Tuesday, the 11th of October, 1831, being introductory to the first botanical course of the session opening the institution / by Gilbert T. Burnett.

  • Burnett, Gilbert T. (Gilbert Thomas), 1800-1835.
Date:
1832
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A lecture delivered in King's College, London, on Tuesday, the 11th of October, 1831, being introductory to the first botanical course of the session opening the institution / by Gilbert T. Burnett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    form, in their respective subordinations, but integral parts of one majestic and harmonious whole. Gentlemen: This bird’s eye view of the vegetable kingdom, which has now been condensed into a single lecture, has of necessity been very brief and general: it was, indeed, intended as nothing more than an index or an outline, a sketch or dia- gram of the several chief departments, that are recognized or easily recognizable by all. But, slight as the notice of the several classes purposely has been, still here our conspective view must cease; for time forbids any further demonstration: nor is it needed, as hereafter each class must be examined separately and in detail; and it is hoped that the object pro- posed has already been attained, viz. to prove by actual illus- trations what “ a varied thing a vegetable is.” Although differing from the usual schemes of introduction, I have thought it advisable thus to begin with a demonstra- tion of plants as they exist; to shew their positive characters, before comparisons are instituted between them and other kingdoms of the organic and inorganic worlds: in fact, first to have materials to compare, before comparative views are taken. Hence, in this first section of our extended course I propose to follow out this plan of demonstrating the special structures, functions, properties, and uses of each succeeding group, from the lowest to the highest grades; before any ge- neral views or comparisons are instituted, even between the varied developments of equivalent organs, as pervading the whole vegetable kingdom; and much before any ai’e made between the different, and often essentially diverse, constitu- tions of the adjacent animal and inorganic reigns. I know that this is not the usual scheme of study, but I am convinced, (and I speak from no slight experience,) I am convinced that its advantages are great, and that it should be occasion- ally pursued. This course will, therefore, be devoted to the special study of plants as the subjects of botany; the next to the general investigation of their attributes, as its objects; and the third, or summer section of the series, to a practical application (es- pecially during the herborizing excursions and demonstrations) of those special and general principles, the theories or philo- sophic views of which have, in the two former portions, been explained. Thus I hope to be enabled to offer to the King’s College students, during each session, a complete course of botanical instruction. The subordinate particulars of this scheme I shall not now attempt more fully to develop: enough has perhaps been already said to shew the route that in this autumn term will be pursued: and further observations on