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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    ears, I am conscious that my feeble voice would scarcely now be heard, my bumble meed be praiseless; and yet I will venture to affirm, that tribute by none would more willingly be given, were the mite but worthy of acceptance. Hence, feel- ing that the best offering I can make, will be a conscientious performance of my duty, I shall turn at once to the busi- ness of the course, and close these prefatory remarks by breath- ing a fervent hope, that the principles you have so lately heard laid down, the advice so ably and so kindly given, will be al- ways, and by all observed; for should any of us, rejoicing in the pride of life, and trusting to our own strength alone, swerve from the strict path of duty, we shall surely fall; fall, perlraps, never to rise again: or, if to rise, arise shorn of our strength, like Sampson from the arms of Delilah. I quit then, as it becomes me, all such general topics, and leave them in far abler hands: by our most reverend diocesan and learned principal, their tenor has already been in part explained: and, computing from the data thence derived, we boldly may foretel that this Institution, founded on the most philanthropic basis, (always referring to that only true philanthropy, the united love of God and man,) supported by the most patriotic zeal, (always distinguishing zeal from zealotry, true patriotism from false parade;) and conducted on the most liberal principles, (always meaning by these terms freedom, not licentiousness, liberality not libertinism,) will confer a blessing on the present generation, and descend to future ages a glorious testimony of the pious care, munificence, and wisdom of its illustrious founders. Who, while engaged in the pleasing task of planting science in this soil, which is fruitful to a proverb, (for what does not London nurture, even to excess, whether of good, to pre-excellence in worth, or of evil, to the contrary sad extremity in crime,) have so fenced round their tree of knowledge, that its branches may not be warped by sophistry, nor its buds blighted to disease by scepticism, hoping thus, by careful culture, to ensure an abundant crop of the fruits of good, not evil; and desiring rather by vigilance to exclude, than by severity to extirpate those defoi’mities which negligence would undoubtedly en- courage and suffer to increase: and who thus have shewn that, whatever others do, they do not dare to pave the I'oad to the tree of knowledge, and neglect the path which leads to the tree of life. Would truth alone dispense, then, indeed, we might rest content with Plato, that “ knowledge were but remembrance.” On the contrary, however, knowledge is often to be made by oblivion; and, to possess a clear and warrantable body of