IT is a Politick or Civil Virtue in every prudent mans Eye, To set himself an example, in what he doth, unto others. And in so doing, he looks upon himself as accountable, in some sort, to all Men. To those therefore, who may either expresly, or tacitly, expect the Reasons, upon which I first undertook the Anatomy of Plants, and also made the after-progress therein; I shall summe them up as follows.

The first occasion of directing my Thoughts this way, was in the Year 1664, upon reading some, of the many and curious Inventions of Learned Men, in the Bodies of Animals. For considering, that both of them came at first out of the same Hand; and were therefore the Contrivances of the same Wisdom: I thence fully assured my self, that it could not be a vain Design; to seek it in both. And being then newly furnished with a good stock of Seeds, in order to raise a Nursery of Plants; I resolved, besides what I first aimed at, to make the utmost use of them for that purpose: that so I might put somewhat upon that side the Leaf which the best Botanicks had left bare and empty. And in which, notwithstanding some other Learned Men had inferred somewhat of this nature; as Dr. Highmore in his Book of Generation, Dr. Sharrock of the Propagation of Plants, and Mr. Hook in his Micrography: yet but collaterally, and whithout shewing any purpose of managing this Part of Natural History. And although it seemed at first an Objection in my way, That the first projectors seldome bring their business to any good end: yet I also knew, That if Men should stay for an Example in every thing; nothing extraordinary would ever be done.

But notwithstanding the reasonableness of the Design; yet I did not forget, that, in respect of the Undertaker, there might be Impar congressus. And therefore, before I had ventured very far, in the Year 1668, I imparted it to my Brother-in-Law, the Learned Dr. Henry Sampson, now Fellow of the Colledge of Physicians in London. Who not only very well liked the same; but also excited me to a vigorous and accurate prosecution of it. Which he did, partly, by mentioning a very pertinent passage of Dr. Glisson, in the Preface to his Book de Hepate,⁠[1] which I had not then read.

Plantæ quoque in hunc censum (sc. Anatomicum) veniunt; variâ enim Partium texturâ, & differentiis constant: & proculdubio, ex acurata earundem dissectione, utiles valde observationes nobis exurgerent: præstaretque in illis (inferioris licet ordinis) rebus examinandis operam impendere, quam in transcribendis ut sæpe sit, aliorum laboribus, inutiliter ætatem transigere. Quippe hoc pacto, ignavarum apum more, aliena duntaxat alvearia expilamus, nihilque bono publico adjicimus.

After I had finished the First Book, that I might know the sense also of other Learned Men, whether the steps I had already taken, would warrant me to proceed any further: I put some part of it into the same Hand; who, in the Year 1670, communicated the same to Mr. Oldenburge, then Secretary to the Royal Society: and after he had read it over, it was, upon his motion, delivered to that excellent Person Dr. John Wilkins then Bishop of Chester; who produced it at a Meeting of the Royal Society, and desired, they might see the rest. Which, or the greatest part, being also presented to them, the Right Honourable the Lord Vicount Brouncker, then President of the Royal Society, was pleased to peruse the same. Presently, after which, at a Meeting of the Council of the said Society, the following Order was made, and entred in their Council-Book with this Date, and in these words:

May 11ᵗʰ 1671.

Then was Licensed Dr. Nehemjah Grew’s Book, Entituled, The Anatomy of Vegetables begun; together with an account of Vegetation grounded thereupon. And Ordered to be Printed by the Printer to the Royal Society.

Hereupon, I was obliged to send the Book to the Press. And upon the 9ᵗʰ of November following in the same Year 1671, when it was near being printed, my Lord Brouncher signed the forementioned Order: the Printer, whose Name was to be inserted therein, not having received his Diploma till that time.

The Book being quickly after printed off; I ordered it to be Presented to the Royal Society; which was accordingly done at one of their Meetings December 7, 1671. And also to be sent to the Bishop of Chester; who was pleased to signifie his acceptance thereof by a Letter dated at Chester, December 26ᵗʰ 1671. now filed amongst others in the Custody of the Royal Society: part whereof, in regard it relates to matter of Fact, I shall here recite.

Sir,

I did yesterday receive your Book; and am very sensible of the Honour you have done me in the Dedication of it. You was very happy in the choice of this Subject to write upon; one of the most Noble and the most Copious parts of Philosophy; and such an one, as hath hitherto lain uncultivated. And you have been very successful in your first Attempt about it, in so many remarkable Observations and Discoveries, as you have made already. I could heartily wish, that you would still apply your self to this kind of Enquiries. You will find that Additionals will come in more copiously and easily. And it is not fit, that any one should, by his Superstructions, carry away the praise from him, who was the first Inventor, and who laid the Foundations, wherein the greatest difficulty doth consist, &c.

Having thus submitted my self to the Judgment of many Learned Men; I saw that my Journey must not here end. So that, like one who is got into a Wood, I thought I might as fairly find my way out, by going on, as by making a retreat. Whereupon, I began to draw up a Scheme of the whole Design.

While I was doing this, I received news from London, that the same day, December 7. 1671, in which my Book, then printed, was presented to the Royal Society: there was also presented a Manuscript (without Figures) from Seignior Malpighi, upon the same Subject; dated at Bononia, November, 1ˢᵗ 1671. the same, which Mr. Oldenburge, when it came to be printed, calleth his Idea. And of this, entry was made in their Journal Book. So that the Royal Society having now a Prospect of the good service of an Ancient Member, and one, who had highly merited by his Works then extant; from thence forward, I looked upon my self to be excused.

But soon after, receiving another Letter from the Bishop of Chester, dated at London, Febr. 18. 1672. I found the matter otherwise; and that the Society were pleased to engage me to proceed. Whereof entry was made by the Secretary in their Journal Book, at one of their Meetings, April, 18. 1672, in these words:

The Society was made acquainted with one particular lately passed in the Council; sc. That the Bishop of Chester had there proposed Dr. Grew to be a Curator to the Royal Society for the Anatomy of Plants: and that the Council had approved of that Proposal. Upon which, it was Ordered, That the Thanks of the Society be returned to the Lord Bishop of Chester, for this Proposal, and to the Council for their Approbation of the same.

This they might be induced to do; upon considering, that it would be no disadvantage to the credit of those matters, which were so new and strange, to be offered to the World from a double Authority. For one, although he may have no mind to deceive; yet is it more likely for one, than for two, to be deceived. Likewise, that the same Subject, being prosecuted by two Hands, would be the more illustrated by the different Examples produced by both. And that, as in other matters, so here, the defects of both, would mutually be supplyed.

Whether for these, or other Reasons also, they were pleased to pass the forementioned Order; that being done, it had been very ill manners in me, not to have answered their expectation therein. And therefore reassuming the Design I had laid by, and having reduced it to some intelligible Idea, it was submitted to the Censure of the Royal Society: and it was thereupon ordered it should be printed.

Not long after, I received a Curious and Learned Book from Mons. Dodart, Archiater to the Prince of Conde, and Fellow of the Royal Academy at Paris; in persuance of whose Order, it was by him composed and published. Which being a Design of a like Import, I was glad to see it so far justify’d by that Illustrious Society, as well as by our own.

In this Idea, one principal Thing I insist upon, for a Philosophical History of Plants, is Anatomy. And, agreeing to the Method therein proposed, all the Observations conteined in the First Book, except one or two, were made with the Naked Eye. To the end, I might first give a proof, How far it was possible for us to go, without the help of Glasses: which many Ingenious Men want; and more, the patience to manage them. For the Truth of these Observations, Seignior Malpighi, having procured my Book to be translated into Latin for his private use, speaks his own sense, in some of his Letters to Mr. Oldenburge, printed at the end of his Anatomy of Plants. And some of them, have since been confirmed, both by our Learned Country-men Dr. Wallis, and Mr. Lister; and by the Ingenious Mr. Lewenhoeck, abroad.

Having thus begun with the bare Eye; I next proceeded to the use of the Microscope. And the Observations thereby made, first on Roots, and afterwards on Trunks and Branches, together with the Figures, were all exhibited to the Royal Society at several times from May 15. 1672. to April 2. 1674; being the Materials for the Second and Third Parts: and hereof Memorials were inserted in their Journal Books.

After this, the Royal Society received from Seignior Malpighi his Second Part of the Anatomy of Plants, together with the Figures therein described, and his Letters to their Secretary, dated at Bononia Aug. 20ᵗʰ of the same year 1674. when, and not before, he gave leave that the two said Parts should be printed.

So soon as I had finished the Second and Third Parts, I proceeded to the Last, sc. of Leaves, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds: and those Things I met with, more remarquable, were presented to the said Society in the Years 1676 & 1677. And the publishing of the former Parts successively, as well as of all together, hath been done in pursuance of their several Orders for the same.

Having concluded the History of Perfect Plants; I intended to have subjoyned the Description of those which are Imperfect. As also of Parasitical, Marine, and Sensitive Plants. And lastly, a view of the chief Particulars, wherein the Mechanisme of a Plant, is different from that of an Animal. But these things I leave to some other Hand.

The First Book, a little after it came forth; was translated into the French Tongue, by Mons. Le Vasseur an Ingenious Gentleman in Paris; elegantly, and in the Judgment of those who are well skilled in that Language, with much exactness, as to the sense. He having taken special care, to have all the difficulties of our own, by Me, cleared to him. And in a late Book Entituled, Philosophia vetus & nova printed at Noriberg 1682. the Learned Author seems to have made use of this Translation, for all that he hath taken notice of in that my First Book.

By the Ingenious Collectors of the German Ephemerides, both my First, Second, and Third Books, are all published in Latine. But their unskilful Interpreter doth often fail of the Grammatical Sense. Whose Errors, many of them very gross, I desire may be imputed neither to them, nor to my self.

Besides these, the Second Lecture of Mixture is also translated into French, by Mons. Mesmin a Learned Physician in Paris: whose Version is very well approved by those who are competent Judges hereof.

This, and the rest which follow, are placed, not in the order of Time; but more according to their Nature or Relation one to another. All of them intended as a Commentary upon some particulars mentioned, either in the First Lecture, or in the Idea.

In the Plates, for the clearer conception of the Part described, I have represented it, generally, as entire, as its being magnified to some good degree, would bear. So, for instance, not the Barque, Wood, or Pith of a Root or Tree, by it self; but at least, some portion of all three together: Whereby, both their Texture, and also their Relation one to another, and the Fabrick of the whole, may be observed at one View. Yet have I not every where magnify’d the Part to the same degree; but more or less, as was necessary to represent what is spoken of it. And very highly, only in some few Examples, as in Tab. 40. which may suffice to illustrate the rest. Some of the Plates, especially those which I did not draw to the Engravers hand, are a little hard and stiff: but they are all well enough done, to represent what they intend.