accustomed to esteem Achilles as one of the happiest of men, because it had been his good fortune to have HOMER for the historian of his

virtues*.

But let me not talk of patronage till I am forgetful of the subject that would humbly claim

* Having found a most curious casket, both for the materials and workmanship, amongst the plunder of Damascus, and his friends having asked him for what use it should be reserved, ALEXANDER replied, "We will dedicate it to HOMER, since it is but reasonable that the most precious monument of human wit should be preserved in the finest piece of workmanship." Hence the most correct edition of that poet, which ALEXANDER was at much pains to get, was called the "Edition of the casket," because in that casket the Persians had kept their most precious perfumes. One day, as a certain messenger of good news ran towards him, in all haste stretching out his right hand, with marks of the highest joy in his countenance; "What news can you tell me," said he, "that worthy of so much joy, unless that HOMER is alive again ?"—Q. CURTIUS.

it. To impart wisdom, and to inculcate virtue, are the dearest and most delightful employments of great and good minds; but knowledge must be acquired before it can be communicated; and, if I have failed of being sufficiently clear and elaborate in the elucidation of some doctrines that may be novel to many readers; or, if it shall be found that I have given mere hints, where satisfactory detail should have appeared, I wish all such deficiencies to be imputed to a fear of going beyond the authority of facts; and to a want of leisure that is most painfully felt, and which, at present, deprives me of the power of rendering this Essay of greater consequence. Such as it is, I offer it to the acceptance of a thinking, an indulgent, and an enlightened public, till something of the kind, more worthy of general patronage, shall appear; and, if a single ardent and comprehensive mind is induced, by a perusal of this little book, to engage in those pure and

exalted studies of which it treats, I shall not only account myself happy, but I shall deem the

reward far more than adequate to the labour bestowed.

An Essay

ON THE

PHILOSOPHY

OF

NATURAL HISTORY.

CHAP. I.

On the general Nature of the Pursuit; and its Effects on Individuals, and to Society at large.

SUCH is the nature of human existence; so gradual are the unfoldings of mental power, as the infant grows into manhood; and, by such imperceptible degrees are all the visible objects of creation fully perceived by man, that he is not so forcibly struck by the exquisite beauty, and the astonishing wonders, of the globe which an OMNIPOTENT BEING, the great Architect

B