the best means of promoting discoveries likely to prove valuable to art or science; these pursuits must continue to be not only exceedingly interesting, delightful, and honourable, to those who are employed in them, but they must also prove highly beneficial to society.

Let, therefore, no vain attempt to cast ridicule on such a study be heard within the precincts of any circle or condition of people making pretensions to the civilized character. There are, indeed, some unfortunate persons who can be interested. only by such pursuits as gratify the senses; who, in the choice of their pleasures, are influenced entirely by their meaner passions; and who can approve no other amusements than those which have obtained the sanction of fashion, or which happen to be congenial with their profligate habits. To such men the study of Natural History must indeed be insipid, and to them without any charms. But the yawn of a fool is no argument; his dislike is no refutation; his stupidity is no disproof. The volume of

Nature is opened only to the heart that is uncorrupted, and to the mind which is unsophisticated:-to the luxurious sensualist; to the sordid wretch who thirsts for gold alone; to the silly and indolent coxcomb; and to the vain and fickle children of ever-varying fashion; it is as a treasure that is hermetically sealed; and all that is vast and comprehensive in design, all that is excellent in contrivance, all that is admirable in arrangement, and all that is beautiful or interesting in united simplicity and grandeur, in the widely extended scenes around them, is for ever hid from their darkened vision. They have ears, and do not hear; they have eyes, and do not see.

In the middle ages, it is true, the study of Nature was first treated with contempt; then aspersed as wholly unattainable, and its votaries persecuted, or punished, as persons connected with some infernal power. This may be believed of ages dark and barbarous, as were those which slowly rolled over the melancholy reign of the Monks; but, that a science so comprehensive and beneficial,

should now be considered as light, vain, or frivolous, is scarcely to be credited; since, even from an examination of the humblest flower of the field, lessons of wisdom may be gained; in attending to the structure of its various parts, in beholding the internal arrangement, in investigating the causes and manner of its growth, and in finding the uses to which it may be applied, something of importance to the business of life may be learnt.

But, above all the individual considerations which might be urged, something ought surely to be said of the happy effects produced on the minds of those who are employed in the cultivation of Natural History. They become expanded, cheerful, raised, refined, and benevolent, in degrees proportioned to the extent, and the application, of their researches: nor can we have occasion to ask the cause of such pleasing results, when it is considered that, of all the sciences, this brings her votaries to a nearer approach, and to a closer intimacy with Nature's GOD, and shows them that His majesty, beauty,

power, and glory, dwell in every place, and abide on every, even the minutest, atom of existing matter. Thus, while the study of many other sciences is found to occasion. frigid systems of philosophy, melancholy views of life, and, too often, infidelity, with all her black train of evils;—the study of Natural History is not only productive of incalculable advantages to mankind in general, if rightly pursued, but, to the virtuous mind, such a degree of wisdom, power, and happiness, as can only be exceeded by an emancipation from the shackles and the thick veil of mortality, and an admission into those regions where wisdom is perfected, and bliss is eternal.

With those, therefore, who assert that studies of this nature can have little in*terest, and are of no real importance, the honestly ambitious can wish to have no fellowship. For the approbation of such persons, surely no wise or good man can be solicitous. Life is capable of other enjoyments than those which merely contribute to its support, or to the pleasures of sense;

else, in what are we different from, or superior to, all the meaner animals; who have the power to obtain subsistence, with less than half the labour of man? Whatever is capable of drawing our attention to a better estimate of human life, and can enable us to raise our thoughts above the grovelling pursuits of mere animals, exalts our dignity, and gives refinement to our enjoyments!