PLEASURES AND ADVANTAGES OF &C. 275 



certain — that the natural mind, the mind unfettered 

 by worldly affairs, unbiassed, unimpaired by its con- 

 nexions with the business of Hfe ; would of itself be 

 led to contemplate the works of nature, and even the 

 Omnipotence, and Omniscience of their Creator ; and 

 this is, I think, supported by the circumstance of 

 the involuntary admiration at the sight of the ex- 

 traodinary natural objects, which escapes most 

 persons ; and the devout wonder which seems to en- 

 sue ; but, until the education of youth shall consist 

 in the inculcation of right principles, and in the ac- 

 quisition of facts; instead of the premature instruction 

 in the jargon of classics, and in the forced and dis- 

 tended memory of words ; —until natural pursuits 

 and graces shall supersede fashionable accomplish- 

 ments, and until the cares and stratagems of life 

 shall be no longer needed, and the human mind be- 

 come the willing and natural victim of congenial and 

 purer pursuits : we cannot expect more, nevertheless 

 although we are not sanguine of seeing an improve- 

 ment in the system of education, and dare not hope 

 to see society reclaimed from its present condition ; 

 it will be right to enter on a justification of the study 

 of nature, and to exert the influence we possess by 

 inviting those whose time, talents, and opportunities 

 permit, to employ these towards improving our pre- 

 sent knowledge of Science. 



We shall, previously to this, however, take notice 

 of a few objections which have been urged against 

 it, and some of its votaries and elucidators. We 

 have already granted the impropriety of an unlimited 

 attention to Natural History, whilst "(duties of another 

 kind are suffering neglect ; this we confess is no 

 unfiequent occurrence : but the same blame which 

 is here expressed by the world, is likewise bestowed 

 frequently on those who employ only their leisure 

 time in the pursuit, and on those who, having no 

 need to mix in worldly affairs, choose rather to 

 devote their time and money to the cause of science : 

 all are alike regarded as fanatics, as persons void of 



