INTRODUCTl'OX. 3 



little (lay of life in agony. We ourselves were then in the hahit of collecting 

 insects to form collections, but we invariably, we are thankful to be able to 

 say, put them, out of pain quickly, and we trust with as little infliction of 

 torture as possible; moreover we never could feel comfortable in taking more 

 specimens than we wanted for our own cabinet, or those of our friends. We 

 do not think the cause of humanity is served, by asserting, that ^'The poor 

 beetle that we tread upon, in corporal sufferance, feels a pang as great as when 

 a giant dies." We do as much harm by stating too much as by stating too 

 little; the best argument in these cases has always appeared to us to be, that 

 even admitting sensations of pain to be less acute in the lower classes than 

 in the higher, few people will be hardy enough to assert that they experience 

 no pain on being injured, and that we have no right, morally speaking, to 

 inflict any iinnccessanj pain on any creature, which has as much right to enjoy 

 the life given to him by his Creator as we have. No one can think he is 

 doing wrong by resolving to give as little pain as possible to every creature, 

 however minute or insignificant it may appear to be. 



The study of many branches of Natural History cannot however be taxed 

 with tending to cruelty, and the pursuit of some of these may be carried on 

 vmder circumstances which would render a study of Zoology extremely difiicult. 

 Botany, Geology, Mineralogy, and the examination of nature's minute wonders 

 by aid of the microscope, are all of this class, and are sources of much 

 pleasure and instruction to all who engage in them. 



While touching on the subject of the affections, there is one point of view 

 in which we wish to place the study of Natural History before our readers; and 

 as we find it ably handled by the elegant pen of the late Sir James Smith, in 

 the preface to his "English Flora," we think we cannot do better than give 

 it in his own words, merely remarking that the beneficial influences which he 

 there mentions, must, we believe, always be the result of a- rightly-directed study 

 of Natural History. He says, '^A man who looks no farther than the narrow 

 bounds of his own profession or science, is sometimes inclined to depreciate 

 those of other people, especially if any worldly advantage be concerned. Some 

 studies seem to contract the mind; but such is not the character of Natural 

 Science; which enlarges the understanding by a perpetual display of the power 

 and wisdom of God; and encourages our best hopes by sure testimonies of his 

 goodness. He who feeds the sparrows, and clothes the golden lily of the fields 

 in a splendour beyond that of Solomon himself, invites us, his rational creatures, 

 to confide in his promises of Eternal life. The simplest blade of grass, and 

 the grain of corn to which '^he gives his own body,' are sufficient to convince 

 us that our trust cannot be in vain. Let those who hope to inherit these 

 promises, and those who love science for its own sake, cherish the same benevolent 

 dispositions. Envy and rivalship in one case, are no less censurable than 

 bigotry and uneharitableness in the other. The former are as incompatible 

 with the love of nature, as the latter with the love of God; and they altogether 

 unfit us for the enjoyment of happiness, here or hereafter." 



