THE STUDY OF NATURE. 23 



Finally, there are no words which both sexes should so deeply 

 impress on their minds, as the admirable language of Sir J. Hers- 

 chel, let all prosecute those subjects of enquiry, "which keep 

 the faculties in constant exercise, and the thoughts perpetually 

 on the wing, so that lassitude may be excluded from our life, 

 and that craving after artificial excitement and dissipation of 

 mind which, leads so many into frivolous, unworthy, and destruc- 

 tive pursuits, may be altogether eradicated from our bosoms." 



Elizabeth. 



PLEASURES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE STUDY 

 OF NATURE. 



Concluded from page 280, of Vol. VI. 



It is thus, then, we contend, that by the unso- 

 phisticated, and subsequently, by the scientific 

 exertions of " naturalists," the civilized portion of 

 our species enjoy those numerous and highly re- 

 fined luxuries of our table, our dress, our habitations, 

 and our pursuits, and I cannot think that the truth 

 is exceeded by saying, that, as the intricacies and 

 improvements in machinery were derived from the 

 calculations of artists, so were the majority of these 

 same refinements, these great attainments in civili- 

 zation, derived from the researches of enterprising 

 natural philosophers. We have now been speaking of 

 those objects in Natural History, which have contri- 

 buted and do contribute to our physical wants, having 

 barely hinted that there are some which minister only 

 to our mental enjoyment, but this is not underrating 

 them, for, while some persons will assert, that, as 

 there are certain parts of nature, or certain natural 

 bodies, which have no evident use to which we can 

 apply them, which cannot be made available to 

 the purposes of life ; these should be neglected ; we, 

 on the other hand, reply, that the human faculties 

 were destined to be exercised on the whole range of 

 creation ; that they were made commensurate with 

 such employment ; moreover, that we do not know 



