Natural History Society of Montreal. 145 



knowledge. Those emotions are among the noblest of our nature, 

 and in proportion as they are cultivated, the heart becomes soft- 

 ened and humanized. Those who once imbibe a relish for such 

 pursuits, turn away almost instinctively from those grosser plea- 

 sures, which degrade mankind. There may be exceptions, but 

 that is their general result and tendency. Some there are who 

 think that human nature is only acted upon by considerations, 

 which have self for their object. I think such philosophers are 

 mistaken. They do not see the whole of the truth. They forget 

 that man is made in the likeness and image of his Maker. 

 Every man, however low and humble may be his position, is 

 conscious of possessing something noble in his nature, which at 

 times will respond to high and noble considerations. And if 

 sometimes, why not always? Why should not such occasional 

 visitations become the habit of the man ? Nor is the pleasure of 

 intellectual pursuits confined to the literati or to any particular 

 class. There are a few in every class who can relish and appre- 

 ciate such enjoyments. And if a few, why should not many ? 

 Even the benefit of a few is a sufficient inducement to generous 

 minds to cause them to labour in the cause of humanity, but the 

 aim of a large philanthropy will always be to convert the few 

 into the many. (Applause.) I was much impressed with some 

 things which came under my observation while travelling in 

 Greece. Though always aware, that the modern Greeks resem- 

 bled the ancient Greeks, their progenitors, in many respects, and 

 that at all events, they were remarkable for their intelligence, I 

 was not prepared to find what I did find on one or two occasions 

 — the poor Greek peasants, but recently emancipated from the 

 galling yoke of Turkish oppression, as they reposed under the 

 6hade of their olives, poring over the pp^es of Xenophon and 

 Herodotus. (Applause.) Yet such was the case. They seemed 

 perfectly aware of \\iq, prestige which had once hung, like their 

 own mountain mist, over their beautiful land. Thev knew well 

 the glorious height from which their race had fallen, but contem- 

 plating the glorious deeds of the past, and perhaps, dreaming of 

 a glorious future, they seemed to forget the poverty and wretch- 

 edness of their present position. (Applause.) So too, in my 

 own profession, many would be surprised if they went into the 

 barrack-room, and saw the description of books that were to be 

 found in the hands of not a few of the soldiers. Some are apt 

 to fancy that the poor soldiers, the humble, but faithful servants 



Canadian Nat. 5 Vol. IV. No. 2. 



