RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 17 
time the national libraries; and few, not residing, 
within their walls, ever dreamed of pursuing know- 
ledge as arecreation. We may, therefore, fairly infer, 
that some taste for natural history had begun to show 
itself among the common people, when we find that 
in the year 1658 one Edward Topsel*, an ecclesiastic 
of St. Botolph’s, London, published an English trans- 
lation in folio, not only of Gesner’s work upon 
quadrupeds, but also of the aforesaid Theatrum 
Insectorum of Dr. Mouffet; thus placing in the 
hands of our countrymen, in their own language, 
the two best works upon beasts and insects that 
had appeared since the revival of learning. 
(10.) That a love of knowledge had found its way 
beyond the precincts of cloisters and the halls of pro- 
fessors was now evident; for it was about this time 
that our science was protected by one of the most 
remarkable men of his age, —the great and chivalrous 
Count Maurice of Nassau; a name which will be 
immortalised by the historian, no less than by the 
naturalist. In Count Maurice was united the-ac- 
complished statesman, the victorious general, and 
the munificent patron of science ; and in each of 
these characters his merits were so high, that the 
history of modern times cannot afford us his parallel, 
unless it be found in the late Sir Stamford Raffles, — 
a name equally dear to our science, although per- 
haps not so brilliant for “‘ battles won, and standards 
taken.” Count Maurice, upon his assuming the 
* Topsel’s History of Four-footed Beasts and Serpents; to 
which is added, Mouffet’s Theatre of Insects. London, 1658. 
1 vol. folio. 
Cc 
