AS REGARDS COMMERCE. 133 
‘ (77.)IL. Natural history is now tobe considered in 
reference to commerce, and the economical purposes 
of life. It has always been remarked, that this study, 
when viewed only in reference to its economic uses, 
possesses few decided advantages; and that even 
these, for the most part, are indirect. It will not, how- 
ever, be either unprofitable or uninteresting to view 
the subject in this light, and to enquire what benefits 
can result to the merchant, and the agriculturist, 
from acquiring some knowledge, at least, of the 
science now under consideration. 
(78.) All commerce is derived from the produc- 
tions of nature, whether in the state in which they 
are naturally produced, or after the raw material, as 
it is then termed, has been altered or worked upon 
by art. Every thing which administers to our wants, 
our comforts, or our luxuries, is derived either from 
the animal, the vegetable, or the mineral kingdom. 
It is from these great storehouses of nature that 
man selects such objects as he finds, by experience, 
are most satisfying to his wants or most adapted to 
his purposes. From these he derives his food and 
his clothing —from these he selects materials for his 
habitation ; nor, without them, could life be supported. 
The vegetable and the mineral kingdoms supply us 
with all those medicines which alleviate pain, conquer 
disease, or restore health. So that, without a know- 
ledge of the uses of those materials, life and health 
could not be preserved. Even knowledge itself 
would cease; for the pen we now hold, and the 
paper upon which we write, are but raw materials 
for communicating information,—one being taken 
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