RISE AND PROGRESS OF ZOOLOGY. 17 



time the national libraries; and few, not residing 

 within their walls, ever dreamed of pursuing know- 

 ledge as a recreation. 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 165S 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 Theatruni 

 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. 



C 



