AS REGARDS COMMERCE. 133 



(77.)III. Natural history is now to be 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 

 k 3 



