298 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



for a moment, can it be otherwise. Societies and 

 associations, whatsoever may be their object, are the 

 embodying into a tangible form, the private senti- 

 ments and feelings of individuals. Those who have 

 lived sufficiently long among other nations to be dis- 

 enchanted of their national prejudices, or who are 

 disposed to believe the concurring testimony of the 

 most enlightened foreigners, need hardly be told 

 that, intermixed with many qualities of a nobler 

 description, the English, essentially, are a proud, 

 ostentatious, although a generous people. The two 

 first of these characteristics are more prominent, per- 

 haps, than the third. By which we mean to say, that 

 there are more instances of ostentatious munificence, 

 than of secret and disinterested generosity. If any 

 one imagines this censure undeserved, we would 

 only refer him to any list of charitable donations, 

 where, for one contribution prefaced by the initials 

 of a secret donor, he will find twenty blazoned forth 

 with ostentatious parade. Now, the effects of these 

 national characteristics are shown in our public 

 institutions. From the union of generosity and 

 ostentation, — sentiments fostered by our enormous 

 wealth, — has sprung a greater number of charitable 

 and benevolent associations than are to be met with 

 in any three European nations. These noble insti- 

 tutions excite the admiration of every one who thinks 

 upon the mass of human misery they tend to alleviate, 

 and the incalculable good they disseminate to thou- 

 sands, while they call forth the astonishment and 

 praise of the surrounding nations. Here, our be- 

 setting sin of pride does not enter ; the meanest as 

 well as the highest are invited to join in the good 



