MRs. PILKINGTON’S GOLDSMITH’S NATURAL HISTORY ABRIDGED. 
relates to the comparatively few species 
which are found on his native coasts, and 
in the woods, the fields, and the streams 
to which he has daily access. Here the 
animal inhabitant may be studied and 
understood; and here principles may be 
investigated and established, which may 
be analogically applied to the shells of 
distant countries, and may gradually lead 
to a system founded on the primary and 
invariable lineaments of nature. 
863 
We have only to add, that figures of 
some of the rarer and hitherto unpub- 
lished species are given, drawn and en- 
graved by a female friend of the author, 
for the execution of which a needless 
apology is offered. They are such as 
natural history figures should be, faithful 
delineations of the originals, correctly 
drawn, and clearly expressing the dis- 
tinguishing characters. 
Aar. IV. Goldsmith's Natural History abridged, for the Use of Schools. By Mrs. 
Pitxincron. 8vo. 
IN our former volume we expressed 
eur satisfaction in contemplating the im- 
proved system of education, which is 
gradually making its way in our private 
schools. Our public ones, which boast 
of an¢ient foundation, and possess the 
advantage of established fame, are, we 
fear, too strongly wedded to prescribed 
and supposed venerable forms, to admit 
of any innovation. None are more sin- 
cerely disposed than ourselves to ac- 
knowledge the value of classical attain- 
ments. We regard them as equally es- 
sential to the character of a scholar and 
a gentleman. Without them no one has 
a right to aspire to the profession of law, 
physic, or divinity: no one can properly 
discharge the duties of a statesman, or 
a magistrate. 
But still they ought by no means to 
engage the whole of our attention in 
those early years, when alone a due pre- 
paration can be made for the active and 
beneficial employments of mature life. 
The productions of nature in what are 
usually called its three kingdoms, and 
the laws under which bodies act upon 
each other, are the materials on which 
men of all ranks and degrees are to 
work, and the rules by which they are to 
direct their operations. ‘The former are 
the subjects’ of natural history : the lat- 
ter of natural philosophy. In some oc- 
cupations they are of indispensible ne- 
cessity: in all, they are of admirable 
use. Inthe higher stations of life they 
are of peculiar importance, as affording 
perpetual and inexhaustible means of 
filling up those hours of leisure,. which 
are too generally lost in listless ennui, or 
disgraced by dissipation and vice. 
The man of large estate, the soldier, 
and the sailor, should, above all others, 
be naturalists. The latter are compelled 
by the duties of their office, the former 
is enabled by the independence of his 
4 
fortune, and his freedom from profes- 
sional confnement, to traverse distant 
regions, and to obtain the most favour- 
able opportunities of studying their va- 
rious productions. And if they have 
no turn for natural pursuits, how much 
vacant time will they be in danger of 
mis-spending ? How much must they 
often suffer from an incapacity to find 
either business or amusement? But if 
they have been well instructed ia the 
elements of natural science, how will 
they rejoice in the wide field of observa- 
tion which opens upon them on every 
side? With what transport will they 
enter upon a new climate, and survey 
the novelties which burst upon their 
view ? And how much will the progress 
of useful knowledge be accelerated by 
their enlightened researches ? 
For this purpose, it is not sufficient to 
put into their hands an indigested his= 
tory of animals, plants, and fossils, 
thrown together without order, and 
without principles. Such a one may 
amuse them for a few hours; but will 
as soon be forgotten, and scarcely ever 
resumed. Nothing can be of durable 
and substantial benefit, which does not 
in the outset call their judgment into 
action, and accustom them in its pro- 
gress to examine and to compare, to de- 
fine, and to arrange. System is the 
one thing needful. A bad one is better 
than none: but the best is certainly to 
be desired ; and even of this best, they 
should be carefully taught the defici- 
encies; that in all their observations 
they may direct their attention to its 
advancement, and may skilfully employ 
their talents in raising it nearer to per- 
fection. When a disposition to analyze 
and to methodize is produced, the sta- 
mina of a naturalist are formed: every 
succeeding year will add to his strength : 
no bounds can be set to his growth; and, 
