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XXX. Proposal for the Estalliskment of a National Mu- 

 seum. By J. S. Duncan, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn. 



To the Artist, the Man of Taste, the discerning Politician, the sin- 

 cere Patriot, the Man of pure Morals, and of rational Religion, 

 this Design for a Museum, calculated to unite Instruction with 



Amusement, is, with respect, dedicated by 



J. S. Duncan. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY. 

 It is proposed to establish a grand National Museum to 

 exhibit in scientific arrangement the principal objects of 

 natural history. By a national museum is meant, not 

 merely a collection of rarities, however wonderful, of novel- 

 ties which may surprise, or of anomalies which may con- 

 found the learned ; but a methodical display of that instruc- 

 tive order and harmony which the wise Author of all being 

 has been pleased to manifest through all his works : an ex- 

 hibition of the 



>* bearings and the ties, 



The strong connections, nice dependencies, 

 Gradations just — " 



which cannot fail to excite even in rude minds emotions ol 

 delight, and which tend to impress those improved by the 

 most moderate culture with salutary awe, and a convictiou 

 of the all-disposing, all-prevailing wisdom, power, and 

 glory of the omnipresent Deity. 



The writings of Ray and Derham, and the excellently 

 methodized Natural Theology of Palcy, will be proper intro- 

 ductions or companions to the National Museum. It is 

 obvious that the lecturer, preacher, and writer, have to con- 

 tend with many impediments of language, while by that me- 

 dium alone they endeavour to sway the heart and to affect 

 the understanding. Eloquence however animating, propo- 

 sitions however clearly enounced and syllogistically 

 proved, do not- associate with the impressions of surround- 

 ing objects so constantly and forcibly as events actually wit- 

 nessed, and effects with their proximate causes exhibited to 

 the senses. The superiority of example to precept is a pro- 

 Vol. 29. No, 115. Dec. I807. N verb 



