314 Proposal for the Establishment of a National Museum. 



pletion of this scheme may be referred to the respective 

 classes, orders^ &c. It may suffice here to observe, that the 

 most imporlanl difference between the animal and vegetable 

 appears to be, that constant means are every where provided 

 for conveying to the stationary plant whatsoever is necessary 

 to its subsistence, and to the continuance of the species ; 

 while the locomotive animal is left to seek snch means for 

 itself. The vegetable appears to possess life and very limited 

 sensation ; but neither thought nor voluntary power. In 

 the animal, all relations to the subsistence of the individual, 

 and to the continuance of the species, are wholly subject to 

 the exertions of thought, or of voluntary power, or of both 

 united. 24 Classes. 



PETRIFACTIONS. 



These are Nature's archives, and they record a stupendous 

 and miraculous change which has been wrought at a distant 

 period over the whole surface of the globe. One cabinet 

 should be arranged according to the several classes, or- 

 ders, &c., of animals and plants to which they appear to 

 belong: but another, and indeed the principal, collection of 

 organic remains should be classed according to the order of 

 the strata in which they are found, with specimens of the 

 strata ; carefully distingnishing the gravel fossils, or those 

 found in alluvial deposits ; likewise the peat or surface fos- 

 sils ; and those belonging to the existing race buried by 

 known means, from original fossil remains of the regular 

 fitrata. Where the order of the strata is not known, or is 

 doubtful, an arrangement of clay, sand, limestone, &c. 

 fossils by themselves will facilitate a future identification of 

 them, when others arc obtained from known strata. 



A partial attempt has been made by Mr. W. Smith, au- 

 thor of an Essay on Draining, to form a collection arranged 

 according to the order of strata. 



MINERALS. 



The characteristics of animated forms are rendered more 

 conspicuous from being contrasted with inanimate forms, 



i« 



