3l6 on the study of natural history. Aug. 2%, 



afsistance. The boy's idlenefs being remarked, his 

 contrivance soon became known ; and the improve- 

 ment is now adopted in every fire engine, whilst 

 the origin of the discovery is known but to a 

 few. 



If such consequences can arise, my dear Alathea, 

 from a little whetting of curiosity aiid ingenuity, how 

 much pleasure and satisfaction may you not have 

 in employing your leisure in rational inquiries 

 proper for your sex? and I know of none more so 

 than the study of natural history ; particularly if 

 you fliall confine your ambition to some one depart- 

 ment that is commodiously within your reach. 



Birds, insects, and plants, seem to be your choice; 

 and among them you may have ample scope. 

 As you are so much in the country, and in a sandj 

 soil, what would you think of inquiring whether 

 the house swallow or martin is often discovered in 

 the cutting of the banks, or in the draining of ponds? 

 Try if you can learn to descry little birds that are 

 supposed to be of pafsage. among the furze and brakes 

 in winter. You know what an eye can be acquired by 

 gamekeepers to find a hare sitting upon ploughed land, 

 inmsible to all common and unaccustomed eyes. By 

 this perhaps you may have the honour to solve pro- 

 blems that have puzzled all the naturalists in Eu* 

 lope. 



I see you are particuliirly fond of the little song- 

 sters of the groves ; and so, as I sent you formerly 

 the song of the /ky lark, and of the nightingale, I 



