DEDICATION. v 



By your genius and exertions, all the branches of Natural His- 

 tory will be greatly improved. You will not only enlarge, or live 

 to see enlarged, the catalogue of animals, of vegetables, and of 

 minerals ; but you will live to see the fall, you will, I hope, assist 

 in hastening the fall, of some of the present Systems, or Ar- 

 rangements, of these series of bodies. By enlarging the stock of 

 useful facts ; by walking in the rose-spread paths of Truth, with 

 Nature as your guide, you will prepare the way for those more 

 permanent systems, which Providence has given man the. ability 

 to found : systems not liable to be affected by a few slender facts ; 

 not liable to be dissolved by the discovery of a new species of ani- 

 mal, of vegetable, or of mineral. 



Proceed, with assiduity and ardour, in the course of your stu- 

 dies. Hasten to perform the parts allotted to you, in this open- 

 ing scene of usefulness and glory. Remember how greatly your 

 Preceptors have laboured for you ; and carry with you, wherever 

 you may go, the determined resolution to be useful to your- 

 selves, YOUR COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD. 



Be assured of my best wishes for your prosperity and happi- 

 ness ; and that I am, Gentlemen, with great respect, 



Your friend and fellow-student. Sec, 



BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON. 



PhJladelfthia, December 2d, 

 1805. 



