370 Bibliography. 
2. Address delivered at the annual meeting of the Boston Natural 
History Society, May 5th, 1841; by J. EB. Tascnemacner. Boston, 
p. 46, 8vo.—This well-written discourse is chiefly occupied with a 
sketch of the recent progress of the different branches of natural history, 
beginning with zoology, and ending with mineralogy and geology. In 
such a wide range, it is obviously impossible, within the limits of an 
ordinary address, to give more than a glance at some of the prominent 
discoveries and most interesting facts in each department; indeed, 
nothing beyond a mere outline could be expected from a single 
without great es ce of time and labor. The author offers the fol- 
intellect successfully 
with the march of oeseney 
‘That the accumulation of facts and objects of interest in every science is great, 
cannot be denied ; but it is also certain that every discovery, every approac! » 
: , and 
instead of making it more intricate, simplifies and renders it more amen le to the 
commonest understanding. The process is glean this ; the great suman of 
facts in any science, causes an sand 
subdivisions; the more extensive the Kubwiddge ‘asa the - ntimber of the facts, the 
ore natural, the more clearly defined’ and simple are these divisions, and each 
tered, more easily grasped by the mind, while the man of comparatively. iis 
leisure can undertake a single division a ee only keep pace eo discovery, but 
even add something to what is already kn 
“Tn botany, for instance, how few Sahetit are sient Wt the eryptoga- 
mous ape and of those porated how few know much of the Alge or sea-weeds- 
much as render it sufficient Pg a separate study. So in chemistry, how little was 
formerly known of the chemistry of organic bodies: there is now sufficient to make 
ita division of great importance and separate study. And in geology, how few 
are well versed in that most interesting portion, fossil vegetation. “The 
guage by heart; si in detail, aiieien, by division, there is much less difli- 
than n formerly, while separate fields ted 
ak 2 
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