INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER- XXV 



multitude of authors throughout every depart- 

 ment of our literature, who have with one ac- 

 cord turned us for wisdom to the great book 

 of Nature. Not a little has honest Izaak Wal- 

 ton contributed to spread his own love of quiet 

 haunts and streams, his own tranquil and bene- 

 volent piety. And to our Naturalists, what do 

 we not owe ! Every one of them who assists 

 to turn the attention of our youth to subjects 

 which must lead them out to the country, be he 

 but the merest plodder, the merest arranger of 

 other men's knowledge, the merest cataloguer 

 of names, does a good service : but such men 

 as Gilbert White, Bewick, Evelyn, etc. who 

 explore with enthusiastic and indefatigable de- 

 light, every natural haunt, and cast round their 

 labours the beaming halo of genius, attracting 

 thousands to the objects of their admiration, 

 must be classed amongst the greatest benefac- 

 tors of the human race. 



It is with unspeakable delight that I behold 

 every branch of Natural History, now prose- 

 cuted amongst us with the keenest ardour and 

 success ; and that the many able minds engaged 

 in it, are becoming more and more aware that 

 their favourite pursuits have a far higher claim 



