PLEASURES CONNECTED WITH SCIENCE. 



57 



no inconsiderable degree of entertainment and 

 delight. 



The occasional performance of scientific experi 

 ments, as opportunity offers, and the construction 

 of philosophical instruments, may also be con 

 verted into a source of enjoyment. In the one 

 case, the student of nature may derive gratifica 

 tion, in being the means of communicating- en 

 tertainment and instruction to others ; and in the 

 other, he may whet his ingenuity, and increase 

 his mental vigour, and be enabled, at a small ex- 

 pence, to gratify his curiosity in contemplating 

 the various processes, and the beauties and sub 

 limities of nature. Many of the instruments of 

 science, when elegantly constructed, are beyond 

 the reach of the general mass of mankind, on 

 Account of their expense ; but a person of mode 

 rate reflection and ingenuity, during his leisure 

 hours, can easily construct at an inconsiderable 

 expense, many of the most useful instruments 

 which illustrate the facts of science. For ex 

 ample, a powerful compound microscope, capa 

 ble of enabling us to perceive the most interest 

 ing minute objects in the animal, vegetable, and 

 mineral kingdoms, may be constructed at an ex 

 pense of little more than a crown, provided the 

 individual constructs the tubes and other appa 

 ratus of pasteboard, wood, or other cheap mate 

 rials ; and the occasional exercise of the mental 

 powers in such devices, so far from being irk 

 some or fatiguing, are generally accompanied 

 with satisfaction and pleasure. 



It is true, indeed, that the study of some of 

 the subjects above mentioned, particularly the 

 first principles of the mathematics, may, in the 

 outset, be attended with some difficulties, and to 

 some minds may wear a dry and uninteresting 

 aspect. But as the mind proceeds onwards in 

 its progress, and acquires clearer conceptions of 

 what at first appeared difficult or obscure 

 every difficulty it is enabled to surmount gives a 

 new relish to the subject of investigation, and 

 additional vigour to the intellect, to enable it to 

 vanquish the difficulties which still remain, till 

 at length it feels a pleasure and an interest in the 

 pursuit, which no difficulties, nor even the lapse 

 of time can ever effectually destroy. &quot; Let any 

 man,&quot; says Lord Brougham, &quot;-pass an evening 

 in vacant idleness, or even in reading some silly 

 tale, and compare the state of his mind when he 

 goes to sleep or gets up next morning, with its 

 state so-ne other day when he has passed a few 

 hours in going through the proofs, by facts and 

 reasonings, of some of the great doctrines in 

 Natural Science, learning truths wholly new to 

 him, and satisfying himself by careful examina 

 tion of the grounds on which known truths rest, 

 so as to be not only acquainted with the doc 

 trines themselves, but able to show why he be 

 lieves them, and to prove before others that they 

 Are true ; he will find as great a difference as 

 can exisi in the same being, the difference be 



tween looking back upon time unprofitai^y 

 wasted, and time spent in self-improvement; h 

 will feel himself in the one case listless and dis 

 satisfied, in the other, comfortable and happy ; 

 in the one case, if he do not appear to himself 

 humbled, at least he will not have earned any 

 claim to his own respect; in the other case, he 

 will enjoy a proud consciousness of having by 

 his own exertions, become a wise, and therefore 

 a more exalted creature.&quot; 



The subjects to which I have now adverted, 

 may be considered not merely in reference t&amp;lt;- ihe 

 gratification they afford to the understanding, 

 but likewise in reference to the beneficial infiu- 

 cnce they would produce on the heart, and on social 

 and domestic enjoyment. 



All the truths relative to the Creator s opera 

 tions in the universe, when properly contempla 

 ted, are calculated to produce a powerful and in 

 teresting impression upon the affections. Is a 

 person gratified at beholding symmetry and beauty 

 as displayed in the works of art, what a high 

 degree of delightful emotion must be felt in sur 

 veying the beautiful arrangements of Infinite 

 Wisdom, in the variety of forms, the nice pro 

 portions, the exquisite delicacy of texture, and 

 the diversified hues which adorn the vegetable 

 kingdom, in the colours of the morning and 

 evening clouds of a summer sky, the plumage of 

 birds, the admirable workmanship on the bodies 

 of insects, the fine polish of sea-shells, the va 

 riegated wavings and colouring of jaspers, to 

 pazes, and emeralds, and particularly in those 

 specimens of divine mechanism in insects, 

 plants, and flowers, which the unassisted eye 

 cannot discern, and which the microscope alone 

 can unfold to view ! Has he a taste for the swft- 

 lime ? How nobly is he gratified by an enlight 

 ened view of the nocturnal heavens, where suns 

 unnumbered shine, and mighty worlds run their 

 solemn rounds ! Such contemplations have a 

 natural tendency, in combination with Christian 

 principles and motives, to raise the affections to 

 that Almighty Being who is the uncreated source 

 of all that is sublime and beautiful in creation, 

 to enkindle the fire of devotion, to excite adora 

 tion of his infinite excellences, and to produce 

 profound humility in his presence. Such studies 

 likewise tend to preserve the mind in calmness 

 and serenity under the moral dispensations of 

 Him whose wisdom is displayed in all his ar 

 rangements, and whose &quot; tender mercies are 

 over all his works,&quot; and to inspire it with hope 

 and confidence in relation to the future scenes of 

 eternity, from a consideration of his power, be 

 nevolence, and intelligence, as displayed through 

 out the universe, and of the inexhaustible sources 

 of felicity he has it in his power to distribute 

 among numerous orders of beings throughout, an 

 immortal existence. Contemplating the mime- 

 roua displays of Divine munificence around ua 



