PLEASURES OF SCIENCE. 39 



WUd-pine grows upon the branches of the trees, and also on the bark 

 of the trunk. It has hollow or bag-like leaves so formed as to make 

 little reservoirs of water, the rain falling into them through channels 

 which close at the top when full, to prevent it from evaporating. The 

 seed of this useful plant has small floating threads, by which, when 

 carried through the air, it catches any tree in the way, and falls on 

 it and grows. Wherever it takes root, though on the under side 

 of a bough, it grows straight upwards, otherwise the leaves would not 

 hold water. It holds in one leaf from a pint to a quart ; and althoug'h 

 it must be of great use to the trees it grows on, to birds and other 

 animals its use is even greater. Another tree, called the IFater-with* 

 in Jamaica, has similar uses ; it is like a vine in size and shape, but 

 growing in very parched districts, is yet so full of clear sap or water, 

 that on cutting a piece two or three yards long, and merely holding it 

 to the mouth, a plentiful draught is obtained. In the East there is a 

 plant somewhat of the same kind, called the Bejttco, which grows near 

 other trees and twines round them, with its end hanging downwards, but 

 so full of juice, that on cutting it, a plentiful stream of water spouts from 

 it ; and this, not only by its touching the tree so closely must refresh it, 

 but is a supply to animals, and to the weary herdsman on the mountains. 



V. After the many instances or samples which have now been given 

 of the nature and objects of Natural Science, we might proceed to a dif- 

 ferent field, and describe in the same way the other grand branch of 

 Human Knowledge, that which teaches the properties or habits of Mind 

 the intellectual facilities of man ; that is to say, the powers of his 

 understanding, by which he perceives, imagines, remembers, and rea- 

 sons ; his moral faculties, that is to say, the feelings and passions 

 which influence him ; and, lastly, as a conclusion or result drawn 

 from the whole, his duties both towards himself as an individual, and 

 towards others as a member of society ; which last head opens to our 

 view the whole doctrines of political science, including the nature of 

 governments, of policy, and generally of laws, But we shall abstain 

 at present from entering at all upon this field, and shall now take up 

 the subject, more particularly pointed at through the course of the 

 preceding observations, and to illustrate which they have been framed, 

 namely, the use and importance of scientific studies. 



Man is composed of two parts, body and mind, connected indeed 

 together, but wholly different from one another. The nature of the 

 onion the part of our outward and visible frame in which it is pecu- 

 liarly formed or whether the soul be indeed connected with any parti- 

 cular portion of the body, so as to reside there are points as yet wholly 

 hid from our knowledge, and which are likely to remain for ever con- 

 cealed. But this we know, as certainly as we can know any truth, that 

 there is such a thing as the mind ; and that we have at the least as 

 good proof of its existence, independent of the body, as we have of 

 the existence of the body itself. Each has its uses, and each has its 

 peculiar gratifications. The bounty of Providence has given us outward 

 senses to be employed, and has furnished the means of gratifying them 

 in various kinds, and in ample measure. As long as we only taste 

 those pleasures according to the rules of prudence and of our duty, 



