VIEW OF NATURE. 323 



stacles which have hitherto impeded the progress of botanical 

 information, particularly in schools, and among our own sex. 

 From some examples in our own class, we see that even chil- 

 dren may become botanists, and lay aside their toys to divert 

 themselves by distinguishing the organs of plants and tracing 

 out their classification. A few years since, the science of 

 Botany was confined almost wholly to those of the medical 

 profession, now it is within the reach of all who can read the 

 English language, and few indeed are the natives of our re- 

 public who are destitute of this qualification. 



Of all sciences, perhaps no one is settled on a firmer foun- 

 dation than that of botany ; the improvements of future years, 

 we are not able to anticipate ; but it is probable that as dis- 

 coveries and improvements are made, they will cluster around 

 the principles already established ; each taking its proper 

 place in the various departments now arranged for the recep- 

 tion of scientific truths. 



The spirit of our government is highly favourable to the 

 promotion and dissemination of knowledge ; an^l although 

 Europe may boast of many stars which irradiate her firmament 

 of letters, shining with brilliant lustre amidst the surrounding 

 darkness of ignorance ; may we not justly feel a national pride 

 in that more general diffusion of intellectual light, which is ra- 

 diating from every part, and to every part of the American 

 republic ! 



LECTURE XLVII. 



GENERAL VIEW OF NATURE. 



Organized and Inorganized Bodies. Classification of 

 Animals. 



HAVING considered the vegetable kingdom under its various 

 aspects, it may be proper, before closing our course of botan- 

 ical study, to take a general view of that external world of 

 matter, of which the part we have examined, extended and 

 diversified as it is, constitutes but a very small portion. The 

 science you have been investigating, with some others, con- 

 stitutes a general branch of knowledge, termed Natural sci- 

 ence. The study of nature presents in a lively and forcible 

 manner, the power and wisdom of the Creator ; and offers to 

 the enlightened mind a never failing source of the most pure 



Study of botany within the reach of all. This science firmly settled Dif- 

 ference between the state of science in Europe and America. Natural science. 



