FRANCIS W1LLUGHBY. 141 



cation in classical and mathematical learning in 

 the first part of his life. His early proficiency 

 in these may be inferred from his ready use of 

 the Latin language, in which all his papers were 

 written, and from his correspondence with Dr 

 Barrow on mathematical subjects, which took 

 place when he was only twenty-seven years of 

 age. To the habits of correct reasoning, minute, 

 and universal observation, extensive acquaintance 

 with nature, and scientific truth thus acquired, may 

 be ascribed that excellence in the great variety 

 of departments which he attained even before 

 the powers of his mind had reached their matu- 

 rity. The mental habits derived from the exclu- 

 sive study of classics and mathematics during a 

 considerable period in the first part of education, 

 render accurate and extensive acquirements in 

 any department to which the attention may after- 

 wards be turned both sure and easy, while, for 

 the want of this early training, the best wishes 

 and most desirable advantages are often rendered 

 useless. It may serve to abate the impatience 

 of some youthful students, who, amid the fatigues 

 of learning languages, and of pursuing what, in 

 ancient phraseology, were most happily called 

 "the exact sciences," may sigh for what they 

 deem the more congenial pursuits of Natural 

 History, to assure them, that till they are possessed 

 of the mental discipline to be derived from their 

 appointed studies alone, attention to Zoology, or 

 to any other branch of natural philosophy, would 

 but dissipate their energies already acquired, and 



