146 MEMOIR OF WILLUGHBY. 



immortality which is derived from the fact, that 

 whereas every other sensitive being is in some 

 degree essential to the happiness of some other 

 earthly beings, man only stands alone in this 

 respect, since every other tribe of being would 

 continue equally happy did mankind universally 

 cease to exist. What may he not expect from 

 this obvious phenomenon, but that he is the last 

 apparent link in the chain of earthly being, ready 

 to be removed without any disturbance to the 

 order and welfare of nature, but also most pro- 

 bably having relations to other classes of beings 

 superior to himself in other scenes of existence. 

 Nor will the presumption appear to him totally 

 unfounded, that when removed thither, the 

 works of God will still continue to be the objects 

 of his attention, and that the knowledge be is 

 now acquiring may prepare him to enter here- 

 after upon a proportionably higher position of 

 dignity and enjoyment.* 



* Those readers who are yet unacquainted with Mr 

 S\vainson's Discourse on the Study of Natural History, 

 edited in Dr Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopaedia, may there 

 find these and other inducements to such pursuits drawn 

 out and exemplified in the most admirable manner. It is 

 hoped that the acknowledgments already made by the 

 writer of this Memoir will be deemed sufficient. To 

 himself it seems no less a privilege than a duty to confess 

 his obligations to so excellent a writer. 



