OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 15 



of applying its principles readily to the cases which 

 occur, has within itself an inexhaustible source of 

 pure and exciting contemplations : one would 

 think that Shakspeare had such a mind in view when 

 he describes a contemplative man as finding all na- 

 ture eloquent the very trees, the brooks, and the 

 stones reading to him lessons of deep and serious im- 

 port. Accustomed to trace the operation of general 

 causes, and the exemplification of general laws, in 

 circumstances where the uninformed and unenquir- 

 ing eye perceives neither novelty nor beauty, he 

 walks in the midst of wonders : every object which 

 falls in his way elucidates some principle, affords 

 some instruction, and impresses him with a sense of 

 harmony and order. Nor is it a mere passive plea- 

 sure which is thus communicated. A thousand 

 questions are continually arising in his mind, a 

 thousand subjects of enquiry presenting themselves, 

 which keep his faculties in constant exercise, and 

 his thoughts perpetually on the wing, so that lassi- 

 tude is excluded from his life, and that craving 

 after artificial excitement and dissipation of mind, 

 which leads so many into frivolous, unworthy, and 

 destructive pursuits, is altogether eradicated from 

 his bosom. 



(12.) It is not one of the least advantages of these 

 pursuits, which, however, they possess in common 

 with every class of intellectual pleasures, that they 

 are altogether independent of external circum- 

 stances, and are to be enjoyed in every situation in 

 which a man can be placed in life. The highest de- 

 grees of worldly prosperity are so far from being in- 



