26 MEMOIR OF 



in the ordinary sources of information, that for a 

 period of no less than seven years his mind was 

 disciplined in the severer studies of the law ; and 

 that it was not till after he had distinguished him- 

 self by unusual proficiency in that department of 

 learning, that the native bias of his mind at length 

 prevailed over every consideration of interest, and 

 impelled him to still nobler pursuits. 



At a later period of his life we find our author 

 giving utterance to the following sentiments : " I 

 had scarcely begun to taste the sweets of study, when 

 I found that I must keep one sole object before 

 my eye, according to the ancient Greek saying 

 xlStv yhvx,vT&(>ov % Trocy eleven nothing is sweeter than 

 to know all things. Not, indeed, supposing that I 

 could attain universal knowledge, for this is beyond 

 human power, but feeling I must exert every nerve 

 with the greatest ardour in the pursuit of learning 

 Laying aside, therefore, all other business and cares, 

 I devoted myself entirely to study ; not only in 

 making myself acquainted with the best authors, but 

 in making their sentiments my own. I accordingly 

 spared no labour in making myself as great a proficient 

 as possible in that study, among others, which treats 

 of natural history : for this kind of knowledge leads 

 not only to honour and renown, as do others, but is 

 accompanied with the most exquisite gratification 

 and astonishment. It is indeed true, that there is 

 nothing more sublime, nothing more worthy of men 

 of noble and ingenuous minds, than to investigate 

 the secrets of Nature, and to endeavour to become 



