MENTAL DISCIPLINE OF THE SCIENCE. 15 



of anatomical and physiological investigations with all the 

 attractions of eloquence, genius, and taste. The orations 

 of Professor Sedgwick evince the like combination of sci- 

 entific attainment with literary excellence ; and the writings 

 of various other geologists might largely increase our list. 

 Mr. Hugh Miller* has a chapter descriptive of the influence 

 of physical geography on the character and aspect of natural 

 scenery, which transcends, perhaps, in force and beauty ol 

 description, any production of a similar kind ; while it 

 exhibits, at the same time, that acquaintance with the 

 principles of science to which the mere delineator of scenery 

 makes no pretension. 



MENTAL DISCIPLINE or THE SCIENCE. The highest 

 advantages to be gained from this instructive study, 

 consist not in considerations of benefit or of detriment, 

 but in the intellectual advancement and moral improve- 

 ment which it is so well calculated to promote, and 

 in its power of invigorating the mind, and purifying and 

 chastening the feelings and the heart. If the celebrated 

 aphorism, of Lord Bacon be true that all study is to be 

 valued, not so much as an exercise of the intellect, as a 

 discipline of humanity; what study can be more instruc- 

 tive and improving thau that which, by 'teaching us to 

 look into the beautiful and harmonious world around us, 

 corrects and chastens overweening opinions of ourselves, 

 removes and dispels narrow ideas of nature, and substitutes 

 more just views of the grandeur of creation, and the per- 

 fections of its infinite Author? The studipus and the 

 observant may deduce from its varied contemplations lessons 

 of the highest wisdom and instruction ; and our immortal 

 bard, who has depicted almost every condition of human life, 

 would seem to have had the modern geologist in view, and 

 to have described with prophetic anticipation, his secluded 

 but useful existence, 



" And this our life, exempt from public haunt, 

 Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in every thing ! " 



* On the Old Red Sandstone, p. 107. 



