22 



fiercest heat of the hot bed. We know not the cause 

 of the diversity, although we may admire with grati- 

 tude its beneficent operation. 



Theory and practice have too long held coquetish 

 courtship : it is time they should lie united by an 

 undissoluble union, that the crucible may lie side by 

 side with the spade, and analysis complete the re- 

 sults of experience. 



Discoveries may be made by accident, as the seeds 

 of good may be wafted by the waves, or borne by 

 the winds to our feet. But unless some providential 

 concurrence of circumstances speed them on their 

 way, they must besought out with careful diligence, 

 and gathered by patient toil. The close observation 

 of nature, more w^onderful in its minuteness than its 

 majesty, opens new regions for reflection and be- 

 stows new resources for improvement. We need 

 the keen examination, which explores the forests 

 rising on the down of the leaf; counts the tribes 

 that pasture on its surface ; distinguishes the ser- 

 pents which roll in the drop of water from the mon- 

 sters that float on the sharp edge of the acid ; num- 

 bers the herds that range the declivity of the fig ; 

 and measures the angles subtended by the crystals 

 of the snow flake. 



Instead of the fallacious pursuit of wealth among 

 the pines of the East or the wide prairies of the 

 West, he who would dig the treasures from our own 

 fields, or draw forth the riches of the realms of sci- 

 ence, might secure possessions better than have ever 

 brightened the dreams of speculation. 



Already have active minds and willing hands ef- 

 fected changes which almost approach to creations. 



