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CHAPTER X. 

 "LIVE LIONS," PAST, PBESEKT, AKD FUTUBE. 



" \Vee have also pai-kes ami enclosures for all sorts of boasts and birds 

 which wee vse, not only for view or rarenesse, but likewise for dissections ; 

 that thereby wee may take light what may bee wrought upon the body of 

 man." 



THE good time coming foreshadowed by Lord Bacon in that re- 

 markable fragment the "Xew Atlantis" is gradually drawing nigh. 

 Our various scientific and philosophical societies give us an 

 almost exact realization of the ideal " Soloman's House," with its 

 different means and appliances for ascertaining the " causes and 

 secret motions of things, and the enlarging of the bounds of 

 Humane Empire, to the effecting of all things possible ;" while 

 the united gatherings of their members at the meetings of the 

 British Association, correspond precisely with those " circuits or 

 visits of diuerse Principall Citties of the Kingdorne" when new 

 inventions and discoveries were made public. In respect to 

 actual achievements we have of course still to discover the 

 " Water of Paradise," " souereigne for health and prolongation Oi 

 life ;" and with all our skill in horticulture we still fall short of 

 making "diuerse plants rise by mixtures of earthes without 

 seeds," and of making one " tree or plant turne into another." 

 But with the exception of conceits like these, which the progress 

 of knowledge has exploded, we have already in a thousand ways 

 far outstripped the boldest imaginings of the great philosopher. 



In respect to the study of Natural History the " preparations 

 and instruments of Soloman's House are pretty much the same 

 as we have ourselves. The " particular pooles, where wee make 

 trialls upon fishes," are fairly represented, no doubt, by the 

 Aquarium, with a little advantage perhaps on our side. And so 

 with respect to " parkes and enclosures for all sorts of beasts and 

 birds," excepting that in this case the end we propose stops short 

 of the lofty purpose suggested by Lord Bacon, and relates mainly 



