148 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



the world is indebted for many of the most useful 

 discoveries and improvements which mark the pro- 

 gress of the arts and sciences. The same enthu- 

 siasm of character, the same tenacity of purpose, have 

 alike been exerted in perfecting- the magnificent con- 

 ceptions of genius, as in increasing the material for 

 that paper on which these are recorded. Let us riot 

 slight the indefatigable labourers who have pursued 

 the less splendid, though no less useful objects of 

 inquiry. 



A minute detail of the numerous experiments made 

 by M. Schaffer does not come within the scope of 

 this volume. A slight notice, however, may not, 

 perhaps, be wholly without interest, as it will serve 

 to show what a boundless store is contained within 

 the vegetable kingdom, convertible into this increas- 

 ingly useful purpose. 



M. Schaffer relates that his interest in the pursuit 

 becoming well known, every body was anxious to 

 supply some material, or to suggest some hint in 

 furtherance of his views, and that the most hetero- 

 geneous substances were constantly presented to him 

 with the question " Can you make this into paper ? " 

 His account of the causes which led him to many 

 trials of different substances is confirmatory of the 

 foregoing, while it illustrates the observation, that 

 from the most trifling circumstances useful know- 

 ledge may be obtained by those who walk abroad 

 with their senses and understandings alive to sur- 

 rounding objects. 



By this means, and by the zealous co-operation of 

 those more immediately about him, M. Schaffer 

 affirms that his catalogue was much increased : 

 while he became so absorbed in the all-engrossing 

 subject, that it would seem the whole world assumed 

 to him the character of one vast mass of latent 

 material for paper. 



