SECTION IV. 



Precautions in observing Nature. 



THE precautions necessary to be observed in con- 

 templating the works of nature are very few. It 

 is not necessary to allude to personal safety ; be- 

 cause it may be presumed that every body can 

 attend to that, by keeping out of dangerous situa- 

 tions, and from eating unknown vegetables. But 

 still, there are some prejudices to be avoided, as well 

 as some general laws which must not be violated, 

 else in either case, the result of our observation will 

 be error, and not knowledge. 



However tastes may differ, and tastes, which 

 are habits formed by the thoughts running more in 

 one direction than in others, are perhaps as often 

 founded in error as in truth, there is really no 

 ugliness in nature, unless it is actually made by 

 the observers themselves. The exercise of the 

 senses, and especially that of the sense of sight, is 

 always pleasing a gratification, and the only 

 way in which both mind and body can be grati- 

 fied. It is gratifying, because the probability is, 

 that sensation is in itself a direct renewal of the 

 organ of sense. It is probable that the exceed- 

 ingly small and delicate texture in the eye feeds 

 upon and drinks up the colours of the landscape, 

 or whatever else it sees, in the same manner that 



