164 THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUARIUM. 



only a very limited number of objects in the impe- 

 rial city beside it can inspire. These same rocks, 

 objects of my former aversion, are now to me what 

 the stairs of Holyrood are to the antiquarian, the 

 Calton Hill to seekers after fine views, or, to expand 

 the metaphor, each barren crag offers to me what 

 quiet woods full of game, and fields abounding in 

 rare flowers, offer to the sportsman and to the botan- 

 ist. After a time it became a pleasure, almost bor- 

 dering upon a passion, to be examining some crystal 

 pool, by whose side 



" Nought was heard 

 Save the rough cadence of the dashing wave." 



Even the commonest sea- weeds, once that I began to 

 know something of their physiological wonders, as- 

 sumed an importance they could never otherwise attain. 

 Nor was there wanting, I hope, one of the most salu- 

 tary results of initiation into any branch of knowledge 

 upon the 4 mind, opening it to a higher conception of 

 the wonders of the universe, and, consequently, of the 

 might and grandeur of that Being from whom all 

 these things are, and by whom all things exist. Never 

 surely shall the immortal lines of the poet be more 

 frequently quoted than by the sea-shore : 



" These are Thy glorious works, Parent .of good, 

 Almighty ! Thine this universal frame, 

 Thus wondrous fair; Thyself how wondrous then ! 

 Unspeakable, who sitt'st above these heavens 

 To us invisible, or dimly seen 

 In these Thy lowest works ; yet these declare 

 Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine." 



