XIV. 



AN 'APPLICATION.' 



IF there is one class of mind in the world with a 

 native antipathy to improvement, there is another 

 and much more really mischievous, that seems ever 

 destined to caricature it. As every animal, however 

 noxious and seemingly useless, has its appointed 

 prey, so do the natural enemies of all scientific 

 advancement in their own art, trade, or calling, 

 whatever that may be, find a never-failing source of 

 triumph and enjoyment in cracking the bones of 

 blundering Enthusiasts who dog the path of pro- 

 gressing Truth, like distorting shadows, throwing 

 her calm clear profile against each passing object, in 

 every variety of burlesqued and ridiculous outline. 

 It has puzzled philosophers of limited patience and 

 observation, to reflect upon this fact : forgetting, or 

 never having noticed, the "gentle-handed tolerance 

 which marks the parent-discipline of Nature, over 

 her inter-squabbling and mutually-intolerant chil- 



