8 ON THE STUDY OF 



collection of facts from the experience of many 

 ages, that any thing like system was even con- 

 templated ; much less a knowledge of the struc- 

 ture and economy of the different animate and 

 inanimate substances which constitute the most 

 important and most interesting part of modern 

 natural history; and which, considered as the 

 pillar stone of all human knowledge, and as 

 affording the most rational sources of instruc- 

 tion and amusement of any perhaps that can be 

 brought under contemplation, is a study to which 

 I now most particularly wish to invite your 

 attention. 



For the sake of illustration, let us picture to 

 ourselves the effect upon our minds, had we, 

 upon the earliest dawn of reason, possessed the 

 intuitive faculty of comprehending at one view 

 the existing order of things of explaining to 

 ourselves the laws by which they are governed 

 and of classing and arranging the different ob- 

 jects, so as to admit of easy reference whenever 

 it suited our wants, or awakened our curiosity. 

 We should be immediately struck with the gran- 

 deur, order, and contrivance of the objects which 

 surrounded us, and with the benevolence and 

 omnipotence of Him by whom they were created. 

 Commencing our observations at the silent 

 hour of night, when all terrestial objects are 

 obscured under the veil of darkness, and animate 

 nature is sunk into repose ; our eyes would be 



