NATURAL HISTORY. 49 



thus the human mind is gradually exercised, en- 

 larged and edified, until all the reasoning powers 

 are called into their fullest activity, through the 

 agency of which we are prepared for the higher 

 destinies which await us. 



Under such auspices, it becomes our duty, not 

 only to endeavour to make ourselves acquainted 

 with the subjects of natural history at whatever pe- 

 riod of life we may have arrived, but to lose no op- 

 portunity of impressing on the infant mind (always 

 prone to acquire a knowledge of such things as 

 are presented to it) those branches of the subject 

 best suited to its capacity, and to explain in the 

 most intelligible language their uses and purpose ; 

 to encourage it by every means in its inquiries ; 

 and never to suppress a curiosity, implanted by 

 nature for the wisest of purposes, under the erro- 

 neous impression that it originates in frivolity, 

 or a desire to be intrusive or troublesome. 



Thus by degrees, a knowledge of all the diffe- 

 rent substances of the creation, and the appear- 

 ances of nature, will be acquired, and receive a 

 lasting impression; and the mind, having once 

 taken an active direction, industry, invention, re- 

 flection, investigation, and reasoning upon causes, 

 will succeed each other in regular order, and 

 ultimately produce the highest intellectual ac- 

 quirements, (however comparatively imperfect they 

 may be,) to which the human mind can aspire. 



E 



