150 [Assembly 



ments, it may be stated here, that the first public announcement 

 of the cellular structure of plants, which has only lately (1849) 

 been thoroughly examined, was made by Robert Hooke in the 

 early part of the 17th century — a fact that is at once both curious 

 and impressive, as atibrding an instance of the length of time 

 that a great scientific truth may lie dormant for want of detailed 

 observation. 



Dr. Edward Clarke, the celebrated traveler and improver of 

 the blow-pipe, was a man of such untiring industry in the pur- 

 suit of scientific knowledge, that, on a friend's hinting to him one 

 day that he "had too many irons in the fire," he replied that 

 such application was imperative for success in any study, and 

 that a man, so far from placing the poker into the fire, would do 

 well to put the shovel and tongs there also; "and, sir," continu- 

 ed he, if there is any room left, put the coal scuttle over all." 



It must not, however, be supposed that this continued industry 

 is to absorb all the finer feelings of our nature. To Dr. Clarke's 

 imperishable honor, he was to his aged mother the most loving 

 and affectionate of sons. The Mohammedans have a saying that 

 we can have but one mother ; Dr. Clarke, however, has shown 

 us by his exampLe that he had two affections — liis mother and 

 science. 



But, sir, we -will come a little nearer home, and bring forward 

 on our canvas the two great apostles of industry of this coun- 

 try — the lamented Audubon and Elihu Burritt. I am confident, 

 sir, you will support me in the opinion that the unwearied per- 

 severance of these two great men has covered the whole world 

 of idleness with " shame and confusion of face." 



You may possibly consider me an enthusiast in these remarks; 

 I have, however, good and sound authority for my opinion. Dr. 

 Beck, in one of his clinical lectures, observed to his pupils one 

 day that, without enthusiasm in any and every pursuit, we must 

 fail in our efforts for any favorable results. . 



And now, sir, with your permission we will, for a few moments, 

 glance at a few notices which I have gathered in my desultory 

 course of reading. 



