go , LECTURE I. 



the cause of the vital phaenomena. He per- 

 ceived that however diiFerent in form and 

 faculty, every creature was nevertheless allied 

 to himself, because it was a living being ; 

 and therefore he became solicitous to en- 

 quire how the vital processes were carried 

 on in all the varieties of animal, and even 

 vegetable existence. In the progress of 

 science, genius, with light and airy steps, 

 often far precedes judgment, which advances 

 slowly, and either finds or forms a road along 

 which all may proceed with facility and 

 security ; but the direction of the course of 

 judgment is often suggested, and its actions 

 are excited and acceleratad by the invoc- 

 ations of preceding genius. 



Whether truth be discovered by that pe- 

 netrating foresight which is characteristic of 

 genius, or ascertained by the more laborious 

 methods of experiment and induction, still, 

 when it is once found, each succeeding 

 observation serves but to convince us of its 

 nature and reality. No one could be more 

 scrupulous in admitting propositions to be 

 proved, than Mr. Hunter j yet he was con- 



