58 V LECTURE II. 



reputation, by attempting to depress that 

 of another ; for general observation speed- 

 ily detects what each has done for the 

 promotion of science; and their respective 

 merits are impartially appreciated by the 

 public; therefore the attempt to under- 

 value another, becomes an offence against 

 public opinion, and at the same time, 

 " shows a most pitiful ambition in him 

 that uses it." 



Mr. Hunter knew nothing about sys- 

 tems ; when he met with an animal lie had 

 never dissected, he cared but little by what 

 name it was called, to what family it be- 

 longed, with what others it was associated, 

 either by natural or artificial ties. He 

 chiefly wished to know, how its food was 

 digested: how its blood circulated; how 

 it respired ; what were its feelings, instincts, 

 and habits; how it secured or defended it- 

 self from injury; how the multiplication of 

 its species was effected and insured. Yet, 

 by noting the facts relative to these sub- 

 jects, it surely must be interesting to ob- 

 serve, how much his arrangement and ex- 



