NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY QF MONTREAL. 69 



as they grew old, seemed to lose this ; and their inquiry as to 

 anything new, was merely as to its utility, and whether it would 

 pay. But those who retain the freshness and vigour of their 

 youth have higher conceptions of the wonderful things with which 

 they are surrounded. I have a great admiration too for what I 

 may call the scientific, method of thinking and reasoning. This 

 method could not be satisfied without seeing, knowing, and thor- 

 oughly understanding, if possible, all about the objects of nature 

 that lay within the compass of human apprehension. It was 

 close and searching. It can be satisfied only with facts carefully 

 observed and defined as the basis of its conclusions. If anything 

 were omitted in the inquiry, the conclusions would be all wrong : 

 the induction would fall to the ground, like a house of cards. 

 But when it had got all the facts and their relations to one an- 

 other it could then by the inductive process reach conclusions 

 which might be regarded as reliable and certain. There was an 

 infinite variety in the departments of natural science. Every taste 

 could thus be gratified. Some loved entomology ; but, for him- 

 self, he did not like to stick pins into butterflies and other insects. 

 The study of animal life was certainly full of interest, but to him 

 there always appeared to be something rather painful, if not cruel, 

 about it. He preferred that department of natural science which 

 had to do with what they might term, insentient life, or that 

 of the vegetable. It was very easy to undertake, and exceedingly 

 delightful. To its student the mighty forests were open, whose 

 trees lifted their heads to heaven, and if he choose he could turn 

 to the more lowly flowers of the field. Wooing them upon the 

 river's banks, he* would be repaid with unalloyed healthy pleasure. 

 I profess to have turned my attention a little in this direction. 

 Dr. Dawson had said, the study of natural science made men 

 humble. Then he (Mr. Kemp) must be so, for his part was to 

 study the humblest forms of nature, namely, marine and fresh- 

 water plants, many of which could only be observed by means of 

 the microscope ; and he would say, that he had felt true exhilara- 

 tion of mind, and pure pleasure, when he had been in the field 

 engaged in such pursuits. In that employment, he had roamed 

 amongst the cliffs of Bermuda, and been charmed with the sight 

 of that climate's most brilliant marine flora. " I have some- 

 times had amusing adventures there. One day I remember, 

 when looking round in the hope of discovering some new species, 

 I saw as I conceived one of the more brilliant red plants gleaming 



