388 Correspondence, 



P. S. — The causes of the phenomena discussed in this letter, as also 

 of those connected with the forests and general appearance of the 

 hills in the Mountain Provinces (I mean in regard to Northern and 

 Southern exposures,) ought to form the subject of another article, 

 which, if you like, I will write, but these things have all been account- 

 ed for by better men. 



Memoir of William Maclure, Esq. By Dr. S. M. Morton. 



[From the Journal of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia.] 



The most pleasing province of Biography is that which 

 commemorates the sway of the affections. These, however, 

 variously expressed, tend to the diffusion of Religion, of 

 Virtue and of Knowledge, and consequently of Happiness. 

 He who feeds the hungry, or soothes the sorrowful, or en- 

 courages merit, or disseminates truth, justly claims the res- 

 pect and gratitude of the age in which he lives, and conse- 

 crates his name in the bosom of posterity. The benefactions 

 of a liberal mind not only do good of themselves, but incite 

 the same spirit in others ; for who can behold the happy 

 results of useful and benevolent enterprise, and not feel the 

 godlike impulse to participate in and extent them ? 



The study of Natural History in this country, though late 

 in attracting general attention, has expanded with surprising 

 rapidity. Thirty years ago all our naturalists were embraced 

 in a few cultivators of Botany and Mineralogy, while the 

 other branches were comparatively unheeded and unknown. 

 The vast field of inquiry was devoid of labourers, excepting 

 here and there a solitary individual who pursued the se- 

 questered paths of Science, filled with an enthusiasm of 

 which the busy world knew nothing. How widely different 

 is the scene which now presents itself to our view ! Behold 

 the multitude which throngs that once neglected arena, and 

 mark the cheering results ! We see the unbounded resources 

 of the land brought forth to the light of day, and made to 

 minister to the wants and the intelligence of humanity. Every 



