Prefi 



ace. 



ideas, and teaches us to take close as well as comprehensive 

 views of objects, and argue from facts and not from notions, 

 — a Temple of Science, to enter which in a suitable mood of 

 thought will awaken the holiest and most lofty conceptions, 

 and where the mind of the worshipper, instead of being 

 dwarfed as heretofore, will find its powers become colossal, 

 and be expanded by the Genius of the place. " The reason," 

 says Aristotle, "why men do not sufficiently attend to facts 

 is the want of experience, hence those accustomed to physical 

 inquiries are more competent to lay down the principles 

 which have an extensive application ; whereas others, who 

 have been accustomed to many assumptions without the 

 confutation of reality, rarely lay down principles, because 

 they take few things into consideration."* So spoke the 

 great Stagirite 2,200 years ago ; it cannot therefore be other- 

 wise than gratifying to such of Dame Nature's disciples as 

 have devoted their lives to a consideration of her rich and 

 inexhaustible stores, to observe how her grand truths begin 

 to be appreciated, and that too in academic halls where not 

 long since it was considered an offence to associate natural 

 science teachings with the humaniora. 



I shall now proceed with the thread of a narrative which 

 began long years since, and has been continued on to Malta, 

 from whence I now take it up. 



With persons who have devoted considerable attention to 

 the physical phenomena of any region, there is engendered an 

 amor loci almost like that for one's native land. I can well 

 remember the 24th of March, 1866, when, from the deck of 

 the troopship "Simoom," I watched the familiar cliffs of the 

 above-mentioned island fading in the distant horizon, and 

 how there came over me feelings of regret at bidding adieu 

 to scenes which for the previous- six years hag! afforded me 

 much mental instruction and pleasurable occupation. But 

 having been heretofore a wandering student of nature, and 

 * "De Gen. et Corr.," 1, 2, 316. 



