Introductory Lecture. 147 



I have admired, when travelling by the guidance of his descrip- 

 tions, and by them only, through unexplored districts in 

 Western Asia, has in several instances described and com- 

 mented upon geological phenomena, and started views which for 

 centuries remained unnoticed, because far in advance of their 

 time. 



Now it is certainly remarkable that there should be no evi- 

 dence of any other than these two illustrious philosophers, 

 amongst all the ancients, having made real progress in our 

 science. In all the statements of importance put forth by 

 them, the information is given from their own observation, and 

 no references are made indicative of there having been other 

 men in the field, working in the true spirit of induction, which 

 distinguishes what they themselves did and placed on record. 

 Of other ancient authors whom we are accustomed to quote 

 on account of natural history statements, Dioscorides, although 

 the preserver of much interesting information concerning 

 plants, can scarcely be regarded as more than a herbalist, 

 whilst Arrian and Pliny are in the main compilers, and cer- 

 tainly have no claim to take scientific rank with Aristotle and 

 Strabo. 



The building of the great edifice of natural history science 

 was long deferred, although, as we have seen, the corner 

 stones were placed early. During the last 200 years almost 

 everything has been done, and during the latter of these two 

 centuries, the best part of the work. The order of develop- 

 ment of the several sections has been in the main empirical. 

 Thus botany advanced first ; chiefly through the impulse given 

 to the study by its adoption in schools of medicine, and its 

 connection with the materia medica ; zoology passed through 

 many phases, owing much to the systematization of the know- 

 ledge of it in his day by the great Linnaeus ; and more, after- 

 wards, through the wedding of it with comparative anatomy, 

 by John Hunter, Cuvier, and their cotemporaries. Geology, 

 after struggling through the mist of vague speculation, though 

 cheered by occasional and momentary breaks of sunshine, 

 at length, at the beginning of this century, emerged into clear 

 day, and rapidly and steadily advancing, has now taken its just 

 place amongst the foremost and grandest of the sciences. 



K2 



