INTRODUCTION. 3 



ters. As those who cultivate a science have fre- 

 quent occasion to seek in books the develope- 

 ment of the principles exposed by the professor , 

 there is a library exclusively devoted to natural 

 history , to which they have daily access , and in 

 which are found descriptions and drawings of 

 objects, with the history of science, and the ac- 

 tual state of human knowledge. 



From the connexion that exists between the 

 several parts of natural history , the professors 

 are enabled, by mutual communications, to extend 

 their views beyond the branch which immedi- 

 ately occupies them, and by the union of their 

 observations and discoveries, to present what 

 may properly be denominated the philosophy of 

 nature. 



The man of science visits the Museum to aug- 

 ment his knowledge and fix his ideas ; the medi- 

 tative man contemplates an assemblage of won- 

 ders, which exalts his admiration of the riches 

 of nature and the power of that being who has 

 assigned its invariable laws ; the studious youth 

 is inspired by the recollection of the illustrious 



1= 



