THE EUEOPEAN SEAS. 



79 



honours, no social position; it has no academical 

 distinctions accorded to it, and the few official posts 

 connected with the study of it are but poorly re- 

 munerated and unattractive. Nevertheless, the 

 number of naturalists, of one grade or another, is 

 very considerable, and greater in Britain than in 

 any other civilized country. The majority are men 

 highly enlightened and of a liberal and far-seeing 

 spirit. They are to be found in all classes of the 

 community; mostly in the middle ranks; not un- 

 frequently among the lower classes, and sometimes, 

 though unfortunately but seldom, among the aris- 

 tocracy; this is the more to be regretted, since for 

 men with cultivated minds, and abundant leisure 

 and wealth, the study of Natural History is pecu- 

 liarly adapted. The neglect of this science in our 

 universities is the cause of the defect. Sooner or 

 later, it will be remedied, when its unquestionable 

 educational value shall be turned to account. It is 

 in vain that we erect museums and amass valuable 

 and extensive collections, if we discourage the ac- 

 quirement of the knowledge for the illustration of 

 which all this scientific display is prepared. We 

 boast of our vast cabinets of objects of Natural His- 

 tory, and, in the same breath, question the propriety 

 of teaching men the meaning of these treasures of 

 divine workmanship. We complain of the want of 

 teachers, yet make but unwilling efforts towards 

 training students for the duty of instructing others. 

 If there be one land above all other lands favoured 



