242 



him to retire from the busy paths which he has trodden during 



youth and manhood, to spend the evening of his life in more 

 appropriate ease and quiet. But if he at length succeeds in 

 his wishes, unless he have provided some mental resource or 

 occupation for his retirement, it becomes irksome and intolera- 

 ble: and he finds that the gratification of his vv^ishes has not 

 added to his happiness, but the reverse. If, however, he will, 

 while engaged in business, choose for his amusement that 

 which he intends for his occupation in retirement, he will ac- 

 complish all that he desires. He enjoys tKe present gratifica- 

 tion, and quitting business, he assumes an occupation that cus- 

 tom has endeared. He is relieved firom the embarrassment of 

 having to devise and become familiar with that which is strange 

 and foreign to his habits and pursuits, which is often too pow- 

 erful to be overcome. And where can we look for nobler or 

 more fitting employment for this period of life, than is afford- 

 ed by the sciences, or the contemplation of the laws of nature. 

 Here " contradictions or irregularities never occur, but all ia 

 harmony. Apparent excqptions become regular, and equivoque 

 in her sublime legislation, is as unheard of as maladministra- 

 tion." 



It may, however, occur to some, that a position in a city is 

 not favorable to such an appUcation of his leisure ; that if his 

 residence were somewhere else, the inducements held out might 

 be irrisistible, but that here the attempt would be useless. 

 Nothing can be more unfounded than such a surmise ; there 

 is not one of the sciences that cannot be advantageously stu- 

 died here, and many of them with opportunities superior to 

 those afforded by other places apparently more favorably situa- 

 ted. Laying entirely out of view the valuable collections of 

 literary and scientific books which are to be found here, it may 

 with truth be asserted, that there are few places which possess 

 in theu- rocks, streams and fields, greater attractions for the 

 student of natural science than Albany. Our sands, clays and 

 rocks present a field of almost unUmited extent for geological 

 researches, and would amply repay the most minute investi- 

 gation : more especially as they are among those to which, in 

 this country, the least attention has been paid. Nor is it their 



