Dr. T. R. Beck's Address. 141 

 acquire that intense interest, which every thing relating to the ear- 

 ly history of America is one day destined to obtain. Among 

 quadrupeds, what can be more curious, than the accounts given 

 by travellers, of the manners of the beaver. Pope, in his Essay 

 on Man, has designated the elephant by the epithet of " half-rea- 

 soning," but how far do the most striking traits related of him 

 fall below those recorded of the American animal. The admira- 

 ble plan of union, the ingenuity evinced in felling trees, the skill 

 displayed in building— the solidity of the dwelling, and the fore- 

 sight in the collection of magazines of food, all designate great 

 sagacity, and an instinct which should have, in some degree, pro- 

 tected it from the destroying hands of the hunter. 



The brief notice which I have now given might be extended 

 through the other divisions of Zoology, but I will not venture on 

 this, at the present time. Many points connected with the sub- 

 ject have been ably and amply illustrated in an introductory dis- 

 course, before the Literary and Philosophical Society of New- 

 York ; and at the same time, additional subjects, deserving of 

 investigation, have been indicated. The distinguished author, 

 with others, is from time to time, engaged in unfolding new spe- 

 cies, which inhabit our waters—or dwell in our forests ; while the 

 insects, and other inferior classes of animals have found an ob- 

 server whom we may with safety as well as pride, place in the 

 first rank with any European Entomologist. Even the despised 

 science of Conchology, so much sneered at by those who have 

 formed comparative estimates of the value of different branches of 

 human knowledge, is daily obtaining respectable votaries, and they 

 who, with supercilious feelings, were inquiring to what use the 

 study of shells could be applied, are at length convinced, that the 

 wisdom which formed and perpetuates them, knows nothing great 

 or little, as man knows it. Geology, that study, which, among 

 the natural and physical sciences, is only inferior in the extent of 

 its views and the sublimity of its investigations, to Astronomy, is 

 variously and strikingly illustrated by a previous knowledge of 

 the branch in question. 



On Botany, — its interesting nature and its varied utility, but 

 few observations require to be made. We need only refer to the 

 spot, where it must be successfully cultivated— if cultivated at all. 

 It is the country — amidst the woods and groves — and along the 

 banks of our beautiful and majestic streams. 



