INTRODUCTION. 
T HERE is a tale told of a wealthy farmer who had a lazy 
and improvident son, whom he called to his bedside in 
his dying hour, to inform him that in a certain part of his farm 
he had concealed a treasure. Before he had time, however, to 
state the precise locality in which it was hidden he was over- 
taken by death, and prevented from completing the revelation. 
The narrative goes on to say that as soon as the old man’s 
spirit was departed, the son delved over every portion of his 
farm in search of the treasure ; and in order the better to conceal 
his object, he at once caused the soil to be prepared for ^t he 
sowing season. The precious hoard was nowhere to be found; 
but owing to the thorough tillage to which his land had been 
subjected, his first crop was so prolific that it encouraged him 
to further industry ; and growing in substance, he forsook his 
indolent ways and became a wealthy and respected yeoman. 
This story, which is no doubt familiar to most of our readers, 
is remarkably figurative of man’s progress in scientific know- 
ledge. There is another Father; and one of the means 
employed by Him to develop the noblest powers of his children 
(often turning them from evil to good courses), is the appeal to 
their love of gain. A moment’s consideration will suggest to 
every thoughtful reader familiar illustrations of this truth, and 
we venture to say that every number of this Journal will contain 
statements of facts by which it will be corroborated. 
One example, however, appears to us more striking and 
appropriate than any other, and it is this : 
The desire to become possessed of immense treasures induced 
the representatives of science, in former times, to deny them- 
selves almost every earthly enjoyment. Secluding themselves 
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