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added an acquaintance with the several sciences, their his- 
tory and principles ; because hints or expressions of a general 
nature, which are perfectly intelligible to those acquainted 
with a science, are usually passed without observation 
by those, who look at an author only in a literary point of 
view. It is not because I have myself been addicted to 
the study of natural history, that I consider a knowledge 
of it equally requisite, for investigating this subject and 
determining the question of priority. But because only those, 
acquainted with the almost immutable laws, which control 
the distribution of vegetable and animal forms, perceive and 
feel the full force of the inferences to be deduced ; from the 
presence of the products of plants in particular places, 
which could not be those of their growth. A Naturalist 
would at the same time, be more likely to discover, from 
the peculiarities of animal and vegetable physiology ; whether 
opinions were not rather formed in other climates, than in 
those in which they are promulgated. 
In prosecuting this subject, some assistance will, even- 
tually, no doubt, be afforded by the Hindoos, who are 
now so zealously employed in studying the English language 
and European science. Some of them will probably conjoin 
with these a study of their own ancient language, and 
trace in it some of the earliest indications of sciences, which 
have been fully developed only in the countries of the West. 
Much aid will also be obtained from the prosecution of 
the translations which are now making from the Sanscrit, 
into Latin and several European languages. But the 
assistance here is less than might be expected, from the 
translations as yet chiefly consisting of works of a lite- 
rary nature. But even these, when read by those versed 
in the several sciences, will often indicate the knowledge 
which had been attained on scientific subjects in the countries 
where they were written; and will, therefore, be available 
