[ 6 8 7 - ] 
necefiaries, the conveniences, and even the elegancies, 
of life. The cultivation of that knovvlege, which 
leads to the inveftigation of its fubjeds, cannot, 
therefore, but be highly ufeful and neceffary : and 
altho’ the bare fcienee of natural knovvlege is of it- 
fe If worthy of applaufe, yet it ought to be confi- 
dered, in reality, as the neceflary means only of ap- 
plying the fubjeds of nature’s kingdoms to their true 
ends and purpofes, the fervice of mankind. To know 
and diftinguifh, by determined and fpeciiic charac- 
ters, even but a fmall fhare of that amazing multi- 
tude of objeds, with which the great Parent of na- 
ture has furniihed our globe, is a talk far more than 
equal to the duration of human life. To inveftigate 
and afcertain their various qualities and ufes is equally 
arduous and impradicable. While the naturalifts, 
therefore, are employed in diftinguifhing the forms 
of things, let others exert the united efforts of genius 
and application to inveftigate their various properties 
and ules. I need not fay the field for both is bound- 
lefs : it doubtlefs will be fo for ages yet to come. 
The hopes of difcovering fome latent property, which 
may turn out to the advantage of his fellow creatures, 
will animate the man, whofe mind is truly formed 
for relifhing the pleafures of natural fcience ; and 
however the refult may be, the infpedion and con- 
templation of natures produdions wiH ever afford 
that fatisfadion, which will amply repay him for his 
trouble. The minuter, and, as they are commonly 
eftimated, the mod abjed and infignificant things 
are not beneath our notice ; and an attentive min'd 
will readily conceive how much farther, and more 
extenlively ufeful, every branch of nature’s kingdom 
may 
