146 
MEMOIR OF WILLUGHBY. 
immortality — which is derived from the fact, that 
whereas every other sensitive being is in some 
degree essential to the happiness of some other 
earthly beings, man only stands alone in this 
respect, since every other tribe of being would 
continue equally happy did mankind universally 
cease to exist. What may he not expect from 
this obvious phenomenon, but that he is the last 
apparent link in the chain of earthly being, ready 
to be removed without any disturbance to the 
order and welfare of nature, but also most pro- 
bably having relations to other classes of beings 
superior to himself in other scenes of existence. 
Nor will the presumption appear to him totally 
unfounded, that when removed thither, the 
works of God will still continue to be the objects 
of his attention, and that the knowledge he is 
now acquiring may prepare him to enter here- 
after upon a proportionally higher position of 
dignity and enjoyment.* 
* Those readers who are yet unacquainted with Mr 
Swainson’s Discourse on the Study of Natural History, 
edited in Dr Lardner’s Cabinet Cyclopaedia, may there 
find these and other inducements to such pursuits drawn 
out and exemplified in the most admirable manner. It is 
hoped that the acknowledgments already made by the 
writer of this Memoir will be deemed sufficient. To 
himself it seems no less a privilege than a duty to confess 
his obligations to so excellent a writer. 
