18 
MEMOIlt OF CAMPEK. 
this allowed, it ought surely to be reckoned rather 
as an advantage than as a subject of regret and de- 
preciation. The mechanism of the Divine Archi- 
tect which they thus unfold, yields in interest to no 
natural objects that can be presented to our contem- 
plation ; while its varied adaptation to purposes as 
extraordinary and astonishing as they are benevolent 
and wise, tends not more to exercise the powers of 
the understanding, than to awaken the best and 
noblest sentiments of our nature. To any one who 
doubts the justice of these observations, we recom- 
mend a perusal of the life of Dr Camper, and an 
examination of his varied and deeply interesting re- 
searches. 
Pf.ter Camper, the subject of this memoir, was 
born on the 11th of May 1722, at Leyden, where 
his family had for a long period held distinguished 
situations in the magistracy. His grandfather exer- 
cised the profession of medicine ; and his father, 
Florent Camper, was a Protestant clergyman, who, 
after discharging his functions for several years in 
Batavia, the then flourishing capital of the Dutch 
settlements in the East Indies, returned in 1715 
to his native country, where he continued to be 
highly esteemed, and most intimately connected 
with Boerhaave, and the other emitient men whose 
names at that period conferred lustre on the Uni- 
versity of Leyden. He was also an ardent admirer 
of the fine arts, associating much with those who 
