162 OF THE USE 
nature which can be of ufe to him. All thofe 
things fay which man is fupported and grows, with 
which he is cloathed, and in which he prides faim- 
felf, by which he is preferved, and becomes in- 
folent *, all the pomp, the fplendor, the richnefs, 
the luxury of drefs, as well as the neceffary co- 
vering from hence have their origin. Without 
thefe things man muft be as naked, as he was 
created, and came into the world. However 
obvious this truth may be, there is a common 
queftion propofed by the vulgar to men, who 
are bufied in examining the productions of na- 
ture, and that with feme fort of fneer; o 
what end are all thefe inquiries ? By which 
they mean to infinuate, that thefe vertuofi are 
at the bottom but madmen, who fpend their 
time in a kind of knowledge, which promifes 
no advantage*, and in this way of thinking 
they are the more convinced of being right, as 
they find natural hiftory no part of public in- 
ftitutions, not received into academies amongit > 
the philofophical fciences, and as holding no 
rank either in church, or ftate. For this rea- 
fon they look on it as a mere curiofiiy , which 
only ferves as an amufement for the idle, and 
indolent. This objection has been made to 
rnyfelf, and almoft all others who give them- 
felves 
