PRECE

THE Study of Natural History is within the reach of every one; and he who is engaged in it is presented at every step in his progress with something capable of awakening pleasing emotions. The whole earth is to him a vast Museum, in which are crowded beautiful and sublime objects, animate and inanimate, in an almost endless variety, all combining to amuse the understanding and gladden the heart.

Nor is the study less useful than delightful. Common and indispensable as are on our tables, the wheaten loaf, the potatoe, and other vegetable substances, they were all once in appearance only weeds among weeds; and it is by a discriminating attention to plants, that they have been brought to occupy so important a place in our domestic economy. From a similar examination of the productions of the earth, the physician has extracted from their secret channels those correcting juices which remove or alleviate the diseases incident to the human body, restoring it to the freshness and vigour of health. But for this study likewise, to take one or two instances from a thousand, the pods of the cotton-tree, and the cocoon of the silk-worm, which contribute so largely to the comfort and elegance of our clothing, would drop useless to the ground, and rot among decayed and decaying foliage.

This search into Nature produces also a highly beneficial influence on the understanding. Mathematics do not more effectually strengthen and discipline the judgment. By a continual analysis, comparison, and generalization of things, the

study of Natural History teaches the art of thinking clearly and accurately, and of reasoning with precision and force, with a much less degree of weariness, than that which usually accompanies the study of simple quantities and mere abstract forms.

An attention to Natural Objects also improves the taste. Nature is the admitted standard of perfection. The student, who is closely examining the proportions of her inimitable forms, is taking the surest way to acquire a correct judgment of what is fit and elegant.

It exercises at the same time a powerful and salutary influence over the affections. There are studies which have a tendency to deaden the feelings and render the heart callous to the best moral impressions; but by fixing the mind on living objects, in which wisdom and goodness are strikingly exhibited, and by raising it through them to the Creator, in whom centre all perfection and happiness, the study of Natural Objects excites a continual train of ideas most friendly to whatever is pure, benevolent, and grateful. And next to the devout exercises of religion, perhaps nothing will more completely remove sadness and disquietude, than the silent eloquence of flowers, and the vocal song of birds. It has been justly observed by the excellent Ornithologist, Alexander Wilson, who studied his favourite subject among the wild as well as civilized provinces of the United States: "An intercourse with these little innocent warblers is favourable to delicacy of feeling and to sentiments of humanity; for I have observed the rudest and most savage softened into benevolence, while contemplating the interesting manners of these inoffensive little creatures." Indeed, it is our firm belief, that there exists not a person, however depraved and abandoned his life may be, in whose bosom kind and soothing feelings have not been excited in some favourable moment, by the contemplation of Animated Nature.

Useful and pleasing as the study of Nature unquestionably is, it was for a long time greatly neglected. Yet there have

been in all ages minds of the highest order, which have directed all their energies to this most rational pursuit. A Shakspeare and a Scott have not bestowed more pains in delineating every shade of character among men, and in pursuing every river and streamlet of passion, as it boils and meanders in the human breast, than a Linnæus and a Smith in observing the qualities of inferior objects, over which man is the appointed lord: nor have Poets of eminence disdained to exercise their genius in describing vegetables and insects.

A Selection of the most pleasing pieces in our own language, the compiler of this little Volume ventures to offer to the public, not being aware that anything of the kind has hitherto been published. Notes, by way of illustration, have been added from the writings of others, and occasionally from his own reflections. In some of the Poems and Notes which were not altogether adapted to his purpose, he has taken the liberty of making a few slight omissions.

The Poems have been chiefly taken from modern publications; yet a few have been introduced from those of a more ancient date. Of these, the leaves and blossoms may not be so fresh and beautiful as their more youthful associates, but the fruit, the moral sentiment, is both sweet and salutary.

Many pieces have been selected from the works of female writers, who have of late meritoriously employed a portion of their leisure in throwing over Natural Objects a poetic ornament. It is from a belief that these productions will be found equal in beauty and interest to any the compiler could present to the reader, and from a desire to exhibit the nicely distinguishing graces of female genius.

He has only to add, that in making this selection, it has been his endeavour to submit to its readers such pieces as would gratify the taste and improve the understanding. Happy should he feel, if it prove the means of enhancing in any degree the pleasures of those, to whom the various beauties of Nature are already familiar, or of leading others more frequently to examine and admire the wonderful works of

Creation, and to offer praise to that Almighty Being, who, in wisdom, has gilded the insect's wing, made sweet the linnet's voice, and bid the roses bloom.

"Oh! how canst thou renounce the boundless store

Of charms, which Nature to her votary yields ?
The warbling woodland, the resounding shore,
The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields;
All that the genial ray of morning gilds,

And all that echoes to the song of even;

All that the mountain's sheltering bosom shields,

And all the dread magnificence of Heaven,

Oh! how canst thou renounce, and hope to be forgiven?"

I CANNOT allow a Second Edition of this work to appear before the Public without expressing my grateful thanks for the kind reception it has already received. It has been compiled with a view to implant a deep love of Nature in the bosom of its Readers; and, should it be the means of leading any one to "look from Nature up to Nature's God," an important end will most certainly be obtained.

BOSTON, near Tadcaster,

August 27th, 1846.

E. W.