TO THE READER

Summary

Natural science is unquestionably one of the grandest subjects of human investigation. The pursuits of literature or the fine arts, however pleasing in themselves, fall short in comparison of the sublime truths unfolded by the material universe. Whether soaring into illimitable space, or descending the scale of nature to view the world of wonders displayed in a single drop of stagnant water, the mind becomes everywhere stored with rich and exalted ideas, and loses those narrow prejudices which but too frequently arise from local habits or a contracted education. The man on whom this study has its due influence receives the clearest insight into the problem of his own existence. He considers himself as a citizen of the world, and looks upon every man, of whatever country, color, or creed, with the most impartial eye; he cannot, in fact, but be a good man.

Curiosity, the principal motive to this study, is more or less in the minds of all men; but it is so implanted in some as to abstract them from every other pursuit, and engage them in intellectual researches by a thirst after knowledge which no discovery can quench—which success inflames the more. When Descartes had taken a survey of all the employments of men, in order to choose a profession, he became persuaded that he could not do better than devote his whole life to investigating the truth.