Delaware journal., 1827-10-30

Science, By Nm. Gibbons, NJ. D. President.
FELLOW CITIZENS:
In discharge of the duties of my appointment,
proceed to give an imperfect sketch Of some of the
objects embraced by our Association.
Man, destitute of mental cultivation, has been
aptly compared TO block of MARBLE in the state in
which we find it when taken from the quarry. A
good education accomplishes in the one case what
the chisel of skilfu artist performs in the other
and by small acquaintance only with mankind, we
are enabled to perceive the closeness of the ANA
ogy.
In whatever point of view we consider the human
being--whether we regard his present comforts, his
future prospects, the benefits to be derived from his
civil and social relations the exaation of his ma
ture, or his high destiny--we shall find that all is
staked on the Improvement Of his mind.
! In whatever region Of the globe we discover him
whether roaming Indian in the West a wander
ing Arab in the East, shivering at the North, bask
ing in the South or an inhabltant of the favor
ed climes Of Europe--void of intellectual improve
rnent he is still, wherever located, savage crea
| ture surrounded by wants and wretchedness, or
plum sed into excesses IN his pleasures low and
sensual fierce in his desires, cruel in his resent
ments. Destitute, in this state, of capacity for ra-
tona government, he either lives in anarchy, or
crouches to a despot Ignorant or regardless OF
his moral and religious duties, the victim OF impos-
ture, or the slave OF superstition.
But happily for race, there is another side to
this picture, where the barren waste trans
formed into paradise, with the stree of life,o
dfIusing its benecent influence through every COM
partment For man. enlightened by the rays OF
science, and Improved by intellectual exercise dis
plays an almost nexhaustible fund of resources, in
subdung obstacles to supply his wants, and to null
tiply his comforts and his advantages. But 1t is
when he adds VIRTUE to knowledge, that he as
IL of bic caIo harp nre-
sents himself to us a finished character; and it is
, when we view him in this position, that we can
adopt the language of the Psamist :-s' Thou hast
made him little lower than the angels, and hast
crowned him with glory and honour!''
To reach this exalted point on the scale of Great
ed beings ought to be the primary object of each
: individual and this Academy, being organized fol
the purpose of lultivang the NATURAL SCIENCES, as
one of the means OF attaining this elevation cheer
Il fully embrace the present opportunity to inquire
u briefly, how far they may be made subservent te
. the noble design.
The natural sciences include within their exten
sye range vast number and variety of objects
+e eyery thing in short on this globe, and within it
both animate and inanimate. Hence, wherever the
eve turns or the foot treads, subjects intrude upor
us, exciting attention, or inviting our inquiry
In order to distinguish one thing from another, ant
facilitate the acquisition of knowledge, naturalist
~ ~ tenl-to divide sub-divide arrange, and form nom
- enclatures and whatever cavillers may say upo
GO this subject the immense number and variety OF oh
iects, their equally various relations, with their s.
mltudes--all point out the necessity OF systemati
arrangement science destitute of this would be
chaos, without form and void" But whilst &c
yocating the necessity of systems, it ought not to
forgotten that to know the name OF thing merel.
although essential to science, is scarcely, of itsel
Cdi yVo tho Ot animals. plant
- and minerals; we may even acquire several ia
Ps' puanes and have as many names for each article
~ but if we remain ignorant ofthelr natures and use
'I' all our knowledge is little better than learned Ign
e. rance and, although DEPRESSION, may be alo'
ed the remark that present modes OF educatio
~ are too much limited to this kind OF learning, a.
that after having passed through what is dgnhed WI
, the name of finished education if we stop here
we do not observe, read, and Think for ourselve
10 we shall be found almost destitute OF real kno'
-, ledge We have only been putt possession OF Y
tools with which to acquire and IT we do not hand
them they will rust our hands, and our hnsh
'z education will prove but of little benefit, either
go 80 ourselves or the world.
~ ~ The NATURAL SCIENCES, or those embraced
- our institution, arranged under the three gre
w W heads denominaed the ANIMAL, the VEGETABLE, a
I' the MINERAL kingdoms. In the few remarks vino
NM NM am TO make on each of them, shall begin with tn
u.' ' which is the most simple and easy: ascending,
e'- the progress of investigation to that which is mo
- complicated and difficult.
MINrRALoai treats of all the inorganic substanc
found on the surface of the earth, and WlthnIt.
. far as our knowledge extends the number OF slmp
bo,ies arc fe,y but the manner in which the COZ
ay. mounds are formed. and the properties OF the mgr
dients are so multiform, that they produce an ame
infinite number of transformations, all differing elt
or in their external characters orlntern qualitle
= - and which often delight and surprise us with their
Il - nd beautv In these operations the INC