Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-02-26

New England we puoilsn WIN readiness,
because we believe the praise he bestows
upon this series Of Books on Natural
History is deserved. We also notice tina,
Professors Silliman Of Yale Callege.
Cleveland of Bowdoin. Sam'l Adams of
Illinois College. w. Leveret of ShurllifT
College, Upper AL on, and Pres. J. NJ.
Siurtevanl e illinois College, who never
pu, their signatures 10 anything without
consideration, have highly commended
these works. The Books are universally
liked, and are highly approved both BY
teachers and people. and are Introduced
into many of the private and public
Schools Of Ohio, Maine, Mass, New
York, Tenn. Nj iii &c &c. Such
works on Natural History are desiLera.
tum in our schools; and we hope these
viii find a general introduction in our
Territory. We are the more pleased with
Them, because the style is no, that of let
Ting science down to little minds ill the
science itself is belittled, in lhe loss of its
true dignity. Throughout The scientific
and technical terms are familiarly used.
and Glossary al the end Of each book ex-
plains these terms. Without, saying more.
we publish the communication below.
For tie Hack Eye.
To Parents and Teachers.
Permit me 10 call your attention to a
series Of elementary works on Natural
History prepared by Dr. RUscHENBERoER,
for the use of schools and published by
GRlGG & ELLIOTT. Philadelphia. These
are what they are truly styled, the First
Book OF Natural History" They are
the opening door to department Of
knowledge, high as heaven and broad rs
the universe itself, but which has until
these our times. been sealed up against
the enquiring mind as if God had reserv-
ed ''to US aud TO our children" this vas,
field for intellectual enjoymen, and mental
expatialion. No exercise of the in,ellec-
,ual faculties is more calculated TO give
correct perceptions of God. the author Of
all things. than a study Of his works.
What we call natural productions are but
organizations in the material world,
which are directly the handiwork of tha,
universal. all pervadlng spri, who is the
grand architect Of every organized body.
not only Of those vast globes tina, foa, IN
immeasurable space, suns and systems OF
worlds, but he is also the maker Of the
III, IL III = L
of the living; the animal kingdom and We
ge,able. may be truly said to be but the
work OF his FINGERS" The fealhered
tribes, The inny races, and the branching
families of the reptile and insec, order are
but the foreground, the beginnings of ere.
alton. Bur how lille is our knowledge
Of these beginnings! We see them 10 ex-
list and recognize their external forms. but
Of their place i'll the grea, scale OF organ
lied existencs, and Of the various parts
which act in the progress Of life, and oil
their internal structures. we know but We.
ry little; of the science of their organiza-
lions. the general knowledge is next to
nothing.
Here then is field now opening 10 US,
where the mind can revel in fatness and
feed on truth unalloyed with fiction. Ii
is indeed one of the mos, important fields
for intellectual investigation that has ever
been presented 10 the human mind for lis
explorations; and the mind trained up in
the study of Natures organization. is pre-.
pared to receive these moral influences
which correct the judgment and purify
the heart.
Blu. this work must begin in mental
infancy, when the seeds of character
which determine the future man are plant
ed. How highly necessary is it then,
that, before the mind becomes preosupied
by those things which are purely fancifu
and abound in error, i. be presented with
a system of truth, one which embodies
only facls--for mind nur.ured with
truth can never receive that which is 6c'
itious.
This work of the author, therefore
canno, be TOO highly valued. Like every
other work Of science, ii is a system o
facts, developing the wonderful mechanism
Of organized beings from man dowr
through all the order. genera and species
Of animated being TO the tinlest thing tina
moves. Il is work ,ha, should be il
every family, and studied by every mem
Der Of IT, No library should he wi,hou
The whole series, and if there be no libra
~ in the family, the books shonId at ono
be the beginning Of one. No child shout
be without them, whose mind is 5eginnin
to act. The study of natural his,or
should be considered as important an
necessary branch Of school inslruclo
as geography and arithmetic, for the rea
son tina, j, is destined to exert grea, an
leading influence in The formation Of III
future character Of man. Not a wor
need be said Of the character and talent
Of the author, DR. Ruschenberger. He
too well and too universally known
: require any recommendation from me-
, He has long been surgeon in the U
: Navy, aud has reflected honor upon tn
service.
The publishers have also prepared an
published series uf ScLnol Readers,
which their great aim seems to have oee
10 instruct The moral as well as the INTEL
: gen, faculties of the mind. and well la,
. | q rt,.,,