The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-19
From the Ner York Tribune, 10 inst.
INTRODUCTORY LECTURE,
by PROFESSOR A6AssIz,
At the College OF Physicians and Surgeons.
Reported for The Tribune by Dr. Houston, Steno-
grapher to IT, S. Senate.

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6cjenev of INV mower If lono,oge Inv he interss, "a
rectlv derived from IN, sub,ect i,sslf iAnnIanso,
Natural History NAV he studied i, var, dtr,ra,,,
no;,ts ofyiew Some NAV cono;da, !, ~, ,,.s,
nr information Sor ussf,l nnr,oss. M ,,..,,t -
States depends frequently on the knowledge acquired
oy ihuiViduais OF Inc structure oil the soil. The
working oil mines has become an actual business
since geology as science has given us the key 10 the
investigation Oh tue deeper regions under the surnce
OF the ground Many trades depend on the know
ledge OF certain phenomena Of Nature. Even navi-
CATION is the result Of scientific investigation and
dscovery and, at TINS time particularly, the vastly
increased facilities oil frequent intercourse between
nations have been the result oil the recent progress OF
natural seience--ot physical science especially.
mus though viewed IN TINS strictly ulilltaran aspect
n SUFFICIENT induceIncnt may be furnished Tor the
study OF Nature and oil The objects OF Natural History
III particular the subject Is yet 10 be regarded from
more elevated point OF view Ii is not enough for
u philosophical mind to know the natural pheno-
mena, II may be enough 10 know some isolated
phenomena in order TO derive important aid in the
arts but the philosopher such superficial acquain-
lance with Nature is not sufficient. He wants to
understand Nature. He is not satisfied with the
knowledge OF isolated phenomena.
When say that the philosopher desires to under
stand Nature, ! will perhaps better explain my
meaning by an example When we enter on the
study of an author We may begin at a very low
stage With one OF the classic poets OF antiquity for
example, we may begin by transating sentence by
sentence, WIN great uiHicuity, ana IN tHls way
we may go through the most beautiful language Of
ancient poetry. But would 1t by any means follow
because we nave thus spelled over the pages of
Homer, that we understand him Another and IL
hgher sort OF mental process Is requisite TO enable
US to know-to understand that sublime author II
Is only when we have become acquainted with the
condition OF human society in that age-the rivalry
which existed between the nations of Asia and
Greece-and the mythology of that remote time
that our sympathies approach thcevel of the poets
work and our hearts own the influence Of the poets
spirit.
So 1t is with the study of Nature. We may know
by their name great many animals. We may be
able to indicate with accuracy the characteristic DIFF
ferences between the various tribes of animals. We
may able to distinguish the trees in our forests and
Inc pants cultivated In our gardcnsj nay, we may
hho" any isoia.ca pant mat hourishes upon the
suiiace u our gooe' ana yer we may alter all know
ho.hlhg Oh he pan Of creation ihere Is higher
poih' u view IRON Which we a''ain deeper insgh'
,ite 'i'a' p'an--"e must understand the connection
"ss''e''P@'feeee'h CONCENTRATIONS 10 fhe Author
an VINO mas formed the Whole ana subjected 1t to
al, muse inouihealohs extending through long ages
W"ch eeo'ogy mas revealed rom the remotest epoch
up 10 the peioa When man was created and intro