The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-18

and imperfect sketch Of geological disooysr7., b.,
shoSn that the surface OF the earth around us Is
mot mere meaningless ezpanse OF land and SEA. but
It is mighty record OF the wondrous past written In
characters and terms that all understand and all
must give credence to- Let also call Jour attention.
10 another familiar field Of research assisted by that
modern aid To science the mcro cpe-the history Of the
inprovement a which drrg the last fifty years is Of
Itself an interesting study and which has made aud is
detained to maize the moss remarkable discoveries in
scicace for mey be faht 20 give us new sense SO
much does II increase our powers Of ooservaton We
learn BY 1t that hs earth air and water TEEN with ex
istence and that large share Ct soi of rocks
is made mp OF the Of tho sceous shells OF ami
malcur invisible the naked e7c That the living soe
ces exist around us In mutudes and with forms ex-
aordinsry and under conditions Of existence antag
onstic 10 our ordinary conceptions Of vitality that
qurts sctra Obs ryson satisfy mind OF the truth OF
some ssntations that given by popular works
appears more absurd than the septeism that dou BITS
spiritual existence because cannot conceive OF it
without the organization with which we accustomed
to see Dc not mean to say the microscope will show
animal life without organizations bat IL sho VS. Il with
an organization so imperfect that it approaches
phhiDg point or with conditions Of life strange
entirely opposed all our ideas thst II is easier to
conceive Of existence without such body than with
When we forced to believe the grester wonder we
should not be skeptical about smaller one 10 the
naked eye the vegetable world presents aspect of i'm
moDlty ana Iepose but we learn from microscopic ob
strvatons that the interior portion Of these cellular
structures incessanfly animated by the most varied
currents either rotating ascending and descending nj
yipg and ever changing their directions. Modern sci
has invested forests with interests and won
d.is, far surprising the fancifu creations of ancient
zatiop the numbeess living that course through
every tre and shrub expanding their foliage
Ing ana forming their flowers and increasing their size
by the most beautiful and wonderful processes weaving
and creating the gorgeous covering of earth The
dreams Of the poet his Fauns and Satyrs and Dryads
feeble conceptions compared with the realities
ture. Did time permit, might glance at the most strik
ing and interesting facts in the history of animals the
beautiful variety OF vegetable life the mysterious and
startling laws chemistry or the submer discoveries Of
the astronomer but perhaps enough has been said
able meo enforce the idea to which wish to call your par
M oftrd I.fa IN
objects that constantly in view, they are
never absent from the eye but how they changed to
the mind by full knowledge of their character If two
Of your business citizens equal standing capacity
whom had devoted his leisure hours at subjects
faculties by constant application to his personal and
money making pursuits asked to look abroad
the face of nature how entirely different would be their
conceptions. To the one the rocky emnence would
obstruction unless 1t made good quarry Speak of
the soil and Its constituents he would talk OF their
crops OF the forest and he would tell you the
Inconvenience which will follow from their rapid destruc
tion and he would wonder how farms could be fenced in
fifty years from you pointed to the stars he would
talk Of the weather II the arth its value by the acre
His remarks be shrewd and but would his
better informed friend have advantages him! He
could be equally intelligent in strictly utitaran matters
and he would be vastly superior In mental resources and
in intellectual The strata of rocks to him would
be tones that contained the wonderful history Of the past
The forests Ieplete with beauty ntere variety
the world full Of wonders In the language Of Dr. john
son Whatever makes tho past the distant or the future
the advances In the dignity
Of thinking beingsn The mind thus stored cannot shrink
up and become torpid under the monotonous influence of
daily drudgery II Is protected against the influence
wholesome excitements; it has from cofroing
pursuits that cannot be exhausted their
interest SO far the world around them
the two Individuals have supposed would be complete
ly unlike In their petitions fer all practical purposes
the man who lives in bare hovel compared with him who
inhabits palace adorned with beautiful pictures sculp
turd stauary and gorgeous furniture If 1t is wise to
sdorn and beauty dwellings should not also invest
the world around with beauties and interests? And
this be done by studies involving sacrifice of time
Or means giving health and pleasure in their pursut
eakciy and vigor to the mind and force and scope
MHconceptions. Dick, in his admirable work on the
Philosophy OF Future State, has made beautiful argu
and may be continued hereafter throughout eternity
and possibly constitute part Of the employment Of
next existence Yet these studies may be entered upon
by all without sacrifice Of time money Interfering
with the paramount claims Of business pursuits At
the same time they induce those habits OF exercise
essential to the health and contribute make up the
perfect MANA sound mind in q sound body The
value of these studies will appear from examination
into the personal habits the eminent poets
orators. Statesmen, and warriors Of ancient ani
modern times, most of them having been lovers Of
nature been said that although all of our farm
did not become Presidents OF country yet the
Presidents became farmers and it Is remarkable
that sl Of Our eminent public who have preserved
their mental vigor to the close Of their lives have
keen close observers of her natural phenomena This
conspicuous in Washington Jefferson in his notes
Virginia and other writings, has sho own large share OF
learning such topics without exception every Pre-
dent has had marked tastes for natural history
ofthe physical sciences and all who have outved their
terms Of Office have retired rural life and found
ample in nature to etgy minds that had been
accustomed to the intense exctements incident to their
petitions Mr. Van Buren, is of the most skifu
farmers and keenest fishermen he formerly Of
the most able and accomplished statesmen Of
try. Patrick Henry the most eloquent orator Of our
country pasionaey fond of wandering amidst the
hills and forests and streams Of mis- native State that he
at time thought to be but little better than vagrant
The conspicuous living Of country remarka.
he for the tastes and free and constant communion
with the Druid divinity IN her groves by the sides of
streams, or in her temples in mountain gorges Like An
teus when exhaust with their strugges they touch
the earth and new visor refreshes and anmates
thtm. IL is perhaps no upjustifable fancy to
tay that the peculiar tastes of soRc OF QUE lead.
ing mon have made deep impressions upon
their cast OF character Gen Cas is naursst of large
atainments an3 his contributions to OF the scien
have been OF youe and interest lie cool cautious
and investigating showing that persistence In his vie
characteristic these who examine and explore With care
and forfy each step ia their conclusions Tho great
meDwhose recent deaths have shrouded land 10
ing and called forth expressions Of from all
OF eur citzens irrespective Of party distinctions IL
ustrstions of the advantages Of the tastes and pur-
sults desire to commend to your consideration TIE
last time saw Dir. Webster IL at this place when
vast ssebage at his entrance to do him homage
Lat evening when entered This hall 70. the FIRST time
since saw him here the object of admiration and ap
pause 1t was to witness manifestations OF and
mourning for his death and TO listen TO the eloquent
tribute OF the orator to his character and services Mr.
Webster wonderful instance OF mental aud ply
steal deveopement and power His love for natural o.
ects was conspicuous trait Of his character The Sage
OF Marfhdeld was noted for his love of fishing fear
some worthy people regard this habit unbecom-
ing his dignity Now do not pretend there Is thing
particularly elevating in this amusement strictly
side ration. II Is the wild rock bound shores Of
New England, perpetualy chafed by the restless
Atlantic, tossed the bosom of the
itself wish bis ngdt beat, watching its changing
moods, amid the solitude of its wastes Of water,
that the statesman recruited his exhausted frame in
yigerated his mind and enlarged its
The one Of bis eoquence and the style of his oraory
psrtakes Of the scope the simplicity and grandeur his
ocean resort You find traces Of his studies OF nature
even in his diplomatic correspondence not foed in but
part Of the warp snd woof Of the mental fabrics he
weaes None but keen and earnest observer Of scenery
could have conceived and the line and graphic
description OF the burning OF the Caroline that
his correspondence with Lord Ashburton Mr. Clay whose
boldness ygor and eloquence have always been char
acteristc and who aboriDg under the weight of many
years in his last days surprised the world By striking
proofs that these qualities were not dried up and
wthered at the approach Of old age always
his mental elasticity by the study Of nature. II
you visit his farm, you will find it stocked with
animals OF such excellence of kind and variety OF breeds
that you see the owner interested in the subject He
resembled the generous and high spirited courser
that hc loved dying with his harness upon the field
Of duty and renown The charm of the writings OF WAL
ter SCOTT springs In great degree from his love o.
IL 1.