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Though none repays in words and deeds,

The obligation due ;

Yet, while thy love all thought exceeds,
Thy glory 1 pursue !

R. J.

LUTON LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITU

TION.

Had I

THE following are some extracts from the Lecture ou Botany, delivered at the room of this Institution, by the Rev. Henry Burgess, on Thursday, October 12th.-"The interesting subject which I propose this evening to bring under your notice, is of such vast extent, that it is difficult to determine upon the best selection of its parts. proposed to deliver twelve Lectures on Botany, the task would, in an important sense, have been easier than that now assigned to me. I might then have given a somewhat complete sketch of the vegetable kingdom, its laws, and operations; a portrait of the whole might then have been exhibited to you, in miniature indeed, and imperfect; while I am now under the necessity of selecting some few features, at the risk of marring their beauty, and failing to convey to you an idea of the harmony of the whole. necessity of this selection of a few topics will appear if we take a rapid view of some of the particulars which a complete discourse on Botany would comprise. First, the structure of plants would demand a large space in our description; the curious architecture by which every floral temple is built up, which always displays the most consum

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mate wisdom. Secondly the mode of growth by means of the absorption of vital juices, conveyed to the plant by the root, decomposed and assimilated by the leaves, and returned by them to the stem, or to the organs which require them. Thirdly, the wonderful arrangament for the duction of plants, by means of the sexes. Fourthly, their habits would accupy a large portion of attention; how some love the mountain-top, and others the vale;—some require to be rooted firmly in the earth, others spurn the subjection, and derive their principal subsistence from the air; how some court the sun and others the shade;—some are unmoved by the roughest embrace, while others sensitively shrink from the slightest touch. The peculiarities of plants, what may indeed be called their whims, furnish materials for the most lengthened and interesting descriptions. Fifthly their uses claim our regard. Which of them cool the feverish blood, or wake our dormant powers into life; which preserve or kill. Sixthly, their mutual relations must be considered, the particulars in which plants agree or differ, which is the foundation of all systematic arrangements. By examination of their parts to reduce them into families; then into genera, species, and varieties, is an important part of the science. Seventhly, the morality and poetry of the subject would not willingly be excluded by a well-regulated mind. The marks of design furnished by every leaf would properly lead us "up to Nature's God"; and a thousand sweet thoughts and emotions would be excited, by the beauty, variety, and fragrance of vegetable life. These seven particulars are mentioned, to convince you that my duty to night is to select, and not to exhaust the subject.' The history of the science was then detailed, from its earliest period to the latest discoveries. From this portion of the lecture the following is selected. When, as reasonable beings we cast our eyes over the world, and examine the characters of the dwelling allotted to us, we are amazed at the profusion of luxuries on every hand, and the beauty, which, like a garment, clothes the

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whole. By luxuries I mean objects not necessary for our physical or moral being. We might select a few things from all we see, and live without the rest; we might have bread, without a thousand fruits; hill and dale without a flower. From such a conceivable bleak state of existence let us turn to the reality, and contemplate what is provided for us. Every spot on which the eye can rest is covered with productions which attract by their loveliness. lofty cedars and the stately pines wave their high tops; the moss grows on the rock; and between these extremes are plants of every size, form, fragrance and colour. Man, first placed among this luxuriance, would simply wonder and admire. He would gaze as Adam did on the

-Flowers worthy of Paradise,

Flowers of all hue and without thorn the rose."

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But his wonder and delight would soon be combined with the deductions of reason, which would seek to know the properties, the points of resemblance and of disagreement of all it recognised. Now this study of vegetable life is called Botany; a study almost instinctive in human beings, arising from our capacity of feeling pleasure in beautiful objects, and of investigating and reasoning. Every child is thus a Botanist. If brought up in the midst of natural scenery, it lisps of flowers. As the child advances to a man, he increases his knowledge and loves it more, unless the dark atmosphere of cities throws its blight over all that was once beautiful and verdant to him. Even then he will often cling to the friends of his infancy and youth;-the sickly geraniums aud emaciated mignionette, seen in almost every alley in London, tell us that man is essentially a Botanist."- "From this simplest view of the science as produced by admiration and reasoning, we rise through successive generations, each improving on the past and obtaining a more complete knowledge of the vegetable kingdom. But still, from the earliest period to the time.

of our Elizabeth, that knowledge was very circumscribed. Matthew Lobel, a Dutch physican, then made considerable advances in the natural arrangement of plants. After this, Grew and Malpighi demonstrated the sexes of plants; as might be supposed, a complete revolution then took place in the science, and the nature of vegetable life was more clearly unfolded. But it was reserved for the immortal Linnæus to place the science on a firmer basis.”—In the course of the lecture, the external structure of a perfect plant was exhibited; but a clear statement was made of the mistake committed, when it is supposed that this power of describing a plant constitutes a botanist. It was shown that the most difficult and wonderful part of the science could only be unfolded by those anatomical investigations, which demand great industry and skill. The lecturer conIcluded with some illustrations of the influence of flowers on the language of poetry; the vast variety of images derived from vegetation.

Sir,

THE THREE BEARS.

To the Editor of the Country Miscellany.

I have observed that the present age, among its various improvements, has taken upon itself completely to alter the plan of infant education which was practised a few years back. At that time the imagination was stored at a very early age with wonderful conceptions; nursery tales of giants, fairies and goblins, gave a spice of poetry to urchins before they could well speak. But now, in this matter-of-fact time, all such marvels are in danger of being

exploded, and I fear lest the next generation should be destitute of feeling and enthusiasm altogether. May I then beg the favor of you to insert the following story of the three bears? Many of your readers will remember it. It has lately been printed in a volume called the Doctor, from which I have extracted it, with some little abbreviation.

I remain,

Your's very respectfully,

W.

LUTON, Oct. 24, 1837.

[As we quite agree with our Correspondent in his complaint, and by no means see the desirableness of leaving out the marvellous in the education of children, we comply with his request.]—ED.

And

"Once upon a time there were Three Bears, who lived together in a house of their own, in a wood. One of them was a Little, Small Wee Bear; and one was a Middle-sized Bear, and the other was a Great Huge Bear. They had each a pot for their porridge, a little pot for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized pot for the Middle Bear; and a great pot for the Great, Huge Bear. they had each a chair to sit in; a little chair for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized chair for the Middle Bear; and a great chair for the Great, Huge Bear. And they had each a bed to sleep in; a little bed for the Little, Small, Wee Bear; and a middle-sized bed for the Middle Bear; and a great bed for the Great, Huge Bear.

"One day, after they had made the porridge for their breakfast, and poured it into their porridge-pots, they walked out into the wood while the porridge was cooling, that they might not burn their mouths, by beginning too soon to eat it. And while they were walking, a little old Woman came to the house.

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