Popular Philosophy; Or, The Book of Nature Laid Open Upon Christian Principles. [anon.]

THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN, &c. was first printed in a small periodical publication, which the author published, and conducted as editor, in 1814.

In the humble form in which it there made its appearance, it attracted the notice of that respected individual to whom the present work is dedicated; and to this circumstance, more than any other, viz. its having been spoken of in terms of commendation, by one so competent to decide on its merits, as a learned professor in that particular department of science, of which, it had more directly presumed to treat, the present improved, and much enlarged edition, under the new and additional title of POPULAR PHILOSOPHY, &c. may be said to owe its existence.

The following extracts from the letters, with which, the worthy professor above alluded to, favoured the author, upon learning his intention of republishing the work, in an enlarged and improved form, will sufficiently evidence the opinion he entertained of it.

Extract of a letter from Dr. DAVIDSON, Professor of Civil and Natural History, in the Marischal College, Aberdeen.

"The Book of Nature Laid Open, in a cursory and popular survey of several striking facts in Natural History, and in the phenomena and constitution of the Universe; in which the wisdom of God, and his goodness in their subserviency to man, are distinctly traced and pointed out," of which you have put a copy into my hands for my opinion, and of which you acknowledge yourself the authorI consider now, as I did on a former occasion when I had an opportunity of perusing it, as a very excellent and instructive treatise; and from the popular and easy manner in which you have treated your various subjects, I cannot help thinking that it is well calculated to become extensively useful, and I hope it will obtain a wide circulation.-Science required to be stripped of some of its techni. calities to render it attainable by all classes, and this, in my view, you have effected with great credit to yourself, and with great probable advantage to the public.

"The advantages arising from the study of the works of nature are numerous and various; an attempt to render so interesting a study popular, deserves every encouragement, and I shall be most happy to learn that your exertions have been amply rewarded by an extensive sale of your improved and extended work."-And, in another letter, the Doctor is pleased thus to express himself; " and, I trust, with the additions which you are so capable of giving, and which the improving state of science will enable you to render more extensive and correct, that you may produce a work of the highest utility to mankind in general."

How far the author has been enabled to profit by the hints here thrown out, it does not become him to say, but he has done his best, so far as his contracted limits would allow, to "render so interest. ing a study popular," and make it subservient to the best of pur. poses, the elevation of the human mind from the things that are seen, and the visible wonders of creation, to a consideration of the incomprehensible nature of HIS ESSENCE, who is the LORD and MAKER OF ALL -FROM NATURE UP TO NATURE'S GOD! and, as, he has reason to hope, from the very gratifying testimonies he has already been enabled to subjoin, (and for which the reader is referred to the end of the second volume,) that his labour has not been altogether in vain, he would humbly look forward to an increasing and still more extended degree of approbation, as the utility and tendency of his little work, (how. ever imperfect it may be in the exccution,) have time to develope themselves and become more apparent.

In its present enlarged and improved form, the work is respectfully recommended to the attention of those PARENTS, GUARDIANS, and HEADS ~ of FAMILIES, who feel anxious to have the minds of the little ones committed to their charge, early imbued with sentiments of rational piety and pure devotion, arising from the consideration of objects that every where surround them in the great temple of the universe, and to some of which, they may every moment have access :-objects, which have attracted the attention of, and given lessons of wisdom to, the wisest · and best of men in all ages;-and to which, the Saviour of the world, did not think it derogatory to his mission, to refer his immediate followers, (in the words that I have selected for one of my first mottos,) and, through them, his disciples in all time coming, to learn a lesson of the greatest importance, amidst the cares, the anxieties, and vicissitudes of life.

It is humbly, and with all due deference, submitted to the consideration of all those CONDUCTORS OF SEMINARIESOF EDUCATION,AND INSTRUÇTORS OF YOUTH OF ALL DENOMINATIONS, who are solicitous for the moral as well as the intellectual improvement of their pupils; and being sensible, that there has long existed a chasm in that particular department of our Scholastic literature, which should have for its object the making the more advanced classes, in particular, better acquainted with, (what it becomes every one to know,) some of the most striking faets in natural history, and in the phenomena and constitution of the universe, would willingly embrace any favourable opportunity, of recommend'ing to their notice, or putting into their hands, a work calculated to supply the place of such a desideratum-in the form of a POPULAR and

AMUSING, yet COMPREHENSIVE · and' INSTRUCTIVÉ COMPENDIUM;-by , which, without detriment to their other studies, the juvenile minds of both sexes might be, as it were, allured, to "Remember their CREA TOR" in the days of their youth; and to hold converse with their MAKER through the medium of his works, in that season when the · mind is most susceptible of tender impressions, and the young idea - can be most easily trained, with the greatest probability of lasting effect, in the way that it should go.

But there is another, and a most numerous class, for whose use this improved edition of The Book of Nature Laid Open is peculiarly adapted-To the numerous MECHANICS and ARtizans—TradeSMEN and AGRICULTURISTS-BUSY WORKMEN and OPERATIVE LABOURERS, in the great hive and vineyard of laudable human industry-whatever part they have been called to perform, or by whatever degree, shade, or designation, they choose to be distinguished ;-particularly such as are scattered throughout our country towns, villages and hamlets,-who not having had the advantage of a Popular Treatise of this kind put into their hands at an early period of their lives,-nor since enjoyed the benefit of a liberal education,—and being still prevented by their isolated situations in the country, from availing themselves of the leotures of those numerous Mechanics' Institutions which are springing up around them in the larger towns,-have, nevertheless, a strong desire to be taught to range in the flowery paths of science,—to have their minds stored with, and their practice guided by, those numerous useful and incontrovertible facts that are so abundantly diffused through, and many of which have been recently brought to light in, the com· prehensive pages of the Book of Nature,

To such as these, I say, the present work is particularly recommended, as affording a source of the most rational recreation, and supplying the place of a course of PHILOSO HICAL LECTURES, ON THE MOST POPULAR AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS, at their own firesides;-as well as to the special patronage of those of the same class, whose local situations in the larger towns give them more frequent opportunities of instruction-who have enrolled themselves in the number of students at these modern institutions, whose increase, if properly conducted and made subservient to the more ample diffusion of useful knowledgewith the corresponding exertions of the pulpit and the press,-backed by the unprecedented, yet growing demand, among our working population, for publications of the first importance and such undoubted utility,-together with other simultaneous movements so observable in our times;-may be considered as harbingers, if not, the actual

commencement, of that new era in the progress of civilization and refinement, when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."-To those, it is expected, this humble performance will in due time recommend itself, not only as containing something highly congenial to their turn of thinking, and a useful text book; but, as a friendly monitor, that may occasionally, bring some important truth, or remarkable fact, (calculated to excite present inquiry, or stimulate to new research,) to their remembrance.

It would no doubt be highly unbecoming and presumptuous to say, that those who move in the higher spheres, are likely, to be much benefited, by the perusal of a work of such humble pretensions ;—and why should they? They have already, it is to be supposed, had the advantage of, what this, to a certain extent only, is meant to supply, to the juvenile branches of the other classes, as well as the adult among the more laborious part of the community-A LIBERAL EDUCATION ;—and they have also, the means of providing themselves with the best authors upon any particular subject with which they wish to become acquainted; but, is it not at least possible, that even some of these, may be brought to profit, by a casual glance, at a hint thrown out-or a reference given to some respectable authority-in this NEW COMPENDIUM OF POPULAR PHILOSOPHY ?

The researches of the geologist, and the recent discoveries in mineralogy, have added considerably to our stock of knowledge in modern times; and if, in course of our progress among the subterranean regions, directed by the lights of modern science, some new and important fact shall have been brought to light, in regard to which, we shall have no other merit than merely making the circumstance more generally known,—may not, the mere circumstance of giving the discovery more publicity, be the means of bringing it under the consideration of some who would otherwise never have heard of it, and so far, our little work may be found useful in a way, that, at first, we neither could have anticipated or expected ;—while, the hints thrown out in regard to the processes adopted by Nature in the decomposition of the old, and formation of new materials-the approved methods of meliorating the soils-the most suitable materials to be used in the construction of buildings-and other useful matters and occasional references, which will be found interspersed throughout the work—must give it a value and an interest, in the estimation of even the most calculating, to which it could never otherwise have aspired.

Dunbar, October, 1826.