WE forget who it is that has made the remark, that the state of civilization in a country, might, with the greatest certainty, be inferred from the degree of attention bestowed upon natural history. The test would not, perhaps, be altogether a fallacious one. As man advances in the scale of being, the importance of the study is unquestionably more sensibly felt. As his wants are supplied, he directs his attention to discover new means of gratification, and new sources of comfort; and the further he is removed from the state in which he is barely supplied with the necessaries of life, the more attention he bestows upon the arts and sciences, which minister to its conveniencesand certainly, the more the public taste is refined, the more leisure and inclination will be found for the pursuit of the knowledge, which not only is useful to the pursuits of life, but ministers perhaps the purest gratification to the well-regulated mind.

To no branch of natural history does the remark apply with as much force as to the study of animated nature. Indeed, perhaps the maxim will almost universally be found true-that when a taste for zoological enquiries is diffused-there is a high standard of general sentiment and education; and that when such pursuits are neglected, it is because the public mind is not elevated to the standard at which the value and the beauty of such enquiries can be properly appreciated.

It is unnecessary to observe that a knowledge of animated nature can never be acquired perfectly through any medium but the eye-we must see the animals before we are in a condition to avail ourselves of the knowledge which is supplied to us by books or lectures to nothing is the old criticism of Horace so applicable

Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem Tuam quæ sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus, et quæ Ipse sibi tradit spectator.

The man who spends an hour a day, in a well-stocked menagerie, with the aid of the simplest manual, will know more of the natural history of animals, than another who reads Buffon or Cuvier for eight. A zoological garden is,

indeed, a requisite, as indispensable to the study of zoology, as a botanical garden to that of botany-perhaps even more so. Well executed plates may supply the place of the one-but it is utterly impossible for any exercise of art to enable us to dispense with the other. In either case, indeed, the mimicry of art would be but a poor substitute for the living realities of nature, but some idea of plants might be formed from books and pictures-none at all of animals. We must see the panther spring-we must hear the monarch of the forest roar-no power of the pen or the pencil can convey to us the most remote idea of the grandeur of nature's living works-we must see, before we can understand.

If, then, there be any object in promoting a taste for zoology in the public mind, unquestionably it is desirable to maintain such an establishment as a zoological garden. The inference is too obvious to require comment. For our own parts, we are persuaded that few objects can be more desirable or important-and we confess we were among the number of those who hailed with peculiar pleasure, the formation of a zoological society in Dublin. It is not easy to overrate the importance of providing, in the vicinity of a metropolis like ours, a place of recreation, the amusement of which was, at once, allied with the pursuit of knowledge, and free from the remotest taint of vice. It is not very easy to solve the problem of finding a place of public amusement, which will be at once popular and instructive, while, at the same time, its influence is purely virtuous and moral. The warmest advocates of the theatre must admit, that the vice which is too often associated with dramatic exhibitions, is a serious drawback on the desirableness of the stage. We know of no mode of amusement certainly none hitherto attempted in this country-at once so popularly attractive, instructive, and innocent, as that which is supplied by a zoological garden.

In the year 1829, a public meeting was held in Dublin, for the purpose of forming a zoological society. A plot of ground was granted by his Excellency

the Duke of Northumberland, in the Phoenix Park, for the purpose of a garden-and, accordingly, in August, 1831, the garden was thrown open to the public. Since that time it has continued to afford to the citizens of Dublin a delightful place of recreation. The rate of admission has been fixed so low—(only sixpence for each person)-as to place it within the reach of all classes of society-and hundreds of thousands have availed themselves of the privilege thus afforded them.

We have been led to make these observations, by the appearance of a pamphlet the title of which we have prefixed to this article. We are anxious to give every publicity to the statements and reasonings of this appeal-and we cannot better devote a few pages, than in bringing before our readers, a cause which, without exaggeration, we believe to be a part of the great cause of national improvement.

It appears by the statement of this appeal, that the council find themselves now encumbered with a debt of £1300; £800 of which is due to members of the society, who hold debentures at 4 per cent-£500 is therefore the amount of the debt to be discharged. They have therefore appealed to the public, to enable them to pay off this debt, and to supply them with a further sum of £500, to be expended in improving and enlarging their establishment.

It is of importance to observe, that since its establishment, the income of the society has considerably exceeded its permanent and regular expenditure. A sum of £2600 has been laid out in providing accommodation for the animals, repairing the gardens, and other outlays of this nature. This expenditure will not, of course, recur; and it is quite manifest, that were the debt cleared off, the receipts of the garden are more than sufficient to maintain itself. The following is the statement of the appeal :

:

"The appeal has become necessary at this moment, from causes which it is the duty of the council clearly to explain.

"It appears from the auditor's account, that the total expenditure of the society, from its commencement in August 1831, to the 1st May, 1837,

aniounts to.......

"Of this sum, £2600 has been expended in permanent improvements, such as inclosing and forming the garden, erecting suitable buildings for

£9500

"Supposing the income to be permanent, and there is every reason to believe that the annual income will be increasing, the average being taken for the six years; and for the last two years, the expenditure has been considerably less, and the income greater.

"It is plain, therefore, from this statement, that the ordinary income of the society, derived from annual subscriptions, and from admission receipts, is sufficient for the maintenance of the establishment, even on a more extended scale, but not for the payment of the debt incurred by the outfit of the garden. This debt, it is true, has been considerably reduced, but the balance, amounting to nearly £500, which must now be discharged, presses so heavily on the funds of the society, as to render it impossible for the council to maintain the establishment, even on its present contracted scale, far less, are they enabled to give to it that degree of extension which, while it encreases its utility, would, by increasing its attractions, greatly improve its resources.

"The council proposes, therefore, to raise by subscription, the sum of £1000, £500 of which they will apply, in the first instance, to the liquidation of all outstanding debts, and the remaining £500 to the purchase of animals, and to the extension and improvement of the garden."

The appeal has been drawn up by Mr. Crampton, the president of the society, and it is marked by the perfect clearness and force of his style. We cannot do better than follow so eminent a guide in the selection of his topics the advantages of the establishment Mr. Crampton declares to be twofold.

"When it was proposed, at a public meeting, (convened for the purpose,) to establish, in the neighbourhood of Dublin, a collection of animals on the plan of the zoological garden of London, the utility of such an establishment was supported on two grounds, namely the means which it would afford of cultivating a great branch of natural knowledge, and the advantage which would result from having, in the immediate neighbourhood of this great city, a place, (to say the least of it,) of innocent and rational recreation."

On the first point, the appeal contains the following observations

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Although the value of natural knowledge-its influence on individual happiness and on national prosperity and honor, seem to be generally acknowledged, there are, nevertheless, many well-informed persons, who, while they assent to the general proposition, that knowledge of all kinds is desirable, find it difficult to perceive in what manner a collection of birds and beasts in the Phoenix Park, (however amusing it may be to the ignorant, or interesting to men of science,) can be made subservient to individual happiness or to national prosperity. To such inquirers the council of the society feel themselves called upon to give a respectful, and, as they hope, a satisfactory reply. But, aware that generalities seldom carry conviction to the mind, they select, for the purpose of illustration, a single and not unimportant branch of science, the successful cultivation of which they will endeavour to show, is mainly dependant on the facts which zoology in its largest sense supplies. It will, they think, be conceded, that the foundations of the healing art' are laid in a thorough acquaintance with the structure, disposition, and actions of that complex machine, the human body; but this acquaintance is not to be made by the dissection of human bodies only, and for this reason-in man, the most highly organised of living beings, the various systems' of which he is compounded, such as the digestive sys

་

tem,' the vascular system,' the 'respiratory system,' and the nervous system,' are so intimately and so inextricably connected with each other, that we cannot attempt to investigate them by analysis, that is, by the separate examination of the structure and uses of each system individually; this analysis, however, has been performed for us by nature. In the great chain of animated beings, each link becomes more and more complicated as we ascend from the lowest degree of organization, which imparts an almost doubtful vitality to a gelatinous-like globule, to the highest which gives life and understanding to a Newton. At the bottom of the scale of organization, we find a single system, the digestive, for example, it its simplest, and, consequently, in its most intelligible form; a little higher, and. we find the digestive system combined with a respiratory system, a nervous system, and so on, until ascending to that wondrous microcosm, MAN! we see the various systems combined, and acting in beautiful and harmonious concert. It is plain, therefore, that a thorough knowledge of human anatomy and physiology can be arrived at only through comparative anatomy; and, since human anatomy is the foundation of the healing art, it follows as a necessary consequence, that a school of medicine which is not furnished with the means of cultivating comparative anatomy must be considered as incomplete, and can neither obtain or deserve celebrity. But how is comparative anatomy to be cultivated, unless there be at hand a zoological collection, including animals as various in their structure as in their modes of existence. Of the extent to which such a collection may be made available to the purposes of instruction, some idea may be formed from the fact, that since the establishment of the zoological garden, the various anatomical schools in this city have been enriched by several hundred pieces of comparative anatomy, illustrative of some of the most obscure but important functions of the animal economy.

"The number of medical students in the various schools of Dublin amount to upwards of seven hundred annually; of this great number a considerable proportion is furnished by England, Scotland, and the Colonies. Can it be doubted, if the system of anatomical education, (which, it is believed, is the chief attraction of the Dublin school,) be less complete here

thad elsewhere, that the students will seek in other countries for the information which they cannot obtain here? And further is it not a matter of deep personal interest to every member of the community, that these seven hundred students who frequent our schools should receive every advantage which the most enlarged education can supply? But there is another, and a higher class of medical students, in whose progressive improvement the public has a more immediate interest; we allude to the teachers and practitioners of medicine in this great city; they are emphatically the students; they are the persons who can best appreciate all the importance of unceasing study in a boundless science; they are, accordingly, the persons who are daily enlarging the boundaries of the medical art, and increasing their own means of usefulness by the most indefatigable inquiries into the mysteries of the animal economy.

"But, it may be asked, 'How were these inquiries prosecuted before the establishment of the zoological garden? The answer is, that they were very imperfectly prosecuted; that it is within these very few years that comparative anatomy received, even in Great Britain, all the attention which it deserves. It is true that the late eminent professor of anatomy in Trinity College brought with him, from London, a very valuable collection of comparative anatomy; but this was private property, and has since been disposed of; the other schools were lamentably deficient in this department of anatomy; and, until the establishment of the zoological collection in the Phoenix Park, they were dependant for a casual supply on the travelling menageries which, from time to time, visited this city."

Of the value of the establishment to medical science, there can of course be no higher authority than that which we have just quoted. It is, however, we confess, in the other point of view that we are most anxious to regard the establishment of a zoological garden in the neighbourhood of Dublin-as exercising a salutary influence upon public taste, by supplying to the population of this great cityof the character which we have already stated our belief, that such an establishment is calculated to afford. Upon this subject we cannot do better than quote the words of the appeal :

-an amusement

"On the second point, which relates

to the advantages which result to society, from having in the neighbourhood of a great city, a place of innocent and rational recreation, the council trusts that there can be but little room for a difference of opinion. They submit that it never can be otherwise than useful, to have a place of public resort accessible to all; where persons of every rank and condition of life, may meet on terms of perfect equality. The sixpence of the labourer, or the artizan, giving him exactly the same advantages as the sixpence of his employer; a place-which, unlike most other places of public amusement, supplies attractions which address themselves exclusively to the highest and purest principles of our nature, and which, by gratifying, improve them.For it is the high and distinguishing characteristic of inquiries into nature, that, like the liberal arts, while they instruct the mind, they elevate the character. The admiration which is excited by the contemplation of the works of nature is touched, as it were, by the grandeur and elevation which is stamped on those works ;-it is an admiration mixed with awe. A feeling, perhaps, of all others, the most opposed to a proud, contentious, and uncharitable spirit. Let those who doubt the reality of those influences on human character and conduct compare the demeanour of the vast concourse of persons, of all ranks and conditions, who frequent the zoological gardens, with that of a similar number, collected in any other place of mere amusement, and let them say, in which have they observed the greatest degree of civility of manner, and of orderly demeanour; of the 151,355 persons, who visited the gardens during the last three years. It is most gratifying to the council, to be able to state that not one was seen in a state of intoxication, nor was there a single deviation from propriety, which rendered it necessary to exclude any individual from the garden.

"To many it may appear that these are the suggestions of a mind imbued with a prejudice in favour of a particular pursuit, rather than the sober conclusions of reason. Let us see, then, whether or not they derive support, from the highest reasoning power that has ever been bestowed on

occupation of Adam in paradise." And after having stated what he terms the divine proofs of the advantages of knowledge,' he says, 'the human proofs

are

"1. That it diminishes afflictions from nature.

“‘2. It diminishes evil from man to

man.

"3. It improves private virtues. "4. It takes away the barbarism from men's minds.

"5. It takes away levity, temerity, and insolency.

"6. It takes away vain admiration.

"7. It takes away, or mitigates fear.

"8. It disposes the mind not to be fixed or settled in its defects, but to be susceptible of growth and reformation.

9. It is power.

"10. It advances fortune.

which the public revenue can be applied; but it is utterly at variance with the utilitarian spirit which now directs the councils of government. The theories of economists run counter to such projects, and "the philosophy of the counting house" rejects, of course, the idea of supporting or aiding any establishment which does not "pay." No matter whether it elevate the public taste, or improve the public mind, or minister to innocent or rational gratification, none of these things warrant government in applying public money to its support. There are objects, the value of which cannot be estimated in money-and, therefore, in the calculations of economists, they are of none.

We write in no spirit of party-we deprecate maxims which have infected statesmen of all parties. Anxious are we indeed, to see banished from our legislature, that spirit of false and penurious economy which refuses to ap

12. It insures immortality.' "These positions are proved by all the force of his reason, and adorned by all the splendour of his imagination. When speaking of the power of knowledge to repress the evils which arise from man to man, he says:

"In Orpheus's theatre, all beasts and birds assembled, and, forgetting their several appetites-some of prey, some of game, some of quarrel, stood all sociably together, listening to the airs and accords of the harp, the sound whereof no sooner ceased, or was drowned by some louder noise, but every beast returned to his own nature. Wherein is aptly described the nature and condition of men who are full of savage, unreclaimed desires, of profit, of lust, of revenge, which as long as they give ear to precepts, to laws, to religion, sweetly touched with eloquence and persuasion of books, of sermons, of harangues, so long is society and peace maintained; but if these instruments be silent, or sedition and tumult make them not audible, all things dissolve into anarchy and confusion."

So persuaded are we of the great natural advantages of such establishments, that we feel that they ought to be maintained at the national cost. We cannot advise the council to make an application to government, because we know that it would be refused-the expenditure of money to keep up a place of popular instruction is among the most legitimate of the uses to

which is to benefit society at large. Did a more enlightened policy prevail, the zoological society should not want a thousand pounds; and abundantly would the community be repaid, in the influence which such an establishment must of necessity exercise upon the popular mind. It is impossible to examine the works of nature, without being made better by the enquiry-there is a calmness in the pursuit of natural history which chastens the heart, and elevates the mind-and by some mysterious, perhaps inexplicable law, God has ordained, that man shall not contemplate his works without being improved.

We had for some time intended to devote a paper to the subject of the zoological gardens in the Phoenix Park. There are few subjects which present more that is instructive and entertaining. We regret that we have been forced to anticipate our intention by the circumstances in which this useful institution has been placed. We do not, however, mean this hurried paper as an acquittance of our intention-the execution of which we feel to be a duty. At present, our object is merely to endeavour to draw attention to the eloquent and beautiful appeal of the distinguished president an appeal which cannot be read without being attended to. The position which this journal occupies, as the only Irish periodical, imposes on us duties, with regard to national science-duties of which we would certainly be neglectful, if we did not contribute our efforts to aid the