Introduction to the catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum.

  • Duncan, John Shute, 1769-1844.
Date:
[1826]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introduction to the catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    argument; which however cannot fail to be duly suggested by a view of the diversities and simili- tudes which are selected as the distinguishing marks of classes, genera, and species, by Linnaeus and other naturalists. Diversity of external form and colour strikes every eye. Its effect upon the mind is continual excite- ment ; without which our faculties would become torpid. If light were not opposed to shade, colour to colour, eyes would be useless. The air so neces- sary to our existence is unperceived, except by in- valids, or by those who pass through great changes of place, as mountaineers, miners, or some manufac- turers. The diversities of nature, as well as of so- ciety, give continual exercise to the human intel- lect, and from this exercise it derives continually augmented energies. The faculties indeed are in- nate : they are adapted to excitement: but all the diversities by which they are excited are adapted and harmonized, and appear to have their existence for the especial purpose and end of producing such excitement. Diversity is involved in all our ideas of extent or magnitude. From immeasurable diversity of forma- tion we infer immeasurable formative power. The term formation stands for the result of power and agency, which has produced a particular condition of materials, which materials appear on examination not to possess any power to change or move them- selves. All diversity of organized being exhibits and proves the production of such condition or rela- tion of parts to parts in single beings, and of one to another in groupes, to be adapted to a clearly de- finable and important end. The operation of such