STATISTICAL RETURNS TAKEN BY THE DEPUTATION IN THE COURSE OF THEIR JOURNEYS.-CONCLUDED.

RELIGIOUS STATISTICS FOR THE WHOLE TWENTY-FOUR STATES.

* The Methodist Denomination do not divide their numbers in New England among the different States statistically, so that they are put in one number at the close of New York.

A

DISCOURSE

OF

NATURAL THEOLOGY,

SHOWING

THE NATURE OF THE EVIDENCE AND THE ADVANTAGES

OF THE STUDY.

BY

HENRY LORD BROUGHAM, F. R. S.,

AND MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCI

NEW YORK:

THOMAS GEORGE, JR., 162 NASSAU STREET.

+

DEDICATION.

TO JOHN CHARLES EARL SPENCER.

could be obtained was devoted to this object, and to a careful revision of what had been written in a THE Composition of this Discourse was under- season less auspicious for such speculations. taken in consequence of an observation which I I inscribe the fruits of those studies to you, not had often made, that scientific men were apt to re- merely as a token of ancient friendship-for that gard the study of Natural Religion as little connect- you do not require; nor because I always have ed with philosophical pursuits. Many of the per- found you, whether in possession or in resistance sons to whom I allude, were men of religious habits of power, a fellow-laborer to maintain our common of thinking; others were free from any disposition principles, alike firm, faithful, disinterested-for towards skepticism, rather because they had not your known public character wants no testimony much discussed the subject, than because they had from me; nor yet because a work on such a subject formed fixed opinions upon it after inquiry. But needs the patronage of a great name-for it would the bulk of them relied little upon Natural Theolo-be affectation in me to pretend any such motive; gy, which they seemed to regard as a speculation but because you have devoted much of your time built rather on fancy than on argument; or, at any to such inquiries—are beyond most men sensible of rate, as a kind of knowledge quite different from their importance-concur generally in the opinions either physical or moral science. It therefore ap-which I profess to maintain-and had even formed peared to me desirable to define, more precisely than had yet been done, the place and the claims of Natural Theology among the various branches of human knowledge.

About the same time, our Society, as you may recollect, was strongly urged to publish an edition of Dr. Paley's popular work, with copious and scientific illustrations. We both favored this plan; but some of our colleagues justly apprehended that the adoption of it might open the door to the introduction of religious controversy among us, against our fundamental principles; and the scheme was abandoned. I regarded it, however, as expedient to carry this plan into execution by individual exertion; and our worthy and accomplished colleague, Sir C. Bell-whose admirable treatise on Animal Mechanics pointed him out as the fellow-laborer I should most desire-fortunately agreed to share the work of the illustrations. In these we have made a very considerable progress; and I now inscribe this publication, but particularly the Preliminary Discourse, to you. It was, with the exception of the Third Section of Part I., and the greater portion of the Notes, written at the end of 1830, in 1831, and the latter part of 1833, and a portion was added in the autumn of 1834. In those days I held the Great Seal of this kingdom; and it was impossible to finish the work while many cares of another kind pressed upon me. But the first leisure that

For the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

the design of giving to the world your thoughts upon the subject, as I hope and trust you now will be moved to do all the more for the present address. In this view, your authority will prove of great value to the cause of truth, however superfluous the patronage of even your name might be to recommend the most important of all studies.

Had our lamented friend Romilly lived, you are aware that not even these considerations would have made me address any one but him, with whom I had oftentimes speculated upon this ground. Both of us have been visited with the most severe afflictions, of a far nearer and more lasting kind than even his removal, and we are now left with few things to care for; yet, ever since the time I followed him to the grave, I question if either of us has read, without meditating upon the irreparable loss we and all men then sustained, the words of the ancient philosopher best imbued with religious opinions-"Proficiscar enim non ad eos solum viros de quibus ante dixi, sed etiam ad Catonem meum, quo nemo vir melior natus est, nemo pietate præstantior; cujus a me corpus crematum est, animus vero non me deserens sed respectans, in ea profecto loca discessit quo mihi ipsi cernebat esse veniendum; quem ego meum casum fortiter ferre visus sum, non quod æquo animo ferrem; sed me ipse consolabar, existimans, non longinquum inter nos digressum et discessum fore."*

* De Senect.