DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND. 15g

familiarity with old and different ways renderdifficult: indeed the theory of this fact willexplain itself on reference to our own feelings;as it seldom happens that a person willinglyrenounces any custom to which he has beenhabituated from youth, without first admittingby degrees the forcible convictions of superiorinformation.

In no country have invention and improve-ment (notwithstanding all obstacles) proceededwith more permanent rapidity and success thanin England : nor has the improvement beenconfined to the mere discovery of artificial ne-cessaries and equivalents, but widely blendeditself in the regulation of the vegetable, ani-mal, and mineral kingdoms ; so as to palliatethe rugged and more unmanageable features,and produce regular and harmonious assimila-tions, uniting created realities and artificialinventions in the general good, and subservientto the general use and happiness of society.Nor in any instance has more ingeniousphilosophy been exercised than in discoveringnew mediums of light, which constitutes oneof the most acceptable branches of modernscience. When we contemplate therefore theabundant supplies afforded to those who in-habit the surface of the earth, it will readily