But thy task is not yet terminated! Onward, and still onward, brave pioneer of progress! The path is a long one and the goal is not yet attained! Once thou wert contented with bronze, now thou hast iron--iron, that terrible power, whose function is to mangle and to kill--the cause of so much blood and so many bitter tears; but also the beneficent metal which fertilises and gives life, affording nutriment to the body as well as to the mind. The Romans applied the name of _ferrum_ to the blade of their swords; but in after times _ferrum_ was also the term for the peaceful ploughshare. The metal which had brought with it terror, devastation, and death, erelong introduced among nations peace, wealth and happiness. And now, O man, thy work is nearly done! The mighty conflicts against nature are consummated, and thy universal empire is for ever sure! Animals are subject to thy will and even to thy fancies. At thy command, the obedient earth opens its bosom and unfolds the riches it contains. Thou hast turned the course of rivers, cleared the mountain sides of the forests which covered them, and cultivated the plains and valleys; by thy culture the earth has become a verdant and fruitful garden. Thou hast changed the whole aspect of the globe, and mayst well call thyself the lord of creation! Doubtless the expanding circle of thy peaceful conquests will not stop here, and who can tell how far thy sway may extend? Onward then! still onward! proud and unfettered in thy vigilant and active course towards new and unknown destinies! But look to it, lest thy pride lead thee to forget thy origin. However great may be thy moral grandeur, and however complete thy empire over a docile nature, confess and acknowledge every hour the Almighty Power of the great Creator. Submit thyself before thy Lord and Master, the God of goodness and of love, the Author of thy existence, who has reserved for thee still higher destinies in another life. Learn to show thyself worthy of the supreme blessing--the happy immortality which awaits thee in a world above, if thou hast merited it by a worship conceived in spirit and in truth, and by the fulfilment of thy duty both towards God and towards thy neighbour! ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO AUTHORS' NAMES CITED IN THIS VOLUME. Alberti, 228 Arcelin, 120 Austen (Godwin), 9 Baudot, 178 Bertrand, 187, 197 Bocchi, 82 Bonstetten, 187 Borel, 319 Boucher de Perthes, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 45, 82, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166 Boué (Aimé), 6 Bourgeois (Abbé), 3, 16, 17, 73, 149 Boutin, 74 Broca, 114, 181 Brun (V.), 88, 98, 106, 115, 119 Buckland, 6 Busk, 36, 81, 182 Camper, 5 Cazalis de Fondouce, 128 Chantre, 120 Chevalier (Abbé), 147 Christel (de), 7, 74 Christy, 73, 86, 90, 95, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 118 Clément, 225 Cochet (Abbé), 177 Costa de Beauregard, 91, 319 Cuvier, 6, 7 Dampier, 132, 219 Darwin, 132 Davis (Dr. Barnard), 36, 81, 337