have enemies to contend with, which prevent them from increasing too much; and some weak and timid animals supply in number what they want in strength, or escape from their adversaries by the artifices of cunning and the dexterity of address. We may also remark, that for the better preservation and multiplication of the species, the proportion between the two sexes is so equal, that every animal finds a mate with which it may consort.

The

The mineral kingdom is subservient to the preservation of the vegetable, and both of them tend to the advantage of man. most useful plants, as wheat, &c. are most easily multiplied, are less liable to spoil, and grow wherever there are men and animals. Those animals also which are the most useful are likewise the most abundant; and the productions of several climates are suited to the particular wants of men. Thus the hottest countries abound in cooling and grateful fruits; in countries liable to great drought there are plants and trees which are as springs of water, and relieve the intense thirst of men and animals. If in any place there it a deficiency of wood for fuel, there are coals and turf in abundance; and if there are countries destitute of rain and other sources of fertility, they are recompensed by beneficial inundations, such as of the Nile in Egypt.

Amongst the human species we also find the proportion between the sexes pretty even; the number of males to that of females being as twenty-six to twenty-five. In civil society wealth and talents are so admirably distributed, that as every individual may be happy according to the particular circumstances in which he is placed, so nothing essential is wanting to the good of society in general. If the inclinations and propensities of men were not so varied; if their tastes and dispositions did not lead them to embrace different kinds of life, and to adopt different views; if there was not such a diversity of genius, and such a variety of talent; such a difference of opinion respecting beauty, riches, and every other exterior circumstance; human society would have no charms to interest, no pleasures to invite, but would present one constant assemblage of uniform sterility. No class of men can live isolated from the rest; and each country has is peculiar advantages, which, if common to all, would do away the necessity of the connexion and commerce at present so essential to the interest and convenience of each. In short, wherever we cast our view we see nothing but harmony and beautiful proportion. Notwithstanding the infinite variety of creatures, and the frequent interruption of some of the laws of nature, every thing in this immense universe is beautiful, and arranged with the regular proportion and admirable perfection which produce the greatest possible good to the

creation.

Let us then adore and exalt the great Author of nature, and whilst we contemplate the glory and magnificence of his works, sing his praises with the gratitude of an overflowing heart! The greatest proofs, and the most pleasing employment, of reason, is to admire the wisdom of God; and though the most profound investigations can

penetrate through a very small part of the glory which shrouds the works of Omniscience, and the most that we can know is little in comparison of what is concealed from our view, we yet discover sufficient to convince us that the perfection of God is infinite, and his power and goodness without bounds; and may he graciously condescend more and more to remove the film from our eyes, that we may acknowledge him in all his works, and feel in ourselves a degree of that divine peace and ineffable love with which he governs the universe and arranges the spheres!

APRIL XXII.

OF THE CONSTITUENT PARTS OF WATER.

When we drink water, if we suppose that we are partaking of a pure and simple element, we are deceived; for naturalists affirm that each drop of water is a little world, in which the four elements and the three kingdoms of nature are united. There is scarcely any water that does not contain much heterogeneous matter, which is readily discovered when the water is either distilled or filtered and however incredible this may appear, it is sufficiently proved by the most exact and accurate experiments.

Besides its elementary parts, water contains different earthy particles; such, for example, as belong to the mineral kingdom; as calcareous earths, nitre, and other salts. This will appear less remarkable if we consider how many earthy particles the water must meet with and dissolve in its course, or carry along with it. Water also contains an inflammable principle, which becomes manifest when in a state of corruption; and it contains a large portion of air, which is manifested during ebullition. It possesses heat, which keeps it in its fluid state; for when deprived of its caloric it is congealed, becomes heavy, and acquires the hardness of stone. Thus common water contains earth, salts, hydrogen or inflammable gas, heat, and air; which proves the truth of the assertion, that all the elements are united in a single drop of water.

But are plants and animals found in it? It certainly contains the principles of vegetation; since all plants derive from water their most nutritive juices, and are indebted to it for their growth and increase. As to the animal kingdom, there is abundant evidence of its existing in water; to say nothing of the fish and other aquatic animals with which it is peopled, there is not a single drop of water which has not inhabitants perceptible through the microscope; and we well know the facility with which insects are propagated in stagnant waters, the germ of which must have previously existed in the water, though certain circumstances might have prevented their development.

The consideration of all these particulars should lead us to reflect upon the wise providence of the Creator, who has not by chance

formed the waters of so many parts. Were it purely simple, it might perhaps make the most pure beverage; but its medicinal virtues would be lost. From the great nutriment which it affords to plants, we may naturally suppose that it yields some of the nutritious properties it contains to men and animals; and though in itself it may not be very nutritious, it tends to the more perfect solution of our aliment, and to distribute it more readily through the minuter vessels. It is found to be the most wholesome beverage, and one which we cannot do without; the salutary effects of which are often felt when every other drink is prejudicial.

How grateful then ought we to be to God, whose goodness has so amply provided for our necessities! He has prepared for us that kind of food and drink which is fittest for our nature, and the most beneficial to our comfort and health; and he has imparted a salutary virtue to the most ordinary and indispensable means of subsistence. Let us therefore praise God for the water which he has given to allay our thirst, and digest our food; and though we should have nothing but bread and water for our sustenance, let us endeavour to be contented and grateful. Let us implore the blessing of God on what we eat, and ask grace to use it with a cheerful and contented mind.

APRIL XXIII.

PROPAGATION OF PLANTS.

Vegetables are in general propagated from seed, and in most plants the flowers produce the seeds which are to continue and preserve their fertility. Almost all flowers are folded within a bud, where they are secretly formed, being defended by their tunics and external leaves. When the sap begins to flow abundantly at the beginning of spring, the blossom swells, the bud expands, the tunics open and fall off, leaving the flower in naked beauty. We perceive on the outside some very small leaves of different colours, which serve to defend the organs of fructification, and probably to prepare the nutritious juice which enters those parts. It is, however, in the centre of the flower that we discover the organs of fructification. We find there a filament or stem, called the pistil, which, particularly in tulips, rises pretty high. Round the pistil are the stamina, capped with tops which contain a prolific dust, tinged of various hues. These stamina may be considered as the proper male organs, destined to impregnate the germs, and the pistil the female part which receives the fertilizing dust.

Vegetables are also propagated by grafts. From the tender branch of a tree, when in sap, they detach an eye or beginning of a branch, with a part of the bark, and insert it between the bark and wood of another tree, and bind up the whole very gently, by passing flax or some soft cord several times round it. From this there proceeds a branch of the same nature with the tree from which the eye was first

!

taken, although the tree in which it is inserted be of a quite different sort.

Trees and other woody plants are propagated by slips: thus, for instance, a slip is taken from a willow, which, after being stripped of its small sprigs, is deposited in the ground; roots soon proceed from those places where branches had begun to appear, and In time it becomes a tree.

Another way of propagating vegetables is by means of roots; but these should have eyes, or they will not grow. Some plants shoot forth long filaments in all directions, which have knots or eyes; these extend their fibres in the ground, which become so many new feet that may be separated from each other, and then form new plants. A bulbous root is a species of eye in which the rudiments of the future plant are enclosed, and between its leaves are little bulbs or eyes, which enable the plant to be propagated by the leaves to which these bulbs are attached.

What a variety of causes are requisite for the production, preservation, and propagation of vegetables! Granting that the germs already existed, what art is required to effect their development, to give growth to the plant, to preserve it when arrived at maturity, and to perpetuate its species! How fruitful a mother must the earth be, in whose bosom so many tender plants are cherished and derive their nutriment! Water, which also contributes to their support, must be composed of all those particles, the assemblage of which favours the germination of plants. The sun must put all these in motion, and cause the seeds to germinate and the fruits to be matured, by the vivifying influence of his heat.

It was necessary to establish a proper balance and a just proportion between plants, that on the one hand they might not multiply too fast, and on the other that there might always be a sufficient abundance. It was requisite that the texture, vessels, fibres, and every part of the plant, should be so disposed that the sap might penetrate them, circulate, and be so prepared and digested, that the plant might receive its proper form, size, and strength. It was necessary to determine exactly what plants should spring up of themselves, and what others should require the care and cultivation of man. The work of the generation and propagation of plants is then so complicated and intricate, and passes through so many different processes, that it would be impossible to develop the great chain of causes and effects which produce such wonderful changes. However, we know sufficient to acknowledge the wisdom and beneficence of the Creator; for who else could have communicated to the elements the power of perpetuating vegetables? or have given to the sun that light and heat, the blessed effects of which upon the earth are so abundantly conspicuous? It is God alone who has created the constituent parts of plants, and who has dispersed them in the air, in the waters, and. upon the earth; who has established the laws of motion, formed the atmosphere, and produced the sources of rain and clouds. It is God who giveth life to seeds, and existence and increase to vegetables; by

his order the earth yearly renews her fruits, and each spring restores the youth of nature, and each summer perfects her beauty. Let us then for ever celebrate the power, the wisdom, and goodness of the great Creator of plants as well as of men! Let earth and heaven proclaim how great and glorious is his holy name, now and through all eternity.

APRIL XXIV.

DIVERSITY OF TRAITS IN THE HUMAN COUNTENANCE.

It is an evident proof of the adorable wisdom of God, that though the bodies of men are so similar to each other in their essential parts, there is yet such a diversity in their exterior, that they can be readily distinguished without the liability of error. Amongst the many millions of men existing in the universe, there are no two that are perfectly similar to each other: each one has some peculiarity portrayed in his countenance, or remarkable in his speech; and this diversity of countenance is the more singular, because the parts which compose it are very few, and in each person they are disposed according to the same plan. If all things had been produced by blind chance, the countenances of men might have resembled one another as nearly as balls cast in the same mould, or drops of water out of the same bucket: but as that is not the case, we must admire the infinite wisdom of the Creator, which, in thus diversifying the traits of the human countenance, has manifestly had in view the happiness of men; for if they resembled each other perfectly, they could not be distinguished from one another, to the utter confusion and detriment of society. We should never be certain of life, nor of the peaceable possession of our property; thieves and robbers would run little risk of detection, for they could neither be distinguished by the traits of the countenance nor the sound of their voice. Adultery, and every crime that stains humanity, might be practised with impunity, since the guilty would rarely be discovered; and we should be continually exposed to the machinations of the villain and the malignity of the coward: we could not shelter ourselves from the confusion of mistake, nor from the treachery and fraud of the deceitful; all the efforts of justice would be useless, and commerce would be the prey of error and uncertainty in short, the uniformity and perfect similarity of faces would deprive society of its most endearing charms, and destroy the pleasure and sweet gratification of individual friendship. The variety of features, then, constitutes part of the plan of divine government, and is a strong proof of God's tender care over us; for it is very evident that he has disposed the particular parts of the body with as much wisdom as he has manifested in its general structure, and we are compelled to admire his beautiful and wise arrangement in this as well as in every other part of the creation.