their fangs, they form the wax or meal of the flowers into little balls; and with their middle feet they put them into a hollow, shaped like a spoon, which is in their hind feet, which are also furnished with hair, in order to retain the wax, and prevent it from falling when they are flying. Laden thus, they return to their cell, without losing their way, though they are sometimes above four leagues from it. When they arrive, they find other bees waiting for them, to assist them in unloading their booty, and then they all work in common to employ those provisions for the general use of the hive. They stop every crevice with wax, to keep out any foreign animal; but leave openings for themselves to go in and out. The queen and the working bees have, at the extremity of the body, a sting inclosed in a case, which they make use of to wound or kill their enemies: But the wound they give is generally fatal to themselves, when the sting remains behind.

Every thing in those little animals must excite our admiration; the formation of their limbs, so regular and so well adapted to their kind of life, the care they take of their young, the art with which their cells are built, their activity, their industry and intelligence. Let us never pass by a beehive with indifference. Let us admire them, and this admiration may lead us to more sublime thoughts. If we love to reflect on our Creator, we shall find him here. This interesting scene will lead us to him, and we shall adore his wisdom, his power, and his goodness, in the production of these little creatures.

JUNE XVIII.

The Exterior Parts of Plants.

IN order to form any idea of the inimitable art which appears in the vegetable kingdom, we must go by degrees. Our understandings are too limited to see the whole together, and to acquire a perfect knowledge of it. We must be content with some observations, and pass from visible to invisible things, from simple objects and individuals, to those of great compass, and more ge neral. Let us begin, then, by considering their exterior parts, and let ns first dwell on their roots. They are so constructed, that, by means of the principal root, fibres, and little roots which grow out of it, the plants are fastened to the ground. The pores of the root serve to receive the watery and nutritive juices which the earth contains. Out of the root grows the stem, to which the plant partly owes its strength and beauty: Its form is varied according to the nature of the plant. Sometimes the stem is formed like a pipe, strengthened by different knots curiously placed upon it: At other times the stalk is so weak, that it requires a support round which it may twine itself, and fastens by means of some little hooks. Sometimes also the stem rises majestically, like a strong pillar, is the ornament of the forests, and seems to brave the storm of winds: The branches extend themselves like the arms of the human body, and are very regularly distributed. They spread and divide into boughs, which are placed collaterally, and in the same order as the principal branches. The buds which come upon the branches, are nothing but little plants, which, being put into the ground, take root there, and become a whole, like that of

which they were before only a part. The leaves, that pleasing enlivening ornament of the plants, are regularly placed round the stalks and branches. Amongst a thousand, there are not two whose leaves are perfectly alike; each has a different make, different out-line, different size, and dif ferent ornaments. The leaves are simple, or a compound, fleshy or dressed, smooth or indented and curled. The blossoms of trees, whose beautiful enamel forms one of the greatest ornaments of nature, are not less varied than the leaves; some are plain, and have but one flower others have several: here we see a vase opening gracefully; there we see figures in the shape of a mouth, an helmet, a bell, a star, or a sun: a little farther, we observe the papilionaceous, so called, because they a little resemble a butterfly with spread wings. Some leaves or petals are placed carelessly round the plant; others' form circles, bouquets, garlands, &c. round it. From the centre of the blossom rises a little pillar, sometimes more than one, which are hollow within, round, and often pointed at top; they are called pistils. Round them there are generally other lesser pillars, called stamina, to sup port their heads, which are a sort of cases full of very fine powder. How is it possible to describe the delicate texture of many of the blossoms, the sweetness of their perfume, the liveliness, variety, and beauty of their colours! After the blossoms, come the fruit; which supply what is necessary for the use of men and animals. The berries and fruit contain, ander one or several coats, the seed of future plants. The outward forms of the fruit and seeds vary as much as those of the leaves and blossoms.

There is scarce any form that is not distinguishable in one or other of them. All these parts of plants have their proper use and design: Let the smallest part of them be taken away, and

the plant will lose some of its perfection, its beauty, growth, or increase. As extraordinary as it may appear, it is certainly true, that all those parts, without one single exception, are more or less necessary to the whole. Try the experiment, take the leaves from a tree, and it will soon wither and perish. It is the same with all the other plants. There is nothing superfluous amongst them; nothing that has not its use; nothing that does not evidently tend to the perfection of the whole. But, in discovering this connection, this harmony, this wonderful arrangement of the vegetable kingdom, in seeing that the whole is beautiful, and ordered from general laws, though differently applied, shall we not conclude that the Author of all those beauties must necessarily have infinite wisdom? This consequence is as natural as that we draw, when, on hearing a person speak, we conclude that he must be near us. Let us then raise our souls to the Creator of all things: we shall every where find Him. It is for that purpose he formed the plants so magnificently, and thus displays to us their use and beauty. Let the Divine Wisdom be ever present to us: it will appear in the smallest blade of grass, if we take trouble to examine it closely. -Such reflections will make us more sensible of the pleasures of summer, and still more embellish it in our eyes. The more we accustom ourselves to reflect on the wisdom of God, the more satisfaction we shall have in contemplating nature: at each flower we behold, we shall cry out with transport,-How great is our Creator! How admirable his wisdom!

JUNE XIX.

Hymn of Thanksgiving for the Works of the Creation.

TO thee, O Lord, from whom proccedeth every blessing, and who dispensest them so bountifully, to Thee belongeth glory, honour, and thanksgiving, Thou hearest the cries of the young raven, and takest pleasure in the song of the lark: Vouchsafe to listen also to my voice, and accept the tribute of praises due to Thee. The least of the creatures formed by thy hand proclaims thy wisdom. The traces of thy goodness and power are seen from one end of the year to the other, and are continually renewing.— Each blade of grass declares the greatness of God and our own nothingness. With parental tenderness Thou providest for our necessities, and givest to men and animals their proper food. From dawn to dawn thy blessings continually succeed each other; and even the wicked man feels the effect of thy goodness. O God! who is like unto Thee! The earth is full of thy goodness and wisdom! Vouchsafe to teach me, O Lord! how to praise thee worthily. Incline my heart to love Thee, and let me hereafter live only for him who heapeth such blessings upon me. It is in thy name, and in the hope of thy blessing, that the farmer sows his corn: it is Thou who makest the seed fruitful. This earth, that for our sins had a curse laid upon it, is blessed again by its Creator, and bringeth forth fruit plenteously. Thou waterest the furrows of the fields. Thou clothest the meadows, the valley and the plain, with flowers, with groves, with trees, and herbage. Thou orderest the cool and refreshing dew to moisten our gardens and fields, and to shed fertility and