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could discern, without the assistance of glasses, was of the middle size of animated nature, on this terraqueous globe:-that there existed animalcules of as much smaller dimensions below the Mite, as the Mite was below the Elephant.-LEWENHOECK, from observation, went further: he discovered'ani malcules so minute that millions of them would not equal the size of a grain of sand. How amazingly curious must be the internal structure of such a creature! Who can comprehend the minuteness of the heart which propels the blood through arteries and veins so indescribably small!—Who can conceive the minuteness of the particles, or the subtilty of action of the vital fluid, in such a subject, in such vessels, in such circumstances!

Whether, with our present limited powers, we view the works of Creation in some minute animal. cule, a million times less than a grain of sand, or in that vast body the Sun, a million times larger than the Earth, or in the whole system of the Universes

to which the Sun bears no conceivable measure of comparison, we find them all contrived with infinite wisdom; endued with the most perfect harmony of parts, the most perfect concurrences of action and use; and, with equal fidelity, obeying the power and the wisdom which formed them.

The absolutely full and comprehensive contemplation of these things must necessarily be deferred until our faculties, cleared of all mortal incumbrances and impediments, shall expand into pure intelligence; in that state to which this our present life is, evidently, but the passage:-Enough, however, is here opened to our view, to excite a full conviction of the Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Providence of God.

The design of the Author of the following Poem being that of ennobling the views, and humbling the vanity of man, by a beautiful display of created matter, the present Editor was of opinion

that it might be essentially useful to many readers; and at the same time, rationally pleasing to all.He has therefore made such additions to the original work, both in the text and notes, as the late improvements in Astronomy and Philosophy appeared to justify and, confident of its beneficial tendency, he thus presents it to the Public.

Frome, 1808.

A.Ç.

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LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

MR. HENRY BAKER, an ingenious and diligent Naturalist, the Author of the following Poem, was born, in London, about the beginning of the last century. He was brought up under an eminent Bookseller; but his mind being inclined to other pursuits he quitted that line of business, soon after the expiration of his apprenticeship, and took to the employment of teaching deaf and dumb persons to read and write. For his amusement, he cultivated various natural and philosophical sciences; particu larly botany, natural history, and microscopical sub. jects, in the latter of which he especially excelled; and in the year 1744, obtained the Royal Society's gold medal, for his microscopical experiments on the

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