Flowers are particularly pleasing by their simplicity. One single element, under the forming hand of nature, assumes all this beautiful variety. The moisture of the earth and air insinuates itself into the vessels of plants, and filters through a series of transparent tubes; and this is the cause of all the beauties which we observe in the vegetable kingdom. If each colour had its particular cause, the surprise of the beholder might not be so great: but we contemplate with delight, and are never weary of admiring as the effect of supernal wisdom, a work, which, so diversified in its parts, is nevertheless perfectly simple as to its cause; by which we see a number of effects depending upon a single spring, always acting in the same manner.

Whilst viewing with rapture the beautiful variety of colouring displayed in flowers, we must necessarily feel the value of that reason which we enjoy as beings endowed with immortality, without which in vain would the charms of nature unfold to our senses. With the light of reason we are able to know and distinguish the numberless beauties of flowers, to appreciate the infinitely varied blending of their tints, and all the delightful scenery of the meadows, valleys, forests, and mountains; making them contribute to our pleasures, and finding in each evident traces of an Almighty God. Father of light and mercy! Parent of good! What can we render unto thee, or how can we sufficiently thank thee, for that choice and pure gift of reason which elevates our souls from earth to heaven, and raises us from the nature of brutes unto the dignity of angels?

JULY XXIV.

SUMMER HEAT.

At this season of the year we generally experience the greatest degree of heat; though the sun, having now entered into the sign Leo, daily removes farther from us. When we were nearer to him the heat was temperate; and now that we are farther off it is at its greatest degree of fervency. The reason of this is from the peculiar arrangement of our globe. The sun was lately nearer to us; but as his rays had not sufficient force to penetrate deep into the earth, we only felt a temperate degree of heat; but in the space of some weeks, the earth, and the bodies which cover it, are so much heated, that even the least influence of the sun produces more effect than at the beginning of summer, when it acted upon cold bodies.

Some people murmur at this arrangement of nature, and complain of the intenseness of the heat, which renders them incapable of bearing much fatigue; but to repine at an arrangement founded upon the immutable laws of nature, and consequently an inevitable effect of certain causes, is failing in gratitude to our Heavenly Father, by censuring his government, which never fails in the end to promote the general welfare of the world. And to repine because one day is

hot and another cold, one wet and another dry, bespeaks a weak, head and a bad heart. If these heats were not sometimes to occur, how could the fruits which are to nourish men during the winter arrive at maturity? Thus all our murmurings at the decrees of Providence, who always out of evil worketh good, are the offspring of folly and of ingratitude. Though the inhabitants of the western part of Africa, and particularly of Cape Verd and the island of Goree, are exposed during the whole year to the most intense heat, their bodies are so organized that they can endure it without suffering in their health; and the winds continually blowing over the country temper and cool the air.

And has the Creator been less bountiful to us? Is it not from his tender cares that the summer nights cool the air, and produce a delightful freshness? A single night revives the languishing plants, gives new vigour to the enfeebled animals, and enables us to sustain the fatigues of the day with alacrity. Even the storms which cause so much fear are, in the hands of God, the means of purifying the air, and refreshing the creation. And we have a variety of deliciously cooling fruits, that tend to preserve our health at this season. Let us then no longer complain of the sun's heat, nor of the sufferings that we endure; but consider them as a part of the divine plan, and as being alleviated by a thousand means that ought to excite our gratitude and adoration.

JULY XXV.

OF SOME REMARKABLE PROPERTIES IN ANIMALS.

Of all parts of nature the animal kingdom presents us with the most curious subjects of investigation; and to the lover of natural history the different instincts with which animals are endowed form a highly interesting study. To a reflecting mind it is not merely a pleasing amusement; the properties of animals cause us to look up to a wisdom which we cannot penetrate, and which surpasses all human conception. And this effect I wish to produce in my readers, by pointing out to them the singularities observable in certain animals.

The manner in which birds and insects lay their eggs is worthy of admiration. The grasshopper, the lizard, the tortoise, and the crocodile, neither trouble themselves about their eggs, nor about their young when hatched. They deposit their eggs in the ground, and leave them to be hatched by the heat of the sun's rays. Other species of animals, by natural instinct, lay their eggs in places where their young can find a sufficiency of food as soon as they are hatched. This instinct never deceives them. The butterfly of the herbivorous caterpillar will never lay her eggs upon meat, neither will the fleshfly lay her eggs upon vegetables. Some species of animals have so much solicitude for their eggs that they carry them with them wher

ever they go. The spider called the wanderer carries her eggs in a little silken bag. When they are hatched, they range themselves in order upon their mother's back, who travels about with her load, and continues for some time to take care of them. Certain species of flies deposite their eggs in the bodies of living insects, or in their nests; and we know that there is not a single plant that does not serve to lodge and feed many insects. A fly pierces the leaf of an oak, and deposites its eggs in the hole it has made; the wound soon closes up, the part swells, and an excrescence or tuberosity appears, called a gall the eggs that have been enclosed within it grow in size, and the insect which they produce finds in its resting-place suitable aliment.

The care which animals take of their young is almost incredible; and their love for them is often greater than for their own lives. How assiduously some quadrupeds nourish their young! When wounded, they cure them by licking them with their tongue; they carry them from one place to another; when dangers threaten, they keep near to defend and guide them. If they are carnivorous, how carefully their dam procures them flesh, teaches them to pursue their prey, to play with it when in their power, and then to tear it to pieces! We cannot read without emotions of grief, and feeling sentiments of horror and detestation rise in our bosoms, the account of a bitch, which, whilst they were dissecting alive, continually licked her young ones, as if to solace her affliction, and mitigate her torture by this maternal gratification; and when this last consolation was denied by taking away her young, she uttered a piercing and most lamentable cry.

Some sea-animals during a storm shelter their young under their belly. Each species of animals has its peculiar wants and desires, for both of which the Creator has abundantly provided. Let us take for example those creatures which seek their nourishment in the water; and among these the water-fowl. Nature has furnished their feathers with an oily matter, through which water cannot penetrate: by this means they do not become wet in diving, which would impede their flying. The proportions of their bodies also differ from those of other birds. Their legs are placed more behind, to enable them to stand up in the water, and more readily to expand their wings. That they may swim with ease, their feet are provided with webs; to facilitate their diving, their body is peculiarly formed; and to enable them to seize their prey, they have a long neck and a large bill: in short, nature has completely formed them for their particular mode of living.

The nautilus is a shell-fish something resembling the snail species; when they wish to ascend, they place themselves in front of their shell, and to render it more light, empty out the water through an opening. When they wish to descend, they retire to the bottom of their little house, which filling with water, becomes heavy and sinks. If they wish to sail, they skilfully turn their shell, which becomes a little gondola, and they stretch out a thin light membrane, which

swells before the wind, serving as a sail; and perhaps it might be this little nautilus that first taught men the art of sailing.

It is the same with the actions of animals as with their structure. The same wisdom which has formed their body has constructed their limbs, and appointed them their use; has also regulated the different actions that they perform, and directs them towards the end proposed in their creation. The brute is guided by the invisible hand of the Creator, and produces works which excite our admiration, and seems to be actuated by reason. It ceases to work when necessary, regulates its labour according to circumstances, and yet only follows certain secret springs that make it move. It acts as a machine which cannot judge of the work which it executes; and is directed by the adorable wisdom of the Creator, who has placed each insect, as he has each planet, in a sphere from which it cannot deviate. When I observe then the different instincts and industry of animals, my soul is filled with veneration, and I seem to see the immediate operation of a Divine Power, which is only visible by its wonderful effects; and whoever attentively considers the different works of nature, must every where discover the evidences of God, and abundant cause to love and admire his sempiternal wisdom and goodness.

JULY XXVI.

THE HUMAN COUNTENANCE.

The external appearance of the human body at once declares the superiority of man over all living creatures. His face directed towards the heavens, prepares us to expect that dignified expression which is so legibly inscribed upon his features; and from the countenance of man we may judge of his important destination and high prerogatives.

While the soul enjoys undisturbed tranquillity, the features of the face are calm and composed; but when agitated by emotions, and tossed by contending passions, the countenance becomes a living picture, in which every sensation is depicted with equal force and delicacy. Each affection of the mind has its particular impression, and every change of countenance denotes some secret emotion of the heart. The eye may in particular be regarded as the immediate organ of the soul; as a mirror, in which the most tumultuous passions and the gentlest affections are reflected without disguise. Hence it may be called with propriety the true interpreter of the soul, and organ of the understanding. The colour and motions of the eye contribute much to mark the character of the countenance. The human eyes are in proportion nearer to one another than those of any other living creatures; the space between the eyes of most of these being so great as to prevent their seeing an object with both their eyes at the same time, unless it is placed at a great distance.

Next to the eyes, the eye-brows tend to fix the character of the countenance. Their colour renders them particularly striking; they form the shade of the picture, which thus acquires greater force of colouring. The eye-lashes, when long and thick, give beauty and additional charms to the eye. No animals, but men and monkeys, have both eye-lids ornamented with eye-lashes: other creatures having them only on the lower eye-lid. The eye-brows are elevated, depressed, and contracted, by means of the muscles upon the forehead. The lids are of use to defend the eye, and prevent the cornea from becoming dry.

The forehead forms a very considerable part of the face, and when well formed adds much to its beauty: it should neither project much, nor be quite flat; neither be very large, nor yet small; fine hair adds much to its beauty.

The nose is the most prominent and least moveable part of the face; hence it adds more to the beauty than the expression of the countenance. The mouth and lips are on the contrary extremely susceptible of changes; and if the eyes express the passions of the soul, the mouth seems more peculiarly to correspond with the emotions of the heart. The rosy bloom of the lips, and the ivory white of the teeth, complete the charms of the human face.

Without considering the several uses of these parts, we have ample testimony of their divine origin; and in contemplating the beauty of the human countenance, our admiration increases in thinking of that Being by whose wisdom and goodness we are so exquisitely formed. Whilst we examine each feature, let us meditate upon those high prerogatives which we enjoy over the animal world, and upon the noble purposes for which we are created. Our eye commands the face of nature, and glances from earth to heaven; our lips dance to the music of hymns in praise of our God; and every feature of the mindillumined face displays that goodness of heart, and purity and intelligence of soul, which amiable modesty, retiring from the gaze of men, in vain attempts to conceal.

JULY XXVII.

GRAVITY OF BODIES.

All bodies possess a force which acts at all times, in all places, and in all directions. If a body attempts to move more forcibly towards one point than to another, it is said to gravitate towards that point. Experience teaches us, that bodies have a tendency to descend; or that if they are from the surface of the earth without being supported they fall down perpendicularly. It is not in the body itself that we must seek the cause of its gravity; for a body which falls remains in the state in which it was first placed, till some external cause changes its direction. It is equally impossible that the air should be the cause