which relate to a hundred thousand could not be so then, in the changes years ago? Arrant nonsense!-that which are perpetually going on in might have done in the dark ages, nature. when the whole world were in pursuit of that chimerical object, the philosopher's stone, but not in these enlightened ages of sense, reason, and scripture. It is enough to say to such, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."*

We are informed in the infallible relation of Moses, that in the land of Havilah there existed at a period nearly coeval with the creation, gold, bdellium, and the onyx stone. To the same purpose we read, that Tubalcain shortly thereafter became acquainted with the art of metallurgy, and was an "instructor of every arti- | ficer in brass and iron;" intimating | that these metals had entered into the original formation of the globe, and had even been discovered and worked at so early a period. If, therefore, gold, brass, and iron, bdellium, and the onyx, are thus proved to have existed co-eval with creation; why not all other metals and minerals which the globe contains? Though new formations may still be taking place, yet they are new only as it respects the individual formations, and not as it respects their kind. For the earth, since its original formation, having received no new constituent parts,-it is impossible that its various productions can ever essentially differ in their constituent parts, from first to last.

The subject being thus sufficiently demonstrated in as far as it relates to fact, the only difficulty now to be encountered, respects the time which such substances would occupy in forming. This seems to be the point which bewilders geologists. Without entering at present, however, into the explanation of what geologists consider to be secondary formations, &c.; I shall endeavour to explain the principles on which metals, precious stones, and all sorts of crystalline masses, rocks, with earth and alluvial soil, seem to have been formed from the first in a perfect state, as in an instant, without requiring to pass through the tedious process of that slow and gradual formation for which geologists contend; and which, I grant, seems to be the case now indeed, but

* Matt. xxii. 29.

+ Gen. ii. 12. Chap. iv. 22.

The principle of explanation is taken from analogy. As it is the only safe way to illustrate scripture by scripture; so it promises to be equally a sure guide to illustrate some things in nature by other things in nature. We know, for instance, that the process of ossification in the human body, and even in other animals, proceeds by slow degrees. We know too, that the process of vegetation advances in the same gradual manner; and that an oak and some other plants require a lapse of two hundred years and upwards, ere they arrive at maturity. But this, we are certain, was not, nor could be, the case with the first or original, either of man, beast, or vegetable. They were, and must have been, produced at once in a state of maturity. There could be no growth of bones in the case of man or other animals, unless it were instantaneously from a point of ossification to their full size. Nor could there be any growth of vegetables, except by a similar process; at once from an acorn to an oak, This principle, when applied to the original formation of the earth, will render the whole evident; and its analogy with the other parts of creation, sufficiently demonstrates it to be the only principle that could have been followed. Upon such principles may be explained, without having recourse to any thing extravagant or improbable, almost all the facts relating to the structure of the earth, yet brought to light by geology. And other phenomena, apparent in the globe, to which the scripture account of the Creation does not seem to apply, may, I am persuaded, be explained upon principles equally manifest, from the same infallible source of information. This subject shall accordingly be duly attended to in its proper place.

Before concluding the present Essay, I have to remark another striking instance of agreement between the order followed in the work of creation, and Mr. Macnab's scale of the universe. We have seen in the work of this Third Day, matter subjected to the Laws of Chemistry: and matter in its Chemical aspect, is the third step of his great septenary scale of the uni

verse.

ESSAY VII. On the Formation of fect might be produced of gracing the other for absorbing them; that the ef

1

variably when heat and moisture operate in the production of vegetables, then always must exist some germ or end from which they spring; and without which, heat and moisture of themselves will avail nothing.

the vegetable, and the vegetable to that of the animal: accordingly we find them so placed in this unparalleled relation.-If the witnessing of the city of Athens wholly given to idolatry, stirred up the spirit of Paul ;* is it to be wondered that we should regard as below contempt the sophistical productions of a set of philosophers, who, contemning what is thus above their ability to equal, or even to imitate, would try to palm upon the world their paltry and absurd systems instead thereof! What mere play-things to di

systems of our most profound, most learned, and most penetrating doctors of philosophy, compared with this simple unvarnished tale of Moses !

To trace the origin of plants, then, as well as of other things, how refuctant soever the pride of the human mind may be to acknowledge the debt, we must be indebted to the Sacred Record. Moses informs us how and whence they arose; and he is the only author who does so with any degree of rationality. It was, and let his re-vert the idle hour of children, are all the lation be particularly remarked, it was immediately after a soil had been prepared to receive them. He does not say, that it was after the earth had undergone many prodigious and vastly distant revolutions, and after a soil had been formed by the tear and wear of the rocky parts; but he first shews, as we saw in our last Essay, that such a soil was formed, as matter of course, when the contents of the globe were converted into solid and fluid parts. Thus having the soil prepared, the next operation of the Creator, as we here behold, was, like that of a wise husbandman, to store it with plants. It was immediately after the soil was prepared, that " God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth; and it was so accordinly."Gen. i. 11.

I do not know, because it is no where told us, in what manner those who maintain that there were no changes of the seasons in the antediluvian world, would arrange vegetables as to their climates; but if we are to regard present appearances in nature, as a criterion of the past, we must conclude that they ever existed in climates similar to those in which they exist at present. Though the number of plants, as St. Pierre observes, scattered over the earth, be said to amount to many thousands, the simple vocabulary of which no scholar, no academy, no one nation, will ever be able perfectly to acquire; and though it is shrewdly conjectured, respecting the immensity of nature in the number of This is the first account of the for- the distinct species of plants, that mation of organized being; and we there is not a square league of earth perceive, as in the instances already but what presents some one plant penoticed, that, in the scale of existence, culiar to itself, or at least, which it follows the natural order of things. thrives there better, and appears more In the scale of existence, the vegetable beautiful, than in any other part of the kingdom stands above the mineral or world, and though this would make chemical, and below that of the ani- the number of the primordial species of mal: the vegetable functions being of vegetables amount to several mila more refined and subtile nature than lions, diffused over as many millions the chemical changes which occur in of square leagues, of which the surmineral bodies, and grosser and less face of the earth consists,-yet were refined than the functions of animals; the originals or parents of all these and forming the next link in the gra- produced at this momentous period. Idation towards the animal. Thus, Then did the whole globe exhibit the even the nature of things places each virgin beauties of nature in her orisubstance exactly where we find it ginal state. Every thing in the globe, placed in this admirable relation; and as well as in the universe, was adaptif you place it in any other, you make ed from the first to the particular end it moongruous. Every thing here is designed. If some plants at present, manifestly natural, and nothing which are found to bear the rigours of the cold has the smallest semblance of the op-northern blasts, and others only to posite. The mineral or chemical kingdom was necessary to the existence of

*Acts xvii. 16.

the Creator really formed plants with male and female organs of generation, what could have hindered his revealing this to his servants, as he did every part of the process of creation?

SINGULAR INVECTIVE.

kinds of plants which were created by God at the first, were in effect the same as those which still subsist; for they were created each capable of producing seed to perpetuate its kind. This was doing infinitely more than merely accounting for the origin of things. It was assigning to things a final end; it was forming a criterion" A DELAWARE hunter once shot a enabling us to judge of their origin; for if things are declared to have been formed originally with such and such properties, our business is, to examine the properties they possess now; and if they agree with the ancient account, this proves its authenticity beyond contradiction.

sor.

huge bear, and broke its back bone. The animal fell, and set up a most plaintive cry, something like that of the panther when he is hungry. The hunter, instead of giving him another shot, stood up close to him, and addressed him in these words: Hark ye, bear! you are a coward, and no It is truc, Moses does not afford us warrior, as you pretend to be. Were a minute botanical arrangement of you a warrior, you would show it by plants, unless it be included under the your firmness, and not cry and whimper general terms, grasses, herbs, fruit-trees, like an old woman. You know, bear, and trees yielding seed, &c. Minute- that our tribes are at war with each ness was not intended, nor was it ne- other, and that your's was the aggrescessary in such an account. The You have found the Indians too world, the origin of which he so pro- powerful for you, and you have gone perly describes, was left to its inha- sneaking about in the woods, stealing bitants to examine and arrange for their hogs; perhaps at this time you themselves, and apply to the purposes have hog's flesh in your belly. Had for which they found its various parts you conquered me, I would have borne to be useful. He only furnished the it with courage, and died like a brave world with a distinct account of its warrior; but you, bear, sit here and beginning; and the first class of or- cry, and disgrace your tribe by your ganized bodies, viz. Vegetables, he cowardly conduct.'-I was present at describes as having properties that the delivery of this curious invective. should continue their kind. This When the hunter had despatched the agrees with all the different sorts of bear, I asked him how he thought that vegetables which still exist;-which poor animal could understand what he shews them to be same as those, the said to it? Oh!' said he in answer, origin of which is described by Moses. 'the bear understood me very well; Yea, some have carried, and perhaps did you not observe how ashamed he not without reason, his account fur- looked while I was upbraiding him?” ther. His peculiar expression, "The-Heckewelder's Historical Account, herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree &c. p. 247-9. yielding fruit after its kind, whose seed is in itself," they have supposed to refer to the sexual nature of plants: they have conceived, that it implies that Leeds, 14th July, 1820. the same plant possesses within itself SIR,-As the Imperial Magazine is a the different parts of male and female receptacle for what is deemed novel, organs of vegetables. The expression, curious, or interesting; I think it a whose seed is in itself, it must be allow-sufficient apology for sending this (aled, is a peculiar expression; and that it alludes to what is said above respecting it, is certainly a rational enough interpretation of the phrase. Nor can it be objected that the sexual system of plants was not then known; for Moses spoke by inspiration: and shall not He who planted the ear, hear? and he who formed the eye, see?* If

* Psa. xcv. 9.

ACCOUNT OF A REMARKABLE FISH.

though) short description of a Fish, that was cast on shore by the tide at Grauville, near Jersey, in the spring of 1812.—

As near as I can recollect, it was in size and figure much the same as a middling còd; but more flat and broad at the head and forepart of the body. From what I may term the breast, projected two arms, with hands, fingers, and thumbs, about the size of those