nary thing is, that a sprig of rosemary, which was put into the hand of a dead person (according to the custom of some countries), took root so well to the right and to the left, that at the end of some years, when the grave was opened, it had covered all the face of the corpse with its leaves. The vegetation of the truffle is still more singular. This extraordinary tubercle has neither roots, nor stalk, nor leaves, nor blossom, nor even any visible seed: It draws its sustenance through the pores of its bark. But how it is produced, or why, in general, there should be no other herb where those sort of mushrooms grow, and the earth be light and full of crevices, has not yet been accounted for. There is no plant which can better be compared to the land and water animals, than that sort of membraneous moss called nostoch. It is an irregular body, a little transparent, and of a pale green colour. It trembles when touched, and is easily broken. It can only be seen after it has rained; it is then found in several places, but chiefly in uncultivated ground, and along the sides of sandy roads. It is formed also in a moment; for when in summer, walking in a garden, not the least trace of it is seen; on a sudden a storm of rain falls, and in an hour after, in the same spot, the whole walk will appear covered with a great quantity of it. For a long time it was supposed that the nostoch fell from the sky; but it is now known to be nothing but a leaf, which draws the water greatly, and sucks it in. This leaf, to which no root has been discovered, is in its natural state when it is well impregnated with water; but heat, or a high wind, makes the water evaporate in a few hours, and then the leaf contracts, shrinks, and loses its transparency and colour. From this circumstance : circumstance it appears to grow so suddenly, and to be created in a wonderful manner with the rain; as a fresh shower falling on it, when it is withered and invisible, revives and makes it again appear. But there are still more singularities worth observation among the vegetables. The whole atmosphere is filled with millions of invisible plants and seeds. Even seeds of a larger sort are scattered by the wind all over the earth; and as soon as the air has carried them to the places where they can thrive, they become plants; and it requires so little for that purpose, that it is difficult to conceive whence they can draw what is necessary for their growth. There are considerable plants, and even trees, that take root and grow in crevices of rocks, without the least earth. Vegetation is sometimes formed inconceivably quick For example, mushrooms, and water-cresses, if the seed of them is put into wet linen, become a sallad in 24 hours. There are plants which appear to have scarce any life, and yet they continue to exist. We often see willows not only hollow and decayed within, but the outer bark so hurt, that there scarce remains an eighth part of it. These trunks, however, poor as they are, break out again every spring, and shoot into numberless branches and leaves. How wonderful is it, that the nutritive juice of plants is not only supplied by means of the root, but by the leaves also, which draw it from the air, and, in some degree, pump it in; and that there should be plants, the branches of, which become roots, and the roots branches, according as they are turned in planting them! The great age also to which trees arrive, how surprising it is! There are apple-trees, which must be above a thousand years old; and, if we calculate in the gross, the. E 3 fruit fruit which such a tree produces every year, we cannot but admire the fertility of a pippin, which can singly supply all Europe with trees and fruit of that sort. But we should never have done, if we were to pursue these reflections as far as they might lead. Every thing is full of wonders. Every thing marks to us a Being of perfection, whose power, wisdom, and unbounded goodness, all join in heaping upon us continual blessings and enjoyments. Ungrateful as we are, ishall we not vouchsafe to reflect on the many wonders that continually surround us! Can we refuse to bless our God, who does such great and admirable things! Shall we not sanctify the pleasures which the country and gardens afford us, by contemplating the wonders of the Lord; by reflecting on them; by looking from the creature to the Creator; from the flower to Him who made it. Lord! How great and magnificent are thy works! what wonders present themselves on all sides! I contemplate them with delight: But I am lost in them. They surpass my comprehension, and I cannot fathom them. It is at thy command that the grass shoots its blade; that the groves are clothed with verdure; that the flowers embalm and adorn the fields and gardens with their colours; that the trees grow and raise their heads to the very clouds. The mountain cedar declares thy glory, and proclaims that thou hast made it. On whatever side I turn, new wonders appear. The country, the vales, and the mountains, the rivers, and the sea, all, from the lowest atom to the highest sphere, is full of the goodness of the Lord! JUNE JUNE XII. MEANS OF HAPPINESS WHICH WE FIND IN NATURE. TO be convinced, that, throughout all nature, every thing tends to the benefit of mankind, we need only consider, in the first place, the close connection and relation between all natural things and us. It is true, that there are several bodies, the use of which we do not see relatively to man; but we must not conclude from thence, that we draw no advantage from them. Many things, which appeared useless to our ancestors, do not now appear so; and it is to be presumed, that our descendants will, in their turn, discover what we are at present ignorant of. Let us acknowledge the Divine Wisdom in this. The real use of many creatures is concealed from us, in order to humble our pride, by making us feel how limited our understandings are, and to exercise our minds, and lead us more and more to the contemplation of God's works. Many things in nature are only indirectly useful to us: Several animals serve as food for mankind, and consequently, all that serves as sustenance for them is beneficial to us. The small fish are the food of the larger: many birds feed on worms and insects; and there are several species which live entirely on prey. The Divine Wisdom manifests itself again in this circumstance; for if the fields and productions of the earth were to feed all the animals, there would not be enough left for the use of man and what would then be the fruit of his labour? I allow that there are several animals which might be said to be created E 4 created only to hurt mankind; for example, venomous creatures. Poison is so hurtful to the human body, that it generally causes a painful death; and its effects are sometimes so quick, that there is scarce time to have recourse to antidotes. It is true, that, in this respect, many animals appear in a bad light; but if we consider them on another side, we shall discover traces of God's goodness, and have reason to admire his wisdom. Physicians make use of poison in many excellent medicines. Would mankind have been happier, if there had been no venomous creatures in the world? The poison they have in them had made before a part of those bad vapours which mankind would have breathed, and which would have been prejudicial. In a word, it may be said with certainty, that there is nothing on earth really hurtful to man, unless he makes an improper use of it. But if, in creating our globe, God proposed to himself our happiness, should we not be inexcusable to interrupt his salutary designs, by obstructing our own happiness, instead of labouring for it with all our might? God's views are all merciful towards us, but we often render them useless by a conduct which must necessarily make us unhappy. Let us be wiser hereafter, and make a better use of the many means of happiness with which God so abundantly furnishes us. And if it is not possible to satisfy all our wishes in this world, let us have recourse to religion, which will amply compensate for any defects in nature, and will explain to us many things which appear obscure. JUNE |