CONCLUSIONS. 389 



world, under the most uniform and the most diversified cir- 

 cumstances ? When we meet with pine trees, so remarkable 

 for their peculiarities, both morphological and anatomical, 

 combined with beeches, birches, oaks, maples, &c., as well 

 in North America as in Europe and Northern Asia, under 

 similar circumstances ; when we find, again, representatives 

 of the same family with totally different features, mingling, so 

 to say, under low latitudes with palm trees, and all the luxu- 

 riant vegetation of the tropics ; when we truly behold such 

 scenes, and have penetrated their full meaning as naturalists, 

 then we are placed in a position similar to that of the anti- 

 quarian who visits ancient monuments. He recognizes at 

 once the workings of intelligence in the remains of an an- 

 cient civilization ; he may fail to ascertain their age correctly, 

 he may remain doubtful as to the order in which they were 

 successively constructed, but the character of the whole tells 

 him that they are works of art, and that men, like himself, 

 originated these relics of by-gone ages. So shall the intelli- 

 gent naturalist read at once in the pictures which nature pre- 

 sents to him, the works of a higher Intelligence ; he shall re- 

 cognize in the minute perforated cells of the Conifer^, which 

 differ so wonderfully from those of other plants, the hierogly- 

 phics of a peculiar age ; in their needle-like leaves, the escut- 

 cheon of a peculiar dynasty ; in their repeated appearance 

 under most diversified circumstances, a thoughtful and thought- 

 eliciting adaptation. He beholds, indeed, the works of a being 

 thinking like himself, but he feels at the same time that he 

 stands as much below the Supreme Intelligence, in wisdom, 

 power and goodness, as the works of art are inferior to the 

 wonders of nature. Let naturalists look at the world under 

 such impressions, and evidence will pour in upon us that all 

 creatures are expressions of the thoughts of Him whom we 

 know, love and adore unseen.*] 



* Lake Superior, by Professor Louis Agassiz, page 104 at seq. 



