Infinite Intelligence will be seen displayed, as clearly iu vulgar and humble examples, as in those grand 

 phenomena generally cited in proof of it. The exactness with which the law for developement once laid 

 down is followed by any given fungus, which perhaps grows only on one particular species of wood, of 

 one particulai' age, at one particular period of decay, under one particular atmospheric influence, shows the 

 immutability of that law, as much as the germination of the acorn and the after developement of the giant 

 oak. To say a thing flourishes because it has found a site nutritive and propitious to it, is to say very 

 little, for we might select just such another position, and comparing all its circumstances which our faculties 

 are capable of estimating, detect no difference, find no reason why one fungus should flourish there and 

 not another ; nor why the same fungus should choose one and reject the other ; yet so it is. 



This Agaric on the well-lid did not, in spite of our fancies on the subject, place itself there Narcissus- 

 Uke, because a bright mirror was offered, but because it prefers sawed timber in a disintegrating state for 

 its pabulum ; the weather was cold and harsh, so this sheltered site was favourable to its developement ; 

 others might have appeared out of doors, on the post or the pale, had the climate there been as genial as 

 that of the warm damp well. But why does the Agaric prefer sawed wood ? " Ab, why ? " we know only 

 a very small part after all. There are several funguses which, hke dry- rot, occupy the sap vessels of wood, 

 and form a pileus externally when t)ie saw lets in the influences of light, and aifords them liberty; why they 

 should not appear in preference on wood decaying naturally, is possibly because it is the fermenting juices 

 of younger timber which they tluive on. Besides on an artiflciaUy smoothed surface they can develope 

 their stemless pileuses more regularly and conveniently ; one of their sylph guardians perhaps w-hispers : 

 "My delicate charge. Mollis you are by nature as well by name; you will be happier, if you wait till the 

 carpenter has formed a couch expressly for youi- comfort, than if you hastily place yourself on a rude log ; " 

 and then we afterwaixls find the delicate Agaric reposing on the plank in fuU faith, " that all the world was 

 made for me," which means (to speak seriously) all things are adapted and adjusted to the ends for which 

 they were created. 



