INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 177 



covered with dust. " On attempting," says he, " to wipe it off, I was 

 astonished to find the glasses fixed to the wall, not suspended in frames as 

 I left them, but completely surrounded by an incrustation cemented by the 

 white ants, who had actually eaten up the deal frames and back-boards, 

 and the greater part of the paper, and left the glasses upheld by the incrus- 

 tation, or covered way, which they had formed during their depredation."^ 

 It is even asserted that the superb residence of the Governor-General at 

 Calcutta, which cost the East India Company such immense sums, is now 

 rapidly going to decay in consequence of the attacks of these insects.^ — 

 But not content with the dominions they have acquired, and the cities they 

 have laid low on Terra Firma, encouraged by success the white ants have 

 also aimed at the sovereignty of the ocean, and once had the hardihood to 

 attack even a British ship of the line ; and in spite of the efforts of her 

 commander and his valiant crew, having boarded they got possession of 

 her, and handled her so roughly, that when brought into port, being no 

 longer fit for service, she was obliged to be broken up.^ 



And here, I think, I see you throw aside my papers, and hear you 

 exclaim — "Will this enumeration of scourges, plagues, and torments never 

 be finished ? Was the whole insect race created merely with punitive 

 views, and to mar the fair face of universal nature ? Are they all, as our 

 Saviour said figuratively of one genus, the scorpion, the powerful agents 

 and instruments of the great enemy of mankind 1 "* If you view the subject 

 in another light, you will soon, my friend, be convinced that, instead of this, 

 insects generally answer the most beneficial ends, and promote in various 

 ways, and in an extraordinary degree, the welfare of man and animals ; 

 and that the series of evils I have been engaged in enumerating mostly 

 occur partially, and where they exceed their natural limits ; God permitting 

 this occasionally to take place, not merely with punitive views, but also to 

 show us what mighty effects he can produce by instruments seemingly the 

 most insignificant ; thus calling upon us to glorify his power, wisdom, and 

 goodness, so evidently manifested whether he relaxes or draws tight the 

 reins by which he guides insects in their course, and regulates their progress ; 

 and more particularly to acknowledge his overruling Providence so conspic- 

 uously exhibited by his measuring them, as it were, and weighing them, 

 and telling them out, so that their numbers, forces, and powers being an- 

 nually proportioned to the work he has prescribed to them, they may neither 

 exceed his purpose nor fall short of it. 



From the picture I have drawn, and I assure you it is not overcharged, 

 you will be disposed to admit, however, the empire of insects over the 

 works of creation, and to own that our prosperity, comfort, and happiness 

 are intimately connected with them ; and consequently that the knowledge 

 and study of them may be extremely useful and necessary to promote 



1 Oriental Memoirs, i. 362. 



2 Morning Herald, Dec. 31st, 1814. 



3 The ship here alluded to was the Albion, which was in such a condition from the at- 

 tack of insects, supposed to be white ants, that, had not the ship been firmly lashed together, 

 it was thought she would have foundered on her voyage home. — The late Mr. Kittoe inform- 

 ed me that the Droguers or Draguers a kind of lighter employed in the West Indies in 

 collecting the sugar, sometimes so swarm with ants, of the common kind, that they have 

 no other way of getting rid of these troublesome insects than by sinking the vessel in 

 shallow water. * Luke, x. 19. 



