STUDY XI. $93 



no precipice prefents a furface fo perpendicular as 

 to be infurmountable, with their afïïflance. Thus 

 aided, the ancient Gauls were on the point of 

 florming the capitol. 



As to trees, though they are repleniflied with a 

 vegetative force, which elevates them to a very 

 confiderable height, the greater part of them do 

 not fend out their firft branches but at a certain 

 diftance from the ground. So that though they 

 form, when they have attained a certain degree of 

 elevation, an intertexture impenetrable to the Sun, 

 which they extend to a great diftance around, they 

 leave, however, about their roots, avenues fuffi- 

 cient to render them acceffible, fo that the forefts 

 may be traverfed with eafe and expedition. 



Such, then, are the general difpofitions of vege- 

 tables upon the Earth, relatively to the occafion 

 which Man had to range over it. The herbage 

 ferves as a carpet to his feet; the fhrubbery as a 

 fcaling ladder to his hands; and the trees are as 

 fo many parafols over his head. Nature, after 

 having eftablilhed thofe proportions between them, 

 has diftributed them in all the varieties of fitua- 

 tion, by bellowing on them, abftracliedly from 

 iheir particular relations to the elements, and to 

 the animal creation, qualities the beft adapted to 

 minifter to the neceffities of Man, and to com- 

 u 3 penfate 



