THE DOWNWARD TENDEXCY OF HUMAN STATUUE. 1237 



tial principle. It diffuses its pernicious influence through the air and 

 so deteriorates its essential constitution, that animals, as horses, cattle, 

 sheep, and even dogs and cats, have fallen victims. The death of mul- 

 titudes of fish in river and ocean indicates the involvement of even wa- 

 ters of the earth in the deadly contamination. 



The Egyptian plagues in their order of succession and phenomena 

 seem to have been the result of the plague principle operating in a highly 

 concentrated form, yet directed and limited in the extent of its action 

 by the power of Deity. The elements, wrought to a state of the ut- 

 most agitation, caused earth, air and sea to feel these perturbations of 

 nature, and man and animals upon land, the inhabitants of the deep and 

 the tribes of the air, fell alike victims to the universal scourge. 



We very properly feel amazemcnt-as, in imagination, we follow Mo- 

 ses, Avhen having concluded his interview with Pharaoh and retired from 

 the royal council, he lifts his mystic rod, and the elements, moving at 

 his bidding to their work of death, commence their agitations upon the 

 waters of Egypt, "and all the waters that were in the river were turned 

 into blood." We exclaim, as did the magicians at a subsequent plague, 

 "this is the finger of God." K. 



Baltimore, Md. 



THE DOWNWARD TENDENCY OF HUMAN STATURE. 



Mr. Editor: The following fragment came into my hands a few 

 days ago. I send it to you for the Journal with the understanding, 

 however, that I do not vouch cither for the truth of the principle 

 endeavored to be proved, nor even for the authenticity and genuineness 

 of the illustrations. Indeed I must say that 1 think the author, who- 

 ever he is, has imitated the cunning without attaining any of the merits 

 of two modern writers, Scott and Macauley. Whenever either of these 

 authors needed a poetical heading for a chapter or an illustration to 

 give point to an argument and could not find one in their memory, they 

 usually manufactured it, and credited it to "Old Play" in "the Persian 

 Fable." And I half suspect it has been so with the following article, as 

 I have searched diligently but in vain to verify some of his examples ; 

 however it would not be right to keep it from the public on account of 

 my own deficiency and short-sightedness in finding vouchers for his 

 statements. Some of the learned readers of the Journal may possibly 

 be able to follow him in his authorities. Q. C. X. 



The proposition I contend for is this : Since the creation of man, ihr, 

 tendency of human stature has been doivmcards, and that it xoill continue 

 so, until man be diminished from olf the earth. 



