STUDY VIII. lyy 



iftence of Man is the only exiftence apparently 

 fuperfluous in the order eflablilhed upon the 

 Earth. Many iilands have been difcovered with- 

 out inhabitants, which prefented abodes the mod 

 enchanting, from the difpolition of the valleys, of 

 the waters, of the woods, of the animals. Man 

 alone deranges the plans of Nature : he diverts the 

 current from the fountain ; he digs into the fide 

 of the hill ; he fets the forefl on fire ; he maflacres 

 without mercy every thing that breathes ; every 

 where he degrades the Earth, which could do very 

 well without him. 



The harmony of this Globe would be partially 

 deftroyed, perhaps entirely fo, were but the fniall- 

 efl, and, feemingly, moft infignificant, genus of 

 plants to be fapprefTed ; for it's annihilation would 

 leave a certain fpace of ground deftitute of ver- 

 dure, and thereby rob of it's nourifhment the fpe- 

 cies of infed which there found the fupport of 

 life. The deftrudtion of the infecfl, again, would 

 involve that of the fpecies of bird, which in thefe 

 alone finds the food proper for their young; and 

 fo on to infinity. The total ruin of the vegetable 

 and animal kingdoms might take it's rife from the 

 failure of a fingle mofs, as we may fee that of an 

 edifice commence in a fmall crevice. But if the 

 Human Race exifted not, it would be impoflibie 

 to fuppofe that any thing had been deranged : 



VOL. II. N every 



