STUDY IX. 257 



•with admiration,, the confiant impulfion commu- 

 nicated to fo many various movements, by the ac- 

 tion of one fingle luminary, the Sun, placed at the 

 diftance of thirty-two millions of leagues : and, 

 inftead of fruitlefsly rambling after the habitation 

 of a Naïad, at the fummit of the Alps, he would 

 have proftrated himfelf before that GOD, whofe 

 providence embraces the concerns of a whole 

 Univerfe. 



In order to fludy Nature with underftanding, 

 and to advantage, all the parts mufl be viewed in 

 their harmony and connedtion. For my part, I, 

 who do not pretend to be a Newton^ am deter- 

 mined never to leave the borders of my rivulet, 

 I fliall fet up my reft in my humble valley, and 

 employ myfelf in culling fome herbs and flowers; 

 happy if I am able to form of them fome garlands 

 to decorate the entrance of that ruftic Temple, 

 which my feeble hands have prefumed to rear to 

 the Majefty of Nature ! * 



* The fyftem of the harmonies of Nature, which I am pro= 

 ceeding to unfold, is, in my opinion, the only one which is 

 within the reach of Man. It was firft difplayed by Pythagoras 

 of Samos, who was the father of Philofophy, and the founder 

 of that feel of Philofophers who have been tranfmitted to us 

 by the name of Pythagoreans. Never did a fucceflion of men 

 arife fo enlightened, as thofe Sages were, in the natural 

 Sciences ; and none whofe difçoveries refle<ft higher honour on 



VOL. II. s the 



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