STUDY X. 339 



which had been feparated by fifterly animofity, 

 received a new clothing of bark from the benig- 

 nant hand of Nature. 



It is this univerfal confonance of forms which 

 has fuggefted to Man the idea of fymmetry. He 

 has introduced it into moft of his works of art, 

 and particularly into Architefture, as an effential 

 part of order. To fuch a degree, in fad, is it the 

 work of intelligence and of combination, that I 

 confider it as the principal charadler by which we 

 are enabled to diftinguifli all organized bodies 

 from fuch as are not fo, and are only refults of a 

 fortuitous aggregation, however regular their af- 

 femblage may appear ; fuch as thofe which pro- 

 duce cryftallizations, efflorefcences, chemical ve- 

 getations, and igneous effufions. 



It was in conformity to thefe refleflions that, 

 on conlidering the Globe of the Earth, I obferved, 

 with the greateft furprize, that it too prefented, 

 like every organized body, a duplicity of form. 

 From the beginning it had been my thought, that 

 this Globe being the produdion of an Intelligence, 

 order muft of neceflity pervade it. I had dif- 

 cerned, and admired, the utility of iHands, and 

 even of that of banks, of flielves, and of rocks, to 

 proted: the parts of the Continents which are moft 

 expofed to the Currents of the Ocean, at the ex- 



z 2 tremities 



