100 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



the Amazonian river might roll it's ftream acrofs 

 America, the Andes of Peru muft have been, from 

 the beginning, covered with the fnows, which the 

 winds of the Eaft had not yet accumulated upon 

 them. In the bofom of new-created forefts, an- 

 cient trees muft have fprung up, that infeâis and 

 birds might find their proper aliment on the an- 

 tique rind. Carrion muft have been created for 

 the fupport of carnivorous animals. There muft 

 have been produced, in all the kingdoms of Na- 

 ture, beings young, old, living, dying, and dead. 

 All the parts of this immenfe fabric muft have ap- 

 peared at the fame inftant ; and if there was a fcaf- 

 folding, to us it has difappeared. 



Let others extend the boundaries of our Sciences, 

 I fliall confider myfelf as having rendered a more 

 ufeful fervice to my fellow-creatures, if I am en- 

 abled to fix thofe of our ignorance. Our illumi- 

 nation, like our virtue, confifts in defcending : 

 and our force in becoming fenfible of our feeble- 

 nefs. If I do not purfue the road which Nature 

 has referved for herfelf, I fliall, at leaft, walk in 

 that which Man ought to take. It is the only one 

 which prefents him eafy obfervations, ufeful difco- 

 veries, enjoyments of every defcription, without 

 inftruments, without a cabinet, without metaphy- 

 fics, and without fyftem. 



In 



