STUDY I, 



119 



had occafion for. But a variety of obftacles has 

 prevented my making a complete arrangement of 

 them. I iliall, perhaps, refume this employment 

 in happier times. 1 have, meanwhile, feleded as 

 much as was fufficient to convey an idea of the 

 harmonies of Nature. Though my labours are 

 here reduced to fimple Studies merely, I have, 

 however, been careful to preferve fo much order, 

 as was neceflary to unveil my original defign. 

 Thus, a periftyle, an arcade half in ruins, avenues 

 of columns, fimple fragments of walls, prefent {lill 

 to travellers, in an ifle of Greece, the image of an 

 ancient temple, notwithftanding the ravages of 

 time, and of the barbarians who demoliihed it. 



In fetting out, I change fcarcely any thing of 

 the Firji Part of my Work, the arrangement ex- 

 cepted. I there difplay, in the firft place, the be- 

 nefits conferred by Nature on our World, and on 

 the Age we live in ; and the objedions which 

 have been raifed to the Providence of their Au- 

 thor. I, next, reply fucceffively to thofe which 

 are ftarted from the diforder of the Elements, of 

 Vegetables, of Animals, of Man ; and 10 thofe 

 which are levelled againft the nature of GOD 

 himfelf. I am bold to affirm, that I have treated 

 thefe fubjefls, without any peribnal, or extraneous, 

 confideration whatever. Having replied to thefe 

 objedions, I propofe fome, in my turn, to the 



1 4 elements 



