INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. It 



be admitted, happens to the animals whofe anima- 

 tion we conceive to be only fufpended.' — Should 

 it adually be fo, their ftate is abfolute death. 



Where is the immaterial and fentient principle 

 dming this long interval of corporeal repofe ? 

 Is it annihilated and again renewed, or does it 

 iexift totally independent of the ftate into which 

 the material part of organization may be brought? 



V. Origin of Mould.— The obfcurity which 

 reigned over the origin of animated nature has 

 been diffipated by the penetration of philofophers, 

 Abfurd and contradidory ideas were formerly 

 embraced by thofe who called themfelves learned. 

 Adopting a hafty opinion from a curfory glance, 

 and without time for inveft igation or judgment to 

 difcriminate, they hurried on into error j and at 

 length became fo deeply entangled, that to be ex- 

 tricated was impoflible, unlefs by totally abandon- 

 ing received theories, and entering on experiment^ 

 which is the only infallible guide to truth. 



The uniformity beheld in the generation of the 

 larger animals, the mutual intercourfc of iexes, 

 and particular periods of geftation, v/ere fads fo 

 evident and undeniable, that any doubt or quef- 

 tion concerning their exillence proved itfeif falfe. 

 But it was different with animals more minute. 

 Butterflies tind bees appeared without any pro- 

 ducing parent j myriads of wafps and flies were 

 e 4 kan, 



