-f* ANIMALCULA OF INFUSIONS. oj^} 



In pi'eces, of even by mincing it down? Do you 

 think, my worthy correfpondent, that this phi^ 

 lofopher, or anatomift, would not have advanc- 

 ed an hundred good reafons to prove the impof-^ 

 fibility of the faft -, and would any anatomift 

 have been found attempting to combat his rea= 

 fons ? V/hat would have happened had we alked 

 that anatomift, If he thought an animal could 

 cxift which might be turned outfide-in, like a 

 glove, without ceafmg to Hve, to grow, and 

 to multiply ? Nothing is fitter than fuch dif- 

 coyeries to infpire us with diffidence of our own 

 opinions, and to create the moft exalted ideas of 

 the infinite variety of Nature's operations. This 

 refledion, equally moral as logical, has often oc- 

 cupied a place in my writings. I have ftrongly 

 endeavoured to inculcate it into the minds of my 

 readers. While com.pofing parts 12 and 13 of 

 La Palingenefie, it engroffed me much; and I at- 

 tempted to point out the bounds and the natural 

 imperfedions of our knowledge. All that is faid 

 on this fertile fubjed is little in comparifon to 

 what a writer m.ore enlightened and intelligent 

 than me could have faid. But I have mentioned 

 enough for my principal objed, and for the re^ 

 fledion of thofe readers who are capable of fuch 

 meditations. 



Perhaps you know, that the Abbe de Lignae 



was the author of thefe Leitrss a un Amerkain, 



^ i whom 



