138 THE Microscope. 
imperfection in every part, and that the whole is disproportion- 
ate and monstrous. Our finest miniature paintings appear 
before this instrument as mere daubings, plastered on with a 
trowel, and entirely void of beauty, either in the drawing or 
the coloring. Our most shining varnishes, our smoothest pol- 
ishings will be found to be mere roughness, full of gaps and 
flaws. 
Thus sink the works of art when we become enabled to see 
what they really are!—But on the contrary, the nearer we 
examine, the plainer we distinguish, the more we can discover 
of the works of nature, even in the least and meanest of her 
productions, the more sensible we must be made of the 
wisdom, power and greatness of their author.—Let us apply 
the microscope where we will, nothing is to be found but beauty 
and perfection. View we the numberless species of insects 
that swim, creep, or fly around us; what proportion, exactness, 
uniformity and symmetry shall we perceive in all their organs! 
what a profusion of coloring! azure, green, and vermilion, 
gold, silver, pearls, rubies and diamonds, fringe and embroidery 
on their bodies, wings, heads, and every other part! How rich 
the glow! how high the finishing! how inimitable the polish 
we everywhere behold !—Search we yet farther, and examine 
the animalcules, many sorts whereof it would be impossible 
for any human eye unassisted to discern; those breathing 
atoms, so small they are almost all workmanship! In them 
too we shall discover the same organs of body, multiplicity of 
parts, variety of motions, diversity of figures, and particular 
ways of living as in the larger animals——How amazingly 
curious must the internal structure of these creatures be! The 
heart, the stomach, the entrails, and the brain! How minute 
and fine the bones, joints, muscles and tendons! How exquis- 
itely delicate beyond all conception the arteries, veins, and 
nerves! What multitudes of vessels and circulations must be 
contained within this narrow compass! And yet, all have 
sufficient room to perform their different offices, and neither 
impede nor interfere with one another. 
The same order, regularity and beauty will appear like- 
wise among vegetables if brought to examination. Every 
stalk, bud, flower, or seed, displays a figure, a proportion, a 
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