142 -Dr. Per civ al on the 



our views of animated nature; to gratify the 

 iTiind with the contemplation of multiplied ae- 

 ceflions to the general aggregate of felicity ; 

 and to exalt our conceptions of the wifdom;. 

 power, and beneficence of God. In an under- 

 taking, never yet accompliflied, difappointment 

 can be no difgrace : In one, direded to fucli 

 noble objeds, the motives are a juftification, in- 

 dependently of fuccefs. Truth, indeed, obliges 

 me to acknowledge, that I review my fpecula- 

 tions with much diffidence j and that, I dare 

 not prefume to expeft they will produce any per- 

 manent conviftion in others, becaufe I experi- 

 ence an inftability of opinion in myfelf. For 

 to ufe the language of Tully, Nejcio quomodot 

 dum lego ajj'enticr ; cum po/ui libriim, ajfenfio omnis 

 ilia elahitur. — But this fcepticifm is perhaps to be 

 afcribed to the influence of habitual preconcep- 

 tions, rather than to a deficiency of reafonable 

 proof. For befides the various arguments which 

 have been advanced, in favour of vegetable per- 

 ceptivity, it may be further urged, that the hypo- 

 thefis recommends itfelf, by its confbnance to 

 thofe higher analogies of nature, which lead us 

 to conclude, that the greateft poffible fum of 

 happinefs exifts in the univerfe. The bottom of 

 the ocean is overfpread with plants, of the moft 

 luxuriant magnitude. Immenfe regions of the 

 earth are covered (^with perennial forefts. Nor 

 are the Alpes, or the Andes, deftitute of herbage, 



though 



