- <3" PES. 
Practical Remarks on Gtems. 61 
vital energies of vegetation, The process of nutrition, secretion, 
and the circulation—processes, which are “highly complex, and 
elaborate in plants,” and which are influenced by a nervous agen- 
cy in animals—are carried on in vegetables by some power, or 
agency, as yet, imperfectly understood ; but which, in its nature 
and results, is strictly analogous to-the emigitiia system of nerves 
in animals. 
We would not, however, be understood to express the — 
that plants, either possess the power of volition, or, that th 
vital movements are actually influenced by a nervous roti 
This is not our belief. But we have long. been. of the opinion, 
that there are vital energies, or prope perties, developed in the — 
growth of vegetables, which are influence d by laws, that, as yet, 
are imperfectly understood ;—laws which cannot be explained aan 
any of the known phenomena of organic chemistry. 
This subject still offers a wide and an interesting field for in- 
vestigation. “On man,” says a late elegant philosopher, “ has 
been conferred the high privilege of interpreting the characters of 
the book of nature, and of deriving from their contemplation, — 
those ideas of. grvideur and sublimity, and those emotions of 
admiration and of gratitude, which elevate and refine the sole | 
and transport it into regions of pure and more eing. 
es and flowers 
Are social and aavee and he 
Who oft communeth in their language pure ; 
Roaming among them, at the cool of day, 
Shall find like him who Eden’s garden drest, 
His Maker there to teach his listening heart! 
» Arr. X.—Practical oads on Gems, especially on some of 
those found in the United States ; in a letter addressed _ to G. 5 
A. Lee, M. D., and by him communicated for insertion ‘in this 
Journal; by Tudiies TaBER, a srapiinsh Jeweller. | 
Dear Sir,—The following remarks relate principally to the 
Second class of Gems, of which many localities in our own and 
neighboring states furnish no despicable supply. [have received ~ 
.% number of choice specimens from Chester County, Penn., 
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