Generad Refleciions an Heai. .) 
point than its course is. suddenly checked; congelation 
itself is made to contribute a portion of heat sufficient to 
mitigate the severity of the impending frost; and hours, in- 
stead of minutes, are occupied in carrying the mercury 
through a few degrees below. In like manner, it is pleasing 
to remark, how retarded are its movemeuts, as it approaches 
the extremes of heat. A hot day is _passing over our heads, 
although, as often happens, the morning was cool and —_ 
perate. In two hours, perhaps, we have seen the 
ter rise from 50 to 80 degrees. Will the heat of two cele 
carry it forward 30 degrees more to 110? Experience alone 
‘could ensure us against the so of such a_ consuming 
fire... But what prevents it?. The evaporation of water from 
the: entire surface of the earth, is now set on foot, with hur- 
r 
slbecaniely prone, are so nicely balanced, that, among many 
thousand degrees that lie between the known sas of 
heat and cold, the whole range of natural temperature is only 
90 or 100 degrees. Pleasant and delightful as is a little 
space in the vast scale of temperature, where all animals so 
securely dwell, and where the flowers of spring bud and 
blossom and the fruits of autumn are matured, still it lies, 
like a small island in a sandy desert, between two regions 
desolation and death, which seem about to blast it, on the 
ene hand, with withering frosts, or to consume it, on the 
other, with devouring fire. The eauses which we have just 
enumerated are those effectual. aus that Omni 
has placed, to guard this blooming animated spot against the 
dangers that encompass it. And among all the inn 
causes thatare continually at work to disturb this equilibrium 
of temperature, we may rest assured that no eoenget irregi- 
larity will occur, until, in the sublime language of Young, 
: «« All the formidable sons of fire, 
_ Eruptions, earthquakes, comets, poo gers play 
Their various engines ; all at 
Their blazing magazines, epee by stor 
This pure terrestrial citadel of man. 
Vau. X.—Né. 1. {2 
