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strange facts have been related by travellers. Some 

 authors are strongly of opinion, that the manna with 

 which the Israelites were fed in the wilderness may be 

 referred to this lichen. A pamphlet has been published 

 upon the subject by Dr. Arthaud. Such a reference may 

 be supposed by some to militate against the professedly 

 miraculous character of the event. But this objection 

 may be overruled by the consideration, that though the 

 manna was miraculous, in so far as the manner of its 

 conveyance to the Israelites, and the circumstances con- 

 nected with its gathering, were concerned, it was not 

 miraculous in its origin. The quails were conveyed to 

 their camp by supernatural means, but they were not 

 supernatural in themselves; and, in like manner, the manna 

 was showered down by the direct agency of God, in the 

 very place where, and at the very time that it was 

 required ; but it was not a miraculous substance ', it was 

 not specially created for that purpose. God is sparing, 

 as it were, of His miracles ; and in all His direct inter- 

 positions on behalf of His people, we find that He makes 

 use of objects and agencies already existing, causing 

 these to fall in with His intentions, without originating 

 new ones. If this be true ; if the manna was a vege- 

 table product already existing, and not a special creation, 

 there is more likelihood of its being a species of lichen, 

 than any other vegetable matter which commentators 

 have conjectured. The descriptions of Moses apply with 

 greater accuracy to the Lecanora esculenta, than to any 

 other substance with which I am acquainted ; while the 

 singular circumstances connected with the history of this 

 lichen, as related from time to time by trustworthy 



