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LETTER VII. 167 



" doubtlefs, find ten thoufand Monfters^of the 

 *' fame nature, formed at the fame time, in the 

 " fame place, and by the fame Accident, oughr 

 " not to be reckoned more than one. 



20. I could eafily anfwer to all your Ob- 

 jeftions, but, for a farther illuflration of my 

 Hypothefis, I fhall confider more particularly, 

 the word in vain. Nature does nothing in vain, 

 ** it is true ; but that Shells without Fiflies, are 

 ufelefs Produdlions of Nature, I deny. The 

 Variety of the Works of God, in all his Crea- 

 tures, is univerfally acknowledged, and the 

 Reafon of it is plain. Thus thofe Foffil Shells, 

 *' that are found in the Heart of Stones and Mar- 

 ** ble, were not made in vain, though they ne- 

 " ver enclofed a Fifh, nor any other living 

 " Creature. The Stones, called Ammons, Horns, 

 were not formed in vain, though they never 

 graced the Forehead of a Ram. The Tongue- 

 like Stones, or Gloffopetras^ of Malta^ were 

 not produced in vain, though they never wag- 

 " ged in the Mouth of an Animal. The fame 

 " may be alfo faid of the Stones, called AJiroides^ 

 Belemnites^ DaByli^ Judcei^ and an infinite 

 number of other varioufly fhaped FofTils, re- 

 fembling Plants, Fruits, Flowers, Animals, 

 Human Faces. And why then fhould nature 

 be confined from fporting herfelf, in the Pro- 

 duftion of Shells, and at the fame time fuffer- 



L 4 *' ed 



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