24 LETTER VII. 



of a shade between blue and green : and the lapis- 

 lazuli, a beautiful stone, studded with spots of gold 

 colour on a fine azure ground. 



Ail these glittering gems taken collectively, are 

 not equal in real value to the magnet, or loadstone, a 

 substance possessing no beauty, and somewhat re- 

 sembling iron ore, but more compact and ponderous. 

 The qualities of the magnet are wonderful. It at- 

 tracts iron which adheres to it very strongly, and 

 the same virtue, is also communicated to the iron thus 

 brought into contact. In the magnet there are two 

 poles, one pointing northwards and the other south- 

 wards ; and into how many pieces soever it may be 

 divided, the two poles will be found in each piece. 

 It is this property that has rendered it of such use in 

 improving the art of navigation, for it gave rise to 

 the invention ef the mariner's compass, by which the 

 modern navigator can conduct a ship to the East or 

 West Indies with as much certainty, and as little 

 danger, as the ancients could direct their course from 

 Greece to Italy. Thus has the all-wise and benefi- 

 cent Creator admirably provided for the exercise 

 if the ingenuity of mail, as well as for the advance- 

 ment of his interests. 



With sincere affection I am, 



Dear Sir, your's, &c. 



J. B. 



LETTER VII. ' 



" i . The first Almighty cause 



Acts not by partial, but by general laws." 



TOPE. 

 DEAR SIR, 



JT would far exceed the limits of our epistolary cor- 

 respondence, and also be unsuitable to your early 

 years, to exhibit to your view all the different rules 

 which an omnipotent and omniscient Creator lias es- 

 tablished in the system of nature. I might speak to 

 you of centripetal and centrifugal forces, and of tha* 

 universal law of gravitation which pr evades the whole 



