LETIEK. IX, 



for reasoning on the subject ; ami from this perceive, 

 that every tiling which vegetates has ;i root, and is 

 furnished with fibres. This root even iit the largest 

 trees, as well as in the most minute herbs, branches 

 out into extremely small iibres, almost imperceptible 

 to the eye, and numerous beyond calculation; and 

 these are the vehicles through which the tree or plant 

 draws in the moisture of the ground. The fibrous 

 lubes, which run from the root to the utmost extre- 

 mity of every leaf, and form a tissue more complex, 

 and more nicely interwoven, than the most exquisite 

 manufacture of human art, have received from the 

 Author of nature an attractive, or as it is called by 

 botanists, a vital power, by which they imbibe at the 

 root, and draw up to the top, the moisture necessary 

 for their nourishment. 



The all-wise arid benevolent Creator has, in the 

 infinitely complex, but perfectly connected mechan- 

 ism of nature, providently ordained, that different 

 soils and climates should be particularly suitable to 

 different kinds of vegetable productions ; that so the 

 deficiencies of one country might be supplied from 

 the superfluities of another. In this wise and bene- 

 ficial arrangement, the Universal Parent appears to 

 have had m view, not only the physical, but the mo- 

 ral happiness of his children, the great family of 

 mankind dispersed over the whole earth ; for by it, 

 irudc and social intercourse are promoted, and men, 

 being obliged to hiive recourse to one another for the 

 exchange of their commodities, and for the obtaining 

 of various conveniences and comforts, find in this mu- 

 tual dependence a thousand motives to be mutually 

 beneficent. 



Several vegetables, however, which-are now of uni- 

 versal use, were unknown to our ancestors ; and since 

 it is difficult, among so immense a variety of articles, as 

 this department of nature presents, to make a judici- 

 ous selection, I will endeavour to entertain you for a 

 moment with the description o'f a few which seem the 

 most interesting and in these .parts of the work! may 



