110 



LETTER X*. 



disseminating His blessings by a more impartial dis- 

 tribution; than we should, on a superficial view, be 

 inclined to imagine. Leaving you to the enjoy- 

 ment ofthe.se reflections, I shall conclude with as- 

 suring you, that,., most affectionately, 

 I am, dear Sir, 



Your's, fee. 



LETTER XX. 



** And lives the man, whose universal eye 



Has swept at once the unbounded scene of things ^ 



Mark'd their dependence so, and firm accord, 



As with unfaultering accent to conclude, 



That this avaiJeth nought ?" 



BEAR SIR. 



curious and singular animals, which I am 

 going to make the subject of this epistle, are so im- 

 perfectly known, to naturalists, and their distinguish- 

 ing characteristics are so mixed and dubious, that it 

 has not yet been determined in what class of quad- 

 rupeds their place ought to be assigned. 



THE MUSK, 



Which is an animal, interesting both in the view 

 of nature and the history of commerce, is found in 

 the kingdorrLof Thibet, in some of the Chinese pro- 

 vinces, .in the vicinity of the lake Baikal, and near 

 the rivers, Jenesea'and Argun, from tlic.'COlh.to the 

 4oth degree of latitude, although seldom so far south, 

 unless when heavy falls of snow prevent it from 

 procuring food in the more northern climates. Ife 

 has no horns, and whether it be a ruminating animal 

 is uncertain : it is about two feet high at the should- 

 ers ; but its hind-legs are longer than the fore-legs, 

 and it resembles the roebuck in form. Its length' is-. 

 about three feet from the head to the tail, which lat- 

 ter is not above an inch long. Its colour is a rusty 

 brown on the body, but under the belly is white. 

 Upon the whole, it seems chiefly to have an affinity 

 to the deer kind. 



This animal is principally remarkable for the per- 

 *fcune it produces, which is so weW known ftv the 



