70 LEAVES EROM THE 



had been at them. The crocuses look pinched with 

 cold, and keep their petals closed, though the sun's rays 

 court them, as if in mockery, to expand. But if Phoebus 

 bears the nuptial torch of the diurnal flowers, without 

 the aid of Zephyrus, the loves of the plants are checked. 

 The buds bide their time snugly wrapped up in their 

 varnished coats ; but still nature gives signs of vegetable 

 life. The ' daffodils begin to peer/ — daffodils 



That come before the swallow dares, and take 

 The winds of March with beauty; 



and the primrose and violet brave the severity of the 

 season from their lowly but sheltered retreats. After all, 

 the time has been genial when compared with the springs 

 of 1771 and 1838, though the impatience with which 

 many of us regard that fixture, the weathercock, day 

 after day, can hardly be wondered at. But could we 

 order things for the better in the long run ? 



A distinguished philosopher and poet,* indeed, re- 

 marks, that the suddenness of the change of the wind 

 from north-east to south-west seems to show that it 

 depends on some minute chemical cause, which, if it was 

 discovered, might probably, like other chemical causes, 

 be governed by human agency, such as blowing up rocks 

 by gunpowder, or extracting the lightning from the 

 clouds. If, adds the Doctor, this could be accom- 

 plished, it would be the most happy discovery that ever 

 has happened to tliese northern latitudes, since in this 

 country the north-east mnds bring frost, and the south- 

 west winds are attended with warmth and moisture ; and 

 he argues, that if the inferior currents of an- could be 

 kept perpetually from the south-west supphed by new 

 productions of air at the line, which he makes the ojfficina 

 aeris for this supply, or by superior currents flowing in 

 a contrary direction, the vegetation in this country would 



* Darwin. 



