121 



something els?. It Is thus only that animals can subsist 

 themselves, and propagate their species. 



God, in creating the first individual of each species, 

 animal or vegetable, not only gave a form to the dust 

 of the earth, but a principle of life, inclosing in each, 

 a greater or smaller quantity of original particles, in- 

 destructible and common to all organized beings. 

 These pass from body to body, supporting the life, 

 and ministering to the nutrition and growth of 

 each. And when any body is reduced to ashes, these 

 original particles, on which death hath no power, 

 survive and pass into other beings, bringing with 

 them nourishment and life. Thus every produc- 

 tion, every renovation, every increase by generation, 

 or nutrition, supposes a preceding destruction, a con. 

 version of substance, an accession of these organicai 

 particles, which ever subsisting in an equal number, 

 render nature always equally full of life. 



The total quantity of life in the universe is therefore 

 perpetually the same. And whatever death seems to 

 destroy, it destroys no part of that primitive life, 

 which is diffused through all organized beings. In- 

 stead of injuring nature, it only causes it to shine 

 with the greater lustre. If death is permitted to cut 

 down individuals, it is only in order to make of 

 the universe, by the reproduction of beings, a theatre 

 ever crowded, a spectacle ever new. But it is ne- 

 ver permitted to destroy the most inconsiderable spe- 

 cies. 



That beings may succeed each other, it is necessary 

 that there be a destruction among them. Yet like a 

 provident mother,nature in the midst of her inexhaust- 

 ible abundance, has prevented any waste, by the few 

 species of carnivorous animals, and the few individuals 

 of each species ; multiplying at the same time both 

 the species and individuals of those that feed on her. 

 bage. in vegetables she seems to be profuse, both 

 with regard to the number and fertility of the spe- 

 cies. 



In the sea indeed all the species are carnivorous, 



VOL. II. O 



