globe I Many, indeed, go down to the sea in ships, 

 and occupy their lusiness in the great waters. But 

 what know they of what is contained therein : either 

 of its animal inhabitants, its productions of the ve- 

 getable kind., or those of a mineral, or metallic na- 

 ture ? Most of its chambers are inaccessible* to man; 

 so that how they are furnished we know not. Levia- 

 than may take hit pastime therein; but they are not 

 designed for the children of men. 



But let us come nearer home. How little do we 

 know even of the furniture of the dry land ? Survey 

 those things which fall directly under our notice, 

 even the most simple stones, metals, minerals. How 

 exceeding imperfectly are we acquainted with their 

 nature and properties] What is there in the inward 

 constitution of metals, which distinguishes them 

 from all other fossils? from stones in particular? 

 " Why they are heavier/' True ; but what makes 

 them heavier? I doubt whether Solomon himself 

 was able to assign the reason. What is the original, 

 internal difference between gold and silver, or be- 

 tween tin and lead ? Tis ail mystery to the sons of 

 men ; and yet vain man would be wise ! 



" If all the men in the world," says the great Mr. 

 Boyle, " were to spend their whole lives in the 

 search, they would not be able to find out all the 

 properties of v lhat single mineral antimony" And if 



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