WITH VEGETABLES AND MINERALS. 5 



the connecting link between the mineral and vegetable 

 kingdoms : but a distinction should be here observed ; - 

 that in the mineral kingdom, though nature continues to 

 arrange, she ceases to organise. The most regular con- 

 figuration of salts, crystals, and precious stones, is carried 

 on by a chemical, not an organic process. They for ever 

 remain in the same state ; unless when separated by force, 

 or augmented by fresh agglomerations of matter. They 

 are incapable of multiplying their species, or of repro- 

 ducing such parts as are forcibly abstracted from them ; 

 and hence we must conclude, that between the most 

 regular fossils, and the most imperfect vegetables, the 

 lines of distinction are deeply marked, and the distance is 

 immense. * 



Of all the departments, however, in the kingdoms of 

 nature, the philosophical history of Animals is most in- 

 teresting to man, and ought to be a principal object of 

 his researches : not only as he belongs to this division 

 himself; but as it is from the inferior orders of them that 

 he is supplied with food, raiment, and occasional assist- 

 ance. Yet, though upwards of twenty-five thousand 

 animals have been indicated and described by naturalists, 

 it would be difficult to enumerate even one hundred that 

 materially contribute to our use or accommodation, 

 Why, it may be asked, has nature been so prolific to so 

 little purpose? To this the answer is ready : Every thing 

 in creation was certainly formed for some beneficial de- 

 sign or other, though varying in its importance ; and one 

 part of nature is unquestionably designed and fitted to 

 support another. Were all animals to subsist on vege- 

 tables, thousands of beings would soon become extinct, 

 from a deficiency of provisions: but, as infinite Wisdom 

 has ordained it, one living creature supports another ; 

 and thus the countless variety of animated beings which 

 people the earth, the air, and the water, are all supplied 

 according to their respective wants. 



The industry of man has been successfully employed 

 to diminish the number of noxious animals, and to render 



B3 



